Calling all Japanese pre-war/wartime Merchant Marine fans

[Quincy]

Fairy Kikaku has released another Truk Lagoon wreck, the IJN Nagano Maru in 1/700. It is backordered on the HLJ site.




Bob Pink.

[Quincy]

Fairy Kikaku has released the 1/700 IJN Myoko Maru 1943. She is 364ft with deck guns on fore and aft bandstands. With two 25mm singles amidships. She was built in 1938-39 so, she should be all metal decking, with the only wood being her life boat deck. This should also apply to the Nagano Maru.



Bob Pink.

[Dan K]

Just a quick fyi - Tom's is planning to release a new set, actually a subset of the tanker set, for the IJN merchants. It's primarily a pulley set, but I believe there might also be accommodation anchors, gravity davits, 4 bar railings, maneuvering light arrays, hatches, life rings, maybe even gun bandstands. This came out of a customer request made to Rich at last year's NATS. Not sure of the final item selection and release date, but soon. If Rich reads this, perhaps he'll fill in the blanks.

[Quincy]

Thanks for the info, Dan! That set will come in handy for my ever growing merchant fleet!





Bob Pink.

[Quincy]

Combrig IJN Kasato Maru in 1/700 is a future resin release. She was built in 1900, and is 405ft in length. She was sunk on Aug.9th 1945, by Russian aircraft, in the Bering Sea.

This should be a very nice kit!



Bob Pink.

[reigels]

Combrig IJN Kasato Maru in 1/700 is a future resin release. She was built in 1900, and is 405ft in length. She was sunk on Aug.9th 1945, by Russian aircraft, in the Bering Sea.

This should be a very nice kit!



Bob Pink.

Thanks for the head's up Bob. I see that the instructions are already on line.

http://combrig-models.com/images/storie ... Kasato.pdf

[Jim Smith]

Dan, Guess who the requester for a supplementary merchant ships set was?... I also asked him to consider a selection of crosstrees and king post girderwork. Great to hear Richard has taken it on board - customer satisfaction guaranteed.

Bob, some interesting subjects out there now. Just have to 'up the build rate'!

Jim S

[Dan K]

Dan, Guess who the requester for a supplementary merchant ships set was?... I also asked him to consider a selection of crosstrees and king post girderwork.

Aha! Mystery solved. Jim, good for you for the astute request. It seems to have met your requested specifications: http://www.tomsmodelworks.com/catalog/p ... cts_id=675

I didn't realize you were at the show. I would have liked to have introduced myself.

[Pieter]

Thanks Jim. I have ordered one. Let's see how much of this set i can use on my '50s merchant ships.

[Quincy]

Yes, thank you, Jim! I ordered a couple sets to try out on about at least 50 scratch builds. I might ask Richard to see if he could do a 1900-1920's set. Most of my scratch builds are between that time period.



Bob Pink.

[Jim Smith]

Dan,
Just to clarify. The request was made at the IPMS Nationals in Telford England in November last. Richard is ever the gentleman and allows Don McKeand and others from FineWaterline, including me, to 'bend his ear' with our requests and suggestions.

I hadn't realised they had been released back in February. Needless to say, I have now put in my order for a few sets and look forward to receiving them soon.

Jim S

[Peter Rathgeb]

... The main issue on the Yasukawa Maru kit is, that the hull too low by about
2mm and the shape of the stern is wrong. But these two weak points can be corrected by adding a plate of plastik sheet for the hull height and by filling
and sanding for the stern. Well, that�s what i will do on "my" Yasukawa Maru.
:

I know, it is strange to quote a message of 9 years ago...

Anyway, I will soon receive my Niko 1/700 Yasukawa Maru, and I just would like to ask if there is a good drawing which would help to correct the stern.

By the way, I found this picture of Silvercypress (the "former identity" of Yasukawa Maru) on shipsnostalgia.com, from the collection of their member Andrey Nelogov:

Cheers,
Peter

[Jim Smith]

Peter,
Here are some photos of my version of Yasukawa Maru done some time ago.
I modified the stern with Squadron 'green' putty and added a waterline plate of Evergreen plastic.

As usual with my models I presented her in the civilian colours 0f Kawasaki Kisen (K Line)

[Quincy]

Fairy kikaku is coming out with the 1/700 IJN Aiyo Maru 1943! She is depicted when sunk during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea!



BobPink

[Quincy]

Fairy Kikaku has released in 1/700 the IJN Brisbane Maru 1942 when sunk at Guadalcanal.



Bob Pink.

[Jim Smith]

Sometime last year a friend gave me a copy of a magazine called 'Shipping Wonders of the World'. It was dated September 1936!!

In it was a plan for the Japanese ferry 'Kurenai Maru 2'.

'Nothing ventured, nothing gained' as they say, so I scratch built it in 1/700. Here are some pics.

The beauty of it is, the magazine is available on the web and plans are available under the Merchant Ship Types section.

I am now in the process of building the Japanese Bulk Carrier Hyogo Maru. Problem is there are very few references to this or its sister ship Osaka Maru. I'm particularly interested in the Fleet colours/funnel and house flag of Kobe Sanbashi who operated the ship.

Any help most welcome. I'll post photos when completed.

[Dan K]

Wow. Absolutely beautiful, Jim. Very realistic diorama.

[Quincy]

Spectacular job, Jim!! :



Bob Pink

[Quincy]

1/700 Fairy Kikaku has released both in 1943 IJN Marus Taimei and Nitchiryu. That figures since I'm about 60 percent done scratchbuilding my Taimei Maru!




Bob Pink.

[reigels]

Fairy Kikaku requires about 25% scratch building any how. Sounds like you�re coming out ahead.