The Ship Model Forum

Hi Jim:

I would say the funnel is black, with white striping, possibly(maybe) with red striping too??? I checked all my references and came up empty too. I think the red is a bit of a stretch.

As for the hull, I have yet to assemble mine. My modeling room is freezing as of now. The hull pieces of these kits are a challenge for sure to get them aligned evenly. I'm still waiting on Syotan Maru and the Finnish freighters. They are still on backorder.


Bob Pink.

Bob,
Thanks for the reply.

In the absence of any other data, I've settled for black funnel, 2 white stripes with red 'O' on white diamond.

I'm now in the process of adding stantions and rigging. Photos hopefully by the end of this week.

Jim S

Here a some pics of Fairy Kikaku's 'Nippo Maru'

This is one of a series of ships which were sunk at Truk as part of Operation Hailstone in February 1944.

Nippo Maru was listed as a water carrier.

As usual, I've completed her in pre-war livery with a speculative funnel marking (see previous posts).

Hope you enjoy.

She came out great Jim! A very lively color scheme!


Bob Pink.

Great looking model, Jim. Well done.

Thanks guys!

Hi guys it’s been a while but I do have a question for you. I’m planning on buying here shortly the Niko Tonan Maru No.2 in 1/700. My question is how close is the the Tonan Maru No.2 to her sister the Tanon Maru No.3? Can you use the kit to build either ship ? If so what are the main differences between the two ? Thanks!

A new PE set for the Fujimi Kawasaki Type tanker kits is in the works. Please see details in the CASF Kawasaki tanker thread here: viewtopic.php?f=51&t=152657&start=60#p735691

Both Momokawa and Kikukawa marus were nearly identical to the Nippo Maru. Fairy Kikakus model of Nippo Maru has wooden decks, from bow to stern, and everything in between. My question is? Is this accurate?? I would think that the decks containing hatches 1, 2, 4, and 5 would have been metal?? The upper 3rd hatch in front of the bridge would have been wood. That part makes sense to me I guess.

Could anyone shed any light on this dilemma of mine at the moment? All three of these ships are sunk in Truk Lagoon.

Hello Quincy
I have no Idea why the Japanese model companies continue to do this. I have a large collection of photos of Pre-war Japanese Merchant Ships, including a number of overhead shots and in nearly all of them; the working area around the hatches is always steel deck. The only exceptions I can find are passenger ship, whale factory ships and ships converted over to sea-plane tenders.
On some of the freighters, the very bow and stern (poop deck) area was planked but the area around the cargo hatches was always steel deck. This makes sense because a wood deck requires far more work to maintain than a steel one, and with a freighter small crew they would not have had the time or manpower to maintain it. My advice is to sand down the wood planking and paint the deck reddish-brown to rust color, for pre-war ships, or hull color for wartime ships.
Redoctober 27
I cannot find any differences between the Tonan Maru No.2 and the Tonan Maru No.3 and I have photo of both of them. They look identical.

Ron Wolford

Thank you Ron, for your input. It is much appreciated , and I agree with you on the metal/wood deck theory. The new Pitroad Irako kit comes to mind, and I still can't figure out why they went with an all wooden deck(s)? Onward, and forward I guess!




Bob Pink.

I'm looking for detailed information (images, specs, etc.) on Japanese merchant ships sunken at Kwajalein Atoll during WWII.
In 1971 I wrote, Kwajalein: Lagoon of Found Ships. It's long out of print, and I'm hoping to revise and republish.
I have lots of photos/video of some of the sunken ships (some of which we identified by name), and want to find out more about the ships.
I'm hoping to hear from you!
Thanks!
John

Can you post the list of ships?

IJN Merchantmen sunk in Kwajalein:

Southern Atoll shipwrecks:
Akibasan Maru 375 ft. overall length
Asakaze Maru 424 ft.
Choko Maru 340 ft
Ikuta Maru 302 ft.
Shinsho Maru 373 ft.
Tateyama Maru 340 ft.


Northern Atoll Shipwrecks:
Eiko Maru No.2 340 ft.
Kembu Maru 397 ft. ex. Federlock HMS


Hope this helps you out.


Bob Pink.

John,
The 'go-to' pages I use for this sort of info are:-
http://www.jsu.or.jp/siryo/map/allmaria ... zerin.html
plus ONI-208J , the Miramar Ship Index and the excellent Nihon Kaigun website which now lists the TROMS for a large number of Japanese Merchant Ships

I look forward to seeing the new copy of your book. A fitting companion to my copy of Truk: A diver's guide by Roy Smallpace (ISBN 0-946020-22-1)

Jim S

Fairey Kikaku has a couple other new offerings on HLJ, all in 1/700. The IJN Yamazuki Maru 1942, DKM SS. Hindenberg 1942, and DKM Urundi 1940-4.


Hopefully they get the decking material right on the Yamazuki Maru.


Bob Pink.

Forgot to add that you could make Yamazuki's other 4 sisters from this kit.

Shinko maru an auxiliary minelayer would have the easiest paint scheme, being all gray.

Zenyo, Yamagiri, and Keiyo Marus having a way more complex camouflage schemes.



Bob Pink.

Bob,
Yamagiri Maru yet another ship sunk at Truk. Fairy Kikaku clearly favour ships from a specific time/theatre of war.

Needless to say, I've ordered one!

Jim S

Another Fairy Kikaku 1/700 IJN Merchantman- Kyushu Maru 1942. Backordered on the HLJ website.


Bob Pink.

Just ran across this video, including color footage of a Type 2A

https://youtu.be/36BcL-6OPwI

Enjoy!

_________________
-- Scott