Calling all Chitose-class (千歳), Mizuho (瑞穂) and Nisshin (日進) fans

[seigersallee]

Hi All,

New member and first time poster.

http://www.freetimehobbies.com is having a sale on Aoshima kits; so I was able to pick up Chitose for about $8.00.

Now that I have begun to work on her, I have a number of questions about that raised platform that is just aft of mid-ship.

1) What is its purpose?
2) Should it have non-skid on it or is it to be painted the same as the hull (one of the IJN grays)?
3) The raised platform in the Aoshima kit has a few details along the forward edge but most of the platform is featureless, was the platform just smooth with few details?

I'd really like to know the answers to these questions and given all the good information I have gleaned by just reading posts, I suspect that someone here can answer these questions off the top of his head...

Thanks in advance for your help...
Richard

[paulors]

Hi Richard,

Greetings from Brazil! I am planning to build this ship in the near future and faced the same problem - references about it are not very easy to find.

Concerning the raised platform, please find below what I managed to collect.

1) What is its purpose?

The platform supports (four "towers") housed the six midship cranes machinery. Concerning the platform, linking such towers, I guess that it was used to protect the seaplane handling area below.

2) Should it have non-skid on it or is it to be painted the same as the hull (one of the IJN grays)?

Non-skid surface was not used on the platform top and it was painted the same gray as the hull.

3) The raised platform in the Aoshima kit has a few details along the forward edge but most of the platform is featureless, was the platform just smooth with few details?

Yes, it was plain without too much details - three double 25mm AA, two searchlights, the mainmast, one circular antena. This part of the kit could be enhanced with PE - railings on all four sides and supports below - Both Gold Medal Models and Tom Modelworks have sets for IJN auxiliares, including all details you will need to make a very detailed Chitose model.

One question that I still have is related with the large "meatball" painted on such platform. When was it used?

Best regards,

Paulo Roberto

[Gilbert]

One question that I still have is related with the large "meatball" painted on such platform. When was it used?

Paulo Roberto

Bon dia Paulo,

It was used during the battle of Midway as an ID for Japanese aircraft, as the ones spotted on Kido Butai ships.
According to her TROM, "Rear Admiral Fujita's 11th Seaplane Tender Division�s CHITOSE and KAMIKAWA MARU depart Saipan. CHITOSE carries 16 float fighters and four scout seaplanes. Fujita's Division is in Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Kondo Nobutake's Midway Invasion Force with Rear Admiral Tanaka's Transport Group�s TOA MARU No. 2, KIYOSUMI, ZENYO, ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, AZUMA, GOSHU, HOKUROKU, KANO, KEIYO, KIRISHIMA and NANKAI MARUs, oiler AKEBONO MARU and Tanaka's DesRon 2�s light cruiser JINTSU with DesDiv 15�s KUROSHIO, OYASHIO, DesDiv 16�s AMATSUKAZE, HATSUKAZE, TOKITSUKAZE, YUKIKAZE and DesDiv 18�s destroyer-transports ARARE, KASUMI and SHIRANUHI."

Source: Nihon Kaigun website - http://www.combinedfleet.com/kaigun.htm

Cheers

Gilbert

[Dan K]

Some photos in her seaplane tender configuration. Credit Maru Special and Fukui. 1st photo is May 1942

[Gilbert]

Thanks for the pictures Dan. The first one shows indeed one Pete and one Jake and this matches her MI TROM "12 floatplane fighters and 4 scout seaplanes"

Cheers

Gilbert

[paulors]

Dear Gilbert and Dan,

Many thanks the very useful information. Will help a lot!!!

Best regards,

Paulo Roberto

[doog_k]

Does anyone have scale drawings for Chitose?

[Dan K]

As a seaplane tender, or a carrier?

[doog_k]

As a seaplane tender, or a carrier?

Seaplane tender

[Dan K]

Well, Model Art had publsihed several different volumes with 1/700 line drawings. All external.

[able]

[Dan K]

Just absolutely beautiful. You should post some photos to the gallery.

[doog_k]

Lovely, almost makes me want to switch back from Nisshin. But I have my 1/144th scale drawings and a keel cut, so better not

[able-1]

[Quincy]

Bob Pink.

[able-1]

[Gilbert]

Bob Pink.

Ditto

Gilbert

[D-Boy]

Able, those are three models for which I much admire your skills and execution. I have the Chitose and Kitikami maru under construction, with the third waiting in the wings. I hope to achieve something that approaches your detail and washes.

Thank you for further inspiration!

[able_]

[able_]

The new flagship of IJN seaplane fleet