IJN Antenna Wire Insulator Colors

InchHigh · Post by **InchHigh** » Wed Apr 18, 2018 11:31 am

Hopefully someone here knows the answer (or answers). What color were the antenna wire insulators used on IJN warships? Specifically I am asking about the ones overhead on the wires between the masts and on the down leads to the ship. I have seen them modeled as black or white, and the 1/10 Yamato model has them in dark brown. Thanks in advance for any information.

Dan K · Post by **Dan K** » Wed Apr 18, 2018 8:12 pm

In the absence of actual color photography, there is no certainty. I believe that red or dark brown is one definite possibility; I seem to remember a surviving example shown somewhere on the net. I've switched from using white to black as I've come to see that as more realistic.

It might be listed somewhere in the reports of the US Naval Technical Mission to Japan, but that will take some research.

InchHigh · Post by **InchHigh** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:13 am

Thanks for your reply, Dan, that is very helpful. I am leaning towards the dark brown myself. White just doesn't look right, but I see it on so many builds there must be some basis for it.

Dan K · Post by **Dan K** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 1:54 pm

I may have been a little premature on this. I didn't look through the Navtech papers, but I did review the clearest photos I could find on various ships. I know some ball type insulators were used on various ships, but these all seem to have what I assume are white ceramic inserts. Please enlarge. Opinions welcome.

InchHigh · Post by **InchHigh** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 12:34 pm

Interesting. I am seeing a white "fuse" type (don't know what else to call them) and the more familiar dark ball type. Several Japanese ship detail books such as the Grand Prix volumes show ball types in series of two or three, but I don't remember ever seeing the "fuse" type before. I initially mistook them for lights but the pics you posted of the two DDs disprove that. Thanks again for all the help, now have to sort out the locations.

k1w1bob · Post by **k1w1bob** » Sat Apr 21, 2018 2:07 am

I think it must be remembered that the insulator will get covered with soot and will show as dark. Most of the ships I've worked on in communications have had the white cigar shape with metal inserts, the other thing is the antenna all should have safety loops as well ( a step too far on 1/700. On 1/700 1 use a small drop of PVA and painted flat black brown sort of a light rusty colour.