The Ship Model Forum

Hi guys!
Here is my building log for IJN Kaga, 1/700 Fujimi kit plus Fujimi detail set and AKA deck upgrades.

Im planning on building the triple hangar layout from scratch, but the photos and drawings are limited to be found on the internet. I will share my findings and would really appreciate any sharing from you guys.
I have 2 issues at the moment with the kit, based on observation and conjecture from the triple deck stage ship yard photos. Correct me if I am wrong here.

I recon the mordenization was based on triple deck design with limited strip out done, Japs had their budget tight. Later modernization for Akagi had an even tighter budget.
1. The overhang under the aft flight deck behind the aft lift well has an opening plus a cat walk at its end towards aft, and I suspect there are 2 objects seated there (probable optical devices?) The large overhang section seems like a crews' quarter given its lower height and less supprt for weight carrying.
2. The inner supporting structure above the aft 8" casemates above the aft boat deck is not horizontal as per Fujimi; they were prob original supports for the large funnel running aft, sheeted after mordenization, and tilted.

To be continued

Thanks for watching!

Oh, W O W , 'Nathan'.....you are doing Both carriers at the same time???? Good Luck!!!

As far as getting help in building the 3-deck IJN Kaga, I cannot help ya, but There ARE a few of us here that can help you........if you can 'Dan K' help me Quite a bit when I was building my IJN Kaga - Battle of Midway IJN Kaga, and I have seen his name quite a few times when building IJN ships/carriers. And there are others!!!

Again, good luck!!!

Mario

Thanks Dave for your sharing!



Thanks Mario I'm building KAGA's hangar because of your extraordinary work on carrier Shandong. Now I have to dig into your past KAGA post  
For now I'm leaning towards building 1942 midway stage KAGA, with its 3 hangar decks displayed on the side. I might use some transparent/translucent materials.
(Although the lower hangar deck had no aircraft elevator access, which is prob a machinery storage with a tiny lift, I need more evidence on this)

Another fantastic effort, Nathan.



I wonder about that. The Japanese Wikipedia article seems emphasize that the improvements were not limited by cost. One example: " Kaga's refurbishment was not only to eliminate defects since its completion, but also to improve performance, so the work required a lot of man-hours, and it was one of the largest ships of the Japanese Navy."



I'm not sure what might be there. The available photos for this area are not particularly sharp. Many of the ones that you've posted from the KMM are, I believe, from her original construction. I could be wrong about that. Tetra just has a railing around that area, but who knows what their references were. Keep in mind that her entire stern, and the flight deck, was lengthened by 30+ feet during the reconstruction.
I agree about the likelihood of the structure being crew quarters, or storerooms.



Assuming we're referring to the same thing, I think those trestle supports were for the flight deck, and inclined to allow passage of the large funnel tubes.

Thanks for correcting me Dan, most reference photos I could use were ship yard photos at her early stage.
I m lucky to have an expert advising here

I also have 3 more doubts:
1. There is a third hangar deck same as Akagi but according to my research there isnt any plane elevator access but a small lift. Is this true? if so what were stored in there and how big was the small lift? This decides weither spare planes were stored there.



2. the original internal structure(on hangar decks) for portside funnel were not removed/reconstructed, Hangar space did not gain at this area. Is this true?



3. my hangar layout is soly depending on a plan drew in a Japs megzine, and drawing from its three deck stage. I wonder if there are other drawings out there?




TIA

Aft overhang structure behind aft elevator:


some updates




A test fit with Planes in middle hangar deck

Continued nice work



The third, aftmost elevator accessed what is essentially a half hangar deck. This deck was used for aircraft repair and maintenance as well as storage.



I believe so. The illustration below is by Jon Parshall, but was not published in his Shattered Sword book IIRC. It does seem to indicate no changes aft. I have some other references at home that I will double-check.



Well, Jon's graphic gives you the upper two hangar decks. Again, I'll look at home.

I also know of (but do not have) this Japanese book about Kaga. Maybe this is the same as your source?

Beautiful work!
I'm following with great interest!

Thanks again, Dan, for your valueble information!




I m interested in the source of aft elevator access to lower hanger deck. I could not get my hands on the Maru book you posted, I assume there must be evidences in it.


In this drawing it says (**)planes/machinery hangar, due to poor resolution I couldnt read them all. It could be planes in parts or simply machinery. note there is small rectangular object at the end, I guess that could be the lift?


Source of this corpped pic is from Twiteer account RX2662, he shares interesting WWII IJN photos and diggings, give him a follow if you find his content interesting. He mentioned the full version of this blue print can be viewd at Kure Museum library.





It matches the drawing from other source, aft elevator shaft did not reach lower hangar deck.

small update:

You're working quickly, with nice results.

I have a similar set of references to the set of deck plans where you have circled the area in question in red. I have the same lack of an indicated elevator shaft. I can't say why this is. Makes no sense; no other way to move the aircraft up.

To be honest anyone who would have had first hand knowledge of the access to the lower hanger is probably long dead. or over 100 years old.

You are using pre-modification drawings and saying there is no access to the lower hanger, but pictures taken of Kaga on the way to the Pearl Harbor attack show the rear (aft) elevator raised above the flight deck. This elevator has always been described as a three story elevator, in this position the middle elevator is on the flight deck. The lower elevator would be on the upper hanger deck in this photo. When the upper elevator is in the upper hanger deck the lowest elevator would be on the lowest hanger deck, and the middle elevator would be on the middle hanger deck.
Being a three story elevator is the only way the elevator could rise above the deck like that.

_________________
Our CO prior to flying to the boomer: “Our goals on this patrol is to shoot missiles and torpedoes.”
Junior Nuke Officer (me) : “Captain, don’t we really want to be like Monty Python and ‘Not be seen’?”
CO “You seem to be missing the big picture”
“Oh”

Thanks Dan , yes I am confused as well, based upon the drawings the lift access is so little, not even good for tranfering spare planes in parts, ineffective and does not make sense. Would you post your drawings if not too much trouble?





Hi Morgan, Thank you for your input.
1. I am confused about the 3rd lower hangar deck and haven't decided whether to put it into my build and what was stored in it, hence raising the question.
 Most of the photos and drawings I used are pre-modification. I can only assume no changes were made based on photo evidence until new information proves otherwise. If there are good sources of modernisation references, I'd love to get my hands on them and quickly correct my building plan.

2. If I am not mistaken, I assume you are saying because the aft elevator has 2 decks therefore it must had access to 3rd lower hangar. An elevator with 2 decks does not indicate it works in a 3 story structure, nor rule out the possiblity it works in a 2 story structure.

3. If I am not mistaken, you are referring to the aft elevator shaft cover. There were some interesting discussions about this particular structure, and I am convinced its movement only contains elevating when the actual elevator platform raises to flight deck level. The elevator cover you mentioned did not act as an elevator and actual aft elevator is single levelled. This design was used on Ryujo,Akagi and Kaga, due to poor elevator stops at that stage and the location of the elevator/plane landing area. The cover had 2 ears on each side, it is visible from above.

I had been musing about why there's no access to the lower deck via that elevator when I realized that information might be available in a new volume from Hans Lengerer, who's been researching and writing about the IJN for over 50 years.

Have a look:

Thanks Dan this explains it well. I will build top and middle hangar only then.

Here is a little update

Most interesting, Nathan. Are you creating a custom, clear acrylic hangar deck?

Very cool!

Rear deck