Calling all Japanese pre-war/wartime Merchant Marine fans

[MatthewB]

And Five Star Models also makes a 10th Year Type 120mm AA gun:

https://freetimehobbies.com/1-700-five- ... -gun-4set/





And, again, here is the 120mm 3rd Year Type:

https://freetimehobbies.com/1-700-five- ... ield-4set/




The TROM for the Heian Maru says they are the 10th Year Type.

But for the Argentina and Brasil Maru, I can find no information as to whether they are 3rd Year or 10th Year Type.


I would guess they would probably be 10th Year Type, given that was 1935, and 3rd Year Type were from 1928. Of course, being Auxiliary Transports, and early in the war, 3rd Year Type isn't impossible.

It looks like the only difference is the mount, which on the 3rd Year Type was a conical pedestal, and the 10th Year was an AA Mount, with seating for a pointer and an aimer.

As for when they were mounted, I find this entry in the TROM

5 May 1942:
At 0850 departs Kure for gunnery trials in Hiroshima Wan before returning at 1430 that day. Loads ammunition, sake, general supplies and 816 Kure Naval Landing Force troops.

I am guessing that one would have been mounted on a hexagonal Bow-platform, and the other on a hexagonal Stern-platform?

MB

[Story]

In case anyone missed it, I think this counts (albeit in a larger-than-most scale)
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=163743

[matteo reich]

hi guys, I'm searching for pictures or plans about Kashi Maru, built in 1940 by Osaka Iron Works and sunk in Mbaeroko Bay by Mitchells.
Hope you can help me

[Quincy]

Fairy Kikaku has released a 1/700 Resin IJN San Francisco Maru. It is backordered now on the HLJ website.


Bob Pink.

[ijnfleetadmiral]

hi guys, I'm searching for pictures or plans about Kashi Maru, built in 1940 by Osaka Iron Works and sunk in Mbaeroko Bay by Mitchells.
Hope you can help me

I have one pic of her:
http://imgur.com/58zh4zx

[Jim Smith]

Matteo,

Suggest you look at ONI-208J Supplement which details coastal freighters and sea trucks. A good starting point is page 67

http://archive.hnsa.org/doc/id/oni208j- ... /pg067.htm

Kashi Maru was 654 tons and about 50 metres long

Here's a link to the location where she was bombed:

http://www.jsu.or.jp/siryo/map/new_solo ... ngara.html

ijnfleetadmiral,
Your picture reference shows the Kasii Maru of Kokusai Shipping Co Ltd. She was a 8000 tonner built in 1936

Hope this helps
Jim S

[Dan K]

Yes, the imgur photo is of Kashii Maru, Kiyosumi Maru class.

[matteo reich]

thank you guys!!! Always precious!!!!

i'll search also between auxiliary minelayer as some sources mark kashi maru as one of them, i'll keep you updated

[Giampiero]

Ciao to all

The update master kit RM009 Ramb and new set PE for kit
Ramb II ( Calitea II - Ikutagawa Maru )


https://www.dropbox.com/s/bfngix6rpn91u ... n.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1k35cpo7d4kb9 ... 2.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hrphm8z4k7kzy ... 1.jpg?dl=0

[Dan K]

That's pretty cool. I knew nothing of this ship or her sisters. Great PE set.

[DougKn]

Thanks for posting on the RAMBs. The class of four ships served under the flags of Italy, Germany, UK and Japan during the War. Interestingly, RAMB III is still afloat, as the Croatian GALEB, ex-President Tito's yacht.

[Jim Smith]

According to the HLJ website I see Fairy Kikaku are following up San Francisco Maru with the release of Nippo Maru (Water Transporter).

There is clearly a theme emerging - merchantmen sunk at Truk Atoll. Fairy Kikaku even include the tanks,,trucks and guns that can still be seen on the wrecks (checkout any dive site for Truk)!

I've just finished San Francisco Maru (pics soon) but the model does take quite a bit of work especially with the hull coming in 3 sections!!

Jim S

[Quincy]

Jim, do the hull sections come with locator pins?


BobPink

[Jim Smith]

Bob,
No such luck!! After an evening of filling/sanding, filling/sanding I decided that no amount of effort was going to overcome the issue of the 'join'. I finally decided to clad my model in .010x.040, .010x.060 and .010x.100 Evergreen plastic strips.

The 'join' is not so apparent from the plan view (Directly overhead) because of the placing of the superstructure.

I also replaced the funnel, vents and lifeboats of the kit as they had a lot of flash and were poorly defined.

Having said all that, all credit to Fairy Kikaku to producing some obscure subjects. I for one will be ordering Nippo Maru.

Here are some pics of my model (in pre-war Kokusai Kisen colours)

[Jim Smith]

Bob,
Thought you might also like to see some of my other stock boats (so called because they were either built or on the stocks at the end of WW1. These were sold, heavily discounted, to Japanese shipping companies. The design carried on into the 1920s)

Here are China Maru and Norway Maru in Kawasaki Kisen colours. I built these using the plans in Iwashige-san's book and other photo references.

Enjoy!

[Quincy]

Jim, your scratchbuilds of China and Norway marus are outstanding! They look very elegant in their prewar guise. I had a feeling about San Francisco maru. I'll have to buy some more putty! I have Nippo maru back ordered too. I'm glad too that Fairey Kikaku is releasing IJN merchant ships.


Bob Pink

[Dan K]

I agree, beautifully done, Jim.

[Quincy]

Another Truk Lagoon theme IJN Merchant from Fairy Kikaku, the 1/700 IJN Syotan(Shotan) Maru 1944. It has been backordered on HobbylinkJapan website. Along with this are 2 Finnish WW2 Merchants from the same company. These could be made into IJN merchantmen with some research to determine what ships they could closely resemble. Just a heads up for you all!



Bob Pink.

[Jim Smith]

Bob,
Thanks for the tip-off about Syotan Maru. There's a good reference to the dive site and a plan of the ship here (although it is listed as MatsuMaru):-
https://4travel.jp/travelogue/11046552

NB Yet to start on Nippo Maru but will post photos when completed.

Jim S

[Jim Smith]

Just starting out on the Fairy Kikaku 'Nippo Maru'

Once the trial of matching the 3 hull pieces (with the attendant filling/filing/sanding etc ) is over I plan to build her in the pre-war colours of Okazaki Honten KK.

There is a lovely photo of it on the Nihon Kaigun website:-
http://www.combinedfleet.com/Nippo_c.htm

My usual question is :- Does anyone know the funnel colours shown in the picture. My usual sources have come up blank.

Your answers eagerly awaited.

Thanks