Calling all IJN Kagero-class (陽炎) fans

[Tracy White]

I figured with the Hasegawa 1/350th Yukikaze 1940 out and a 1945 announced that it was time to address this shortcoming.

I have a review of the 1940 Yukikaze kit that has been sent off to Cadman & Sean; I'll add a link to it here when it gets posted.

Kagero class kits updated 3/9/23 - DK

1/700

Aoshima 1972 � 1st Generation � all discontinued

Kagero 1940 - Item # 15049, kit# WLS 33
Yukikaze 1945 - Item # 15063, kit # WLS 41
Amatsukaze 1940 - Item # 15100, kit # WLS 52
Shiranui 1940 Item # 150??, kit # WLS 57

Pit-Road 1992 � 2nd Generation (still in production)

Kagero 1940 - Item # 10410, kit # W24, released 1993(?)
Yukikaze 1945 - Item # 10427, kit# W25, released 1993(?)
Isokaze 1945 - Item # 12551, kit # W87, released April, 2006
Hamakaze 1945 - Item # 12568, kit # W88, released April, 2006
Kagero 1940 FH- Item # 13091, kit # W109, with full hull option, released November, 2007
Isokaze 1945 Extra Edition- Item # ? , kit # W87F, limited edition (don�t know why), released December, 2007
Yukikaze 1945 FH- Item # 10427, kit# W25M, with full hull (�limited Edition�), released December, 2008
Maikaze 1941 - Item # 41483, kit # SW09, with full hull option, released, December, 2010
Shiranui 1941 FH, NE - Item # 44149, kit # SPW14, full option, new NE05 accessary parts, released February, 2012
Yukikaze 1945 FH- Item # 17167, kit# W162, with full hull option, released March, 2014
Amatsukaze 1940 FH, NE - Item # 49366, kit # SPW30, full option, new NE05 accessary parts, released July, 2014
Urakaze 1945 FH, NE - Item # 49373, kit # SPW31, full option, new NE05 accessary parts, released September, 2014
Tokitsukaze 1940 FH, NE - Item # 49397, kit # SPW33, full option, new NE05 accessary parts, released November, 2014
Nowaki 1945 FH, NE - Item # 51284, kit # SPW36, full option, new NE05 accessary parts, released March, 2015
Oyashio 1945 FH, NE - Item # 64079, kit # SPW60, full option, new NE05 accessary parts, released April, 2019
Yukikaze 1941/1945 - Item # 21621, kit# W252, early or late war fit option, released March, 2023


Aoshima 2003 � 3rd Generation (still in production)

Kagero 1941 - Item # 33531, kit # WLS #442, released May, 2004
Hayashio 1941 - Item # 33548, kit # WLS #443, released May, 2004
Yukikaze 1945 - Item # 33951, kit # WLS #444, released May, 2004
Akigumo 1943 - Item # 33968, kit # WLS #445, released June, 2004
Maikaze 1942 - Item # 34071, kit # WLS #447, released August, 2004
Hamakaze 1942 - Item # 34088, kit # WLS #446, released August, 2004
Kuroshio 1942 Super Detail- Item # 34835, Battle of Lunga Point, with a small photoetch fret included, released October, 2004
Isokaze 1945 Super Detail- Item # 34842, Ten Ichi-Go Operation, with a small photoetch fret included, released October, 2004
Yukikaze 1945 Full Hull - Item # 040355, released October, 2007
Isokaze 1945 Full Hull - Item #40362, released October, 2007
Amatsukaze 1942 - Item # 011379, kit # WLS #458, released January, 2015


Fujimi 2010 - 4th Generation

Yukikaze 1945, set of 2 - Item # 400969, kit # SWM (EX) � 36, released September, 2010
Hamakaze/Isokaze 1945 - Item # 401003, kit # SWM (EX) � 47, released February, 2011
Shigure 1944/Yukikaze 1945 set - Item # 430744, kit 3 SWM (EX) � SP39, �Lucky Ship�, one each Shiratsuyu and Kagero class destroyer, released July, 2014
Yukikaze/Hamakaze 1945 set of 2� Item # 470108, kit # 1/700 EASY (EX) no. 11, with colored parts, Linoleum deck stickers, released Sept. 2015
Yukikaze 1945 Full Hull DX, set of 2 � Item # 451251, kit # 1/700 IJN FHSP-21, with full hull option, dedicated PE sets, released August, 2017
Shigure 1944/Yukikaze 1945 set - Item # 431819, kit 3 SWM (EX) � SP98, �Lucky Ship�, same as above, new box, released Sept., 2017
Yukikaze/Urukaze 1945 set w/deck masks� Item # 4431888, kit # SWM (EX) SP-85, with deck masks, released November, 2017
Yukikaze 1945, Full Hull, set of 2 - Item # 4451633, kit # FH-12, colored lower hull option, new 25mm, released March, 2022


Fujimi NEXT 2016 � 5th Generation (Snap-Fit type assembly)

Yukikaze/Isokaze 1945 set of 2 � Item # 460093, kit # 1/700 Fune NEXT no. 5, with some colored parts, WL & FH options, released Dec. 2016
Shiranui/Akigumo 1941 set of 2 � Item # 460253, kit # 1/700 Fune NEXT no. 11, with some colored parts, WL & FH options, released March. 2018
Shiranui/Akigumo 1941 set of 2 Special Edition � Item # 460345, kit # 1/700 Fune NEXT no. 11 EX-1, with some colored parts, WL & FH options, full PE set, released August. 2018
Yukikaze/Isokaze 1945 set of 2 w/cutters � Item # 460390, kit # 1/700 Fune NEXT no. 5 EX-1, with some colored parts, WL & FH options, sprue cutter, released March. 2019
Yukikaze/Isokaze 1945 set of 2 � Item # 460529, kit # 1/700 Fune NEXT no. 5, with full colored parts, WL & FH options, improved decals, released March, 2019
Shiranui/Akigumo 1941 set of 2 � Item # 460758, kit # 1/700 Fune NEXT no. 11, with full colored parts, WL & FH options, released December. 2019


Pit-Road/Flyhawk � 6th Generation

Kagero 1940 (as-built) - Item # 20273, kit # W213, released February, 2020
Yukikaze 1945 - Item # 21133, kit # W232, released March, 2022
Yukikaze 1945Dlx - Item # n/a, kit # W232S, with Shyrna full PE set, Released March 2022


1/350

Hasegawa issued (slightly overscale for 1/350)

Yukikaze 1940 - Item #40063, released May, 2006
Yukikaze 1945 - Item # 4022, Kit #Z22, released September 2006
Yukikaze 1940 Limited Edition - Item #40063SP, 1/350 Kawanishi H8K �Emily� seaplane included, released November, 2006
Isokaze �Super Detail� - Item # 40069, early, mid, or late war fit options plus comprehensive PE set, released August, 2008
Kagero �Super Detail� - Item # 40072, early, mid, or late war fit options plus comprehensive PE set, released March, 2009
Nowaki �Super Detail� - Item # 40094, early, mid, or late war fit options plus comprehensive PE set, released February, 2017
Akigumo mid 1943 - Item # 40100, Evacuation of Kiska fit with diahatsu and cradle, released February, 2019
Hamakaze 1942 �Super Detail� - Item # 40101, 1942 Battle of Midway fit plus comprehensive PE set, released October, 2019
Yukikaze 1940 Detail Up - Item #4000016, 1/350 Kawanishi H8K �Emily� seaplane included plus comprehensive PE set, released Feb, 2022
Hamakaze 1945 �Super Detail� - Item # 40108, Ten Ich-Go Operation fit, plus comprehensive PE set, released September, 2022


Tamiya issued

Yukikaze 1945 - Item # 78020, 1/350 Ship (Tamiya) , No.20, issued October, 2008
Kagero 1941 - Item # 78032, 1/350 Ship (Tamiya) , No.32, issued November, 2015


Fujimi issued

Kagero class Yukikaze 1945 � Item # 460123, 1/350 Fune Next , No.3, issued April, 2017
Kagero class Kagero 1941 � Item # 460178, 1/350 Fune Next , No.4, issued Sept, 2017
Kagero class Kagero 1941 Special Edition �Item # 460413, 1/350 Fune Next , No.4 EX-1 with photo etched parts, colored kit parts, issued January, 2019
Kagero class Yukikaze 1945 Special Version �Item # 460499, 1/350 Fune Next , No.3 EX-1 with enhanced photo etched parts, colored kit parts, issued March, 2019
Kagero class Kagero 1941 � Item # 460451, 1/350 Fune Next , No.4, with some revised parts, issued April, 2019
Kagero class Yukikaze 1945 � Item # 460482, 1/350 Fune Next , No.3, with some revised parts, issued June, 2019
Kagero class Yukikaze 1945 � Item # 460895, 1/350 Fune Next , No.3 EX-2 with enhanced photo etched parts, colored kit parts, crew, issued June, 2022
Kagero class Kagero 1941 � Item # 460901, 1/350 Fune Next , No.4 EX-2 with enhanced photo etched parts, colored kit parts, crew, issued July, 2022



ModelGallery

1/200 scale
Kagero By Mike Czibovic
Shiranuhi by Mario Grima

1/350 scale
Kagero 1942 by Rob Mackie (SteelNavy.com)
1/350th Yukikaze Build in-progress by Tom Kristiansen
Kagero (H) - May 1943 by Claudio Cruciani: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
A beautiful build of IJN Yukikaze (T) by Nanond Nopparat: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
IJN Yukikaze (T) by Elven Wong: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
IJN Yukikaze (H) by Peter Hoskins: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
IJN Yukikaze (H) by Victor Tropa Ayala: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
A perfect pair - IJN Kagero (T) & Yukikaze (T) by Hyun Soo Kim: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
An exquisite IJN Yukikaze (T) by Hyun Soo Kim: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm



1/700 scale
Hamakaze by Yufei Mao
IsoKaze by Brilliant Tang
Isokaze by Huang Ming-hsiang
A nice diorama of Yukikaze (Aoshima) during Operation Ten go by Won-hui Lee: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

[graham]

After looking at this site I am going take up gardening or mow the lawn this guy needs a life what he has done with a 1/700 Yukikaze has to be seen to believed
Graham Murdoch

[Horst]

Hello - this is my first post in this forum.

I have begun to build Hasegawas 1940 YUKIKAZE 1/350.

Three questions for the experts please:

1. Is there a colour-chart on the web, where i can find the Humbrol or ModelMaster enamels for this project? (Sasebo grey / linoleum).

2. Every model-pic on the net shows the underwater section from the Ship in red - Hasegawas instruction say : chocolate brown - what is right?

3. I plan to buy the Eduard pe set - is it ok?

Merry Christmas

Horst

[Dan K]

IJN Hull Red is dark red. Tamiya's version is said to be the closest match, XF-9

[chuck]

1941 versuon of Kagero seem to have only depth charge mortars, with no stern depth charge roll off racks. When did Japanese destroyers start to acquire the stern depth charge roll-off racks?

[Dan K]

I'll reprise my Main Forum response here:

Well, Yukikaze will not see any upgrades until May/June 1943 when her twin 25mm are replaced by triples and one twin 25mm mounted in front of the bridge. There is a 2nd refit in late 1943 when she gets the new foremast and Type 22 radar. X turret IS NOT Removed at this time - another few months before that happens.

In 1942, she'll look like prewar, just without the div #s and ID on her sides.

[mw 1378]

Hi Guys,

I currently building my Yukikaze 1940 completion from Hasegawa. As I found a set of Veteran Binoculars and voicepipes in my stash, I decided to use them. Has anybody a source wich type of binocular was on wich place on the bridge. I did not found any good photo to say clear how to do it right.

Thanks a lot

Marc

[Dan K]

I'll check

[Dan K]

THe IJN used a mix of 6cm. 8cm, 12cm, & 18cm binoculars. I cannot be certain but it seems that the 12cm are the most widely used on the bridge, though there is a mix of types.

[mw 1378]

Hi Dan,

Thanks a lot, will use the 12cm variant. ......all not so easy as in US Navy, where you find real good photos nearly everywhere.

Best regards

Marc

[Dan K]

Well, there is this postwar photo of Yukikaze's bridge (credit NHC & Gakken #19). I'm betting those are 12cm unots, but I'll let you measure them

[chuck]

Dan, do you know if the serachlight abaft the aft funnel on the Kageros were the 110 cm type?

[Gilbert]

Dan, do you know if the serachlight abaft the aft funnel on the Kageros were the 110 cm type?

Hello Chuck,

Not Dan, but they were smaller. Actually 90 cm type according to the various Kagero Class kits I have in my stash.

Gilbert

[Dan K]

Gilbert is correct on that.

Chuck, you asked an intriguing question when you inquired: 1941 version of Kagero seem to have only depth charge mortars, with no stern depth charge roll off racks. When did Japanese destroyers start to acquire the stern depth charge roll-off racks?

The short answer seems to be sometime in 1943. I had been examing the Tamiya 1/350 Yukikaze 1945 and was wondering, how far back could one take this version? The kit comes with 2 weapons sprues and therefore, 4 turrets, which helpes with the original configuration.. Eliminating the 25mm emplacement on the the aft deckhouse is pretty easy. The stern piece is configured for late war, so I though that could be a limiting factor until I thought of a particular photo. I posted my idea on J-ships to get some feedback but I'll post my inquiry and photo so you can get the drift of my thinking, and I will report further soon:

Reassessment of Kagero type DD at Rabaul 1943 photo
� on: May 29, 2009, 01:03:44 pm �

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have been researching the attached photo of a Kagero class DD at Rabaul, 1943, or so it has been termed in Maru Special #41. I've not seen it in an other publication that I can recall. We have seen, and discussed this photo numerous times in the past, under several different topics. As far as I can recall, most sources cannot ID the specific ship and leave it as a Kagero type at Rabaul 1943.

Recently, I found this same photo on this Japanese website (halfway down): http://futabamil.hobby-web.net/souko/am ... p?res=3012

Here, the author seems to identify it specifically as Yukikaze at Rabaul in early July 1943. I ran the caption thru the Babelfish translator for a rough translation. I gather that it seems likely to be Yukikaze, though not certainly. Also, that the photo was taken from the oiler Naruto and that there is another Kagero and a Yugumo type DD in the background and the dates are sometime between July 11 and 15.

Now, this is very illuminating as for two reasons. One, it would help confirm a rare photo of a Kagero type, perhaps even Yukikaze, in a midwar refit that already includes the forward 25mm platform, a revised foremast to carry a Type 22 radar (not yet installed), retention (up to this point) of #2 main turret, and what looks like roll-off depth charge racks. Yukikaze, along with a half-dozen other Kagero types, had visited a navy yard in the first half of 1943 and would possible have undergone such a refit.

Two, it might allow us to pin down a specific ship. In my research, I came across the fact that Yukikaze, along with sister Hamakaze, and Yugumo class DD Kiyonami, participated in the action termed the Battle of Kolombangara on July 13th, 1943. Their TROMS, and that of Naruto, also confirm a presence at Rabaul within the same broad time period. Could this be a photo of these very same 3 DDs either prior to or following the action? Hamakaze�s TROM also indicates timing for a refit very similar to Yukikaze so, it could very well be her in front. This would give us one of two specific ship possibilities.

Aside from clarifying the historical record, the benefit to a modeler such as myself is that it would allow use of the Tamiya 1945 1/350 kit, (or the Hasegawa version), with just a little backdating, to be used to depict a mid 1943 ship.

Incidentally, here is the caption, if anyone wants to take a crack at it:

??????????
????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???????????????????????????

102?????

Opinions, anyone?

[Dan K]

I want to add that there are photos of other DDs, such as Ushio and Harusame, sporting roll off racks in the last qtr. of 1943; now the question is how early did the trend begin?

[Gilbert]

Hi Dan,

I have looked at "Kagero's class" ships TROMS on Nihon Kaigun website and noticed thatvmany of them came back to Japan for "repairs and or maintenance " in late 1942 or early 1943. Timeframe indicated in the list below :

Kagero - Kure 02/43 for 30 days
Kuroshio - Kure 02/43 for 42 days
Oyashio - Kure 02/43 for 46 days
Hatsukaze - Kure 04/43 for 76 days
Yukikaze - Kure 05/43 for 37 days
Maikaze - Yokosuka 03/43 for 97 days (suffered medium battle damage in 02/42)
Isokaze - Kure 03/43 for 103 days (Medium damage: in air attacks on 8 February; direct bomb hit aft; ten dead.)
Shiranuhi - Maizuru 08/42 until 11/43 (Heavily damaged in 07/42 by USS GROWLER (SS-215); torpedoed outside Kiska Harbor; hull severed abaft the forward funnel; three dead.
Amatsukaze - Kure 12/42 for 66 days
Urakaze - Kure 08/43 for 37 days
Hamakaze - Yokosuka 11/42 for 23 days "(Probably received Type 22 radar during this refit, the first destroyer in the Japanese fleet so equipped)".
Nowaki - Yokosuka 02/43 until 08/43 (Medium damage in air attacks in 12/42 due to near-miss; dead in the water with flooded engine-room; 17 dead)
Arashi - in Japan from 02/43 to 07/43
Hagikaze - Yokosuka 10/42 until 02/43 (in 08/42, hit on No. 3 ("Y") gun turret by heavy bomb from B-17. Turret destroyed, magazine flooded, rudder and prop-shafts damaged; best speed 6 knots; 33 dead and 13 wounded)
Tanikaze - Yokosuka 05/43 for 28 days
Akigumo in Japan 11/42 for 69 days.

"Kagero class" ships omitted are Natsuhio, sunk in 02/42, Hayashio, sunk in 11/42, and Tokitsukaze, sunk in 03/43.

Therefore, from this list, if we assume that stern depth charge roll off racks were fitted during this timeframe, the earliest "Kagero" such fitted would be Hamakaze by mid-December 1942.

Cheers

Gilbert

[Dan K]

That's a very helpful listing, though I don't think any refit before spring 1943 qualifies for the sort of extended refit I laid out, because the trend to upgrade AA is not even instituted until late 1942/very early 1943. Kagero, Oshio and Kuroshio were all sunk together by mining in what, April or May 1943? There is photo of Kuroshio in March 1943 sporting the new 25mm platform in front of the bridge, but no changes to her mainmast or stern. She almost certainly received the triple 25mm replacements in that same refit. Kagero & Oshio seems likely to have received the same AA upgrade given that all 3 members of the same DesDiv were in the yards at the same time.

It's tough to be certain, of course, without ship specific photos. I base my suppositions on the trends that I see emerging across all DD classes, and the IJN as a whole given certain time frames, with regard to AA and radar upgrades.

I am reasonably certain the AA aspect of the upgrade would apply to all ships after February as virtually all undamaged DDs were used to evacuate Guadalcanal and could not be spared for a lengthy refit unless required by damage. Hatsukaze, Maikaze, Isokaze, Shiranui, Urakaze, Nowaki, & Arashi don't qualify for the photo in question based on timing, though they might have gone straight to the full refit including removal of #2 turret. In fact, 2 photos of Nowaki entering drydock in August show her with just the AA upgrade. So, my sense is that changes to the mast, and possibly the depth charge arrangements, did not begin until the late April/May time frame. Tanikaze seems to qualify for this same sort of refit as the DDs in the photo, though I don't think she was in the vicinity. FWIW.

[chuck]

Dan, do you know if the serachlight abaft the aft funnel on the Kageros were the 110 cm type?

Hello Chuck,

Not Dan, but they were smaller. Actually 90 cm type according to the various Kagero Class kits I have in my stash.

Gilbert

Thanks.

[chuck]

Another question concerning obscure details on the Kagero class DD. Photos of the ship in 1945 shows a steel frame on the starboard side of the aft superstructure, over the starboard side main deck between aft torpedo tubes and Y 5" turret, and opposite the 4 reload torpedo storage boxes. The frame was being used for stowing a sizable pile of wooden beams, apparently used for damage control. None of the line drawing of Kagero show this frame. My question is when was this frame installed? Would it have been in place at the start of the war?

[Dan K]

I'm not sure. Arashi and Nowaki show wood shoring lashed to the top and side of the aft deck house in mid 1941, but I'm not clear when the larger lattice framework appeared. I want to look further.