Battleship Part II FAQs

Topics:

Yamato I

 

1/100 Superscale Yamato

Posted By: James Holloway <bobwimple@aol.com>

Date: Tuesday, 4 April 2000, at 7:17 p.m.

 

Sirs, I recently saw a small ad in a Japanese magazine for a 1/100 Yamato kit. I couldn't make out the company name. Does anyone know anything about this kit, such as the size, price and how good it is? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

Posted By: Dennis Klepper <Dennis.Klepper@FAA.GOV>

Date: Wednesday, 3 May 2000, at 6:20 a.m.

In Response To: 1/100 Superscale Yamato (James Holloway)

 

Perhaps I'm a little late with this,but I stumbled onto a web site for ship modelers & located a firm by the name of Loyalhanna Dockyard. It's an English Co. that makes a variety of ships in fiberglass/plastic & resin. They have a 1/96 scale Yamato (108 inches in length by 16 beam). The kit can be purchased in groupings to ease the financial burden. Total cost of the kit is $2092.00 less rudders. You have to make them yourself. The kit is designed for RC operation but can also be a display model.They also have the heavy crusier Chokai which is about 60 inches in length. The web site address is WWW.modelersboatyard.com. There are many companies listed here,some familiar and many that I never heard of before. Check it out.

 

Posted By: Larry Evans <Lae519@aol.com>

Date: Friday, 14 April 2000, at 10:29 p.m.

In Response To: 1/100 Superscale Yamato (James Holloway)

 

I recently purchased the Gakken "IJN BB Yamato Class #2 Pacific War Series #20" from Hobby Link Japan. This book has some great photos as well as the following sections. 16 - 4c pages of a 1/100 scale Yamato, 6 - 4c pages of a 1/16th scale work in progress! And 10 - 4c pages of a cutaway 18.11" triple gun mount. All in all its a fine book, but its 99.9% in Japanese. Makes me wish I had taken Japanese in high school instead of Italian! This book seems to be available, I only waited a few weeks.

By the way these is an ad in the back, (or is it the front) of the book for the 1/100 Yamato book. I think its WWII Series DX #2. Looks like it was published in 1998. Listed retail for 4700 Yen. I'm sure that HLJ will have a listing for it.

 

Yamato Photoetch

Posted By: Kamarul Hairi <jpn001@heitech.com.my>

Date: Monday, 13 March 2000, at 4:45 a.m.

 

I've just got my Gakken WWII Series DX Vol 2 & waiting for Gakken #11 and #20 & my Tamiya 1/350 Yamato from Hobby Link Japan.

I'm thinking of doing the Yamato in 1945 during Ichi Ten-Go (final mission to Okininawa). The Gakken book provide with a superb & detail photo of the model in 1/100 scale during her last mission.

My question is about the other two Gakken books & the battleship yamato by janusz skulski. In what year does the books represent Yamato.

My second question is which photoech (GMM, Toms Modelwork, Eduard, etc) is good to make the Yamato in this year with minimum scratchbulding the parts, as I'm no that good in scratchbuild things.

And lastly can anybody help to translate the text in the Gakken WWII Series DX Vol 2, only the diagram in page 113 (which shows the details about the bridge).

Sorry for asking a lot of question and thanks in advance.

 

Posted By: Mike Connelley <mikeconnelley@yahoo.com>

Date: Wednesday, 15 March 2000, at 12:04 p.m.

In Response To: Yamato Photoetch (Kamarul Hairi)

 

To complement what has already been said, the Skulski book has drawings (both overall and in detail of the superstructure) of her as built in 1941 and as sunk in 1945. The book also details how her appearance changed with each refit, so you can make her at any time in her career. A good part of the book is about the details that didn't change, like the guns and little fittings etc.

I've used the GMM 1/700 set and I have the 1/350 set waiting to go. They're pretty much the same, but the 1/350 stuff has a few extra things like watertight doors and the construction of a few things is more detailed. The set comes with rails (pre-bent for the bow), ladders (you my run out like I did), rails around the turret tops, radars, crane, crane antenna mast, catapults, and other goodies. It's pretty complete. Now, the 1/200 GMM set is basically blown up from the 1/350 set (note, the 1/350 and 1/700 are not just photographic duplicates), so the details are kind of heavy and PE can do better. Tom's Modelworks is working on a new 1/200 Yamato set, if you're really ambitious! I hope this is helpful.

 

Posted By: Kamarul Hairi <jpn001@heitech.com.my>

Date: Tuesday, 21 March 2000, at 4:15 a.m.

In Response To: Re: Yamato Photoetch (Mike Connelley)

 

Thanks for the information.

Now that I'm thinking of obtaining the GMM set, how many set(s) do I need to finish the details without running low of the set(s).

Also in what year does the Tamiya 1/350 Yamato present.

 

Posted By: Mike Connelley <mikeconnelley@yahoo.com>

Date: Tuesday, 21 March 2000, at 5:41 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Yamato Photoetch (Kamarul Hairi)

 

You won't need more than one PE set, but you may need more rails and ladders which you can get extra on the side. The 1/350 Tamiya Yamato represents her as she was in April 1945 when she sank. But, when she sank, she didn't have the single 25mm guns on the weather deck, and she had more tripple 25mm mounts. There are a number of innacuracies in the kit, but it's still a good model.

 

Posted By: Jay Everett <jaynbeth@ticnet.com>

Date: Monday, 13 March 2000, at 11:10 p.m.

In Response To: Yamato Photoetch (Kamarul Hairi)

 

The Skulski book on the Yamato shows configuration drawings for 3 different timeframes. These are: "as built" in 1941, "as rebuilt" in 1944, and "as sunk" in April 1945.

The "as built" and "as sunk" drawings predominate in the first third of the book. The balance of the book shows the details that didn't change during the career of the ship.

 

Posted By: Sami <sami@akol-yoshii.com>

Date: Monday, 13 March 2000, at 11:49 a.m.

In Response To: Yamato Photoetch (Kamarul Hairi)

 

I built the Yamato in 1/700 couple years ago for the Santa Clara nationals with the GMM set. This is a 

superb set to complement and superdetail your model in 1945 configuration. I am sure that the 1/350 set would be the same quality.

 

Posted By: Alpaslan Ertungealp <alp_ert@mail.matav.hu>

Date: Saturday, 25 March 2000, at 4:27 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Yamato Photoetch (Sami)

 

I heard that the 1/700 Yamato set was upgraded according to the new Tamiya release. I have the old set and it seems to fit to the Tamiya version well. I haven't checked out the differences yet. I thought it is worth mentioning.

 

Posted By: Dan Kaplan <dboykap@aol.com>

Date: Sunday, 26 March 2000, at 1:22 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Yamato Photoetch (Alpaslan Ertungealp)

 

I don't have the old GMM PE set for the Yamato but I do have the new one, along with new Auxiliarys set, and all the older IJN sets. IMHO, I think the new sets are a considerable improvement in quality over the old ones, as good as they are. The new ones are more like industrial art than just PE. Very impressive and it shows on the model.

 

Posted By: Alpaslan Ertungealp <alp_ert@mail.matav.hu>

Date: Sunday, 26 March 2000, at 2:37 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Yamato Photoetch (Dan Kaplan)

 

I thought the old sets (at least some of them) were going to be updated and released sometime in spring. Are they available, or the ones you got are the later sets (production-wise)?

 

Posted By: Dan Kaplan <dboykap@aol.com>

Date: Monday, 27 March 2000, at 8:35 a.m.

In Response To: Re: Yamato Photoetch (Alpaslan Ertungealp)

 

The only updated GMM sets for IJN 1/700 that I know of are those for the Yamato/Musashi & the IJN 

Auxiliarys. Everything else is pending spring release as you stated. I went to the new GMM website which announced lots of new and upgraded products to be released( 3/30 per the update). These included sets for carrier aircraft detail, anchors & chains, watertight doors, & assorted cable reels. Also in the announcement "... scheduled for release around summer of this year along with the upgraded IJN Battleship, IJN Cruiser/Destroyer, IJN Aircraft Carrier, and Modern Soviet Warship sets which are now entering their initial design stages. Additional information on these upgraded 1/700 scale shipsets will be posted here at intervals."

Plus, Fine Molds and Pitroad/Skywave have also released expanded PE sets in 1/700 for the IJN.

 

CG of Yamato

Posted By: C. C. Cheng <cheng.150@osu.edu>

Date: Saturday, 26 February 2000, at 9:14 a.m.

 

Check this out.

http://www.biwa.ne.jp/~kawakawa/

Some computer graphixs of Yamato. Although it's

a Japanese page again, you don't need special

software to watch those beautiful images.

 

Yamato references

Posted By: Matt <nitflegal@aol.com>

Date: Wednesday, 23 February 2000, at 1:01 p.m.

 

Tax refund came in and I'm salivating over the Nichimo 1/200 Yamato again (only ~$250 at HLJ) and am trying to gather references. I have a request in at Rainbow 10 for the Model Graphix special, and have had no luck whatsoever finding the Anatomy of the Ship book at the on-line used book finders.

At HLJ there are listings for 3 Gakken books, one $40 dollar one and then two, $18 ones (volume 1&2). There is also a fact-files on the Yamato and other BBs.

If anyone can critique these (and the Gakken ones sound good based on what is on the list about other volumes, but I'm wondering what the difference is between the various volumes) or recommend other, AVAILABLE references, that would be great!

 

Posted By: Rick Marelius <rcmarelius@earthlink.net>

Date: Thursday, 24 February 2000, at 9:11 a.m.

In Response To: Yamato references (Matt)

 

Word was posted on SMML the other day that the Anatomy of the Ship book is slated for reprinting next 

month. This comes from a Chrysalis Books catalog, the successor publisher to Conway who released it originally. I don't know if it will be available through Naval Institute Press here in the states or not - they were the US publishers for Conway's books.

 

Posted By: Mike Connelley <mikeconnelley@yahoo.com>

Date: Wednesday, 23 February 2000, at 5:39 p.m.

In Response To: Yamato references (Matt)

 

I'm afraid that I can't offer too mcuh help critiquing the Gakken books. I've seen a few of those books on the Yamato and they are very good if you can't find the Yamato book. I have the Nichimo kit, however, and although the hull is accurate many of the other parts are either inaccurate or lack detail. I've heard that the Arii kit, although a little smaller at 1/250 scale, is really quite good. I have also heard that GMM (?) is working on a PE set for this kit (the reason I went for the 1/200 kit is that I wanted the biggest kit made plus it was the only one over 1/350 with a PE set). So, perhaps you might consider the Arii Yamato.

 

Arii Yamato kit?

Posted By: Matt <nitflegal@aol.com>

Date: Thursday, 24 February 2000, at 1:56 p.m.

In Response To: Nichimo Yamato (Mike Connelley)

 

Yeah, that brings up a thought that I had. It's not too much smaller, and I've heard some horror stories 

about the Nichimo kit. Can anyone comment on the Arii kit?

 

Posted By: Jay Everett <jaynbeth@ticnet.com>

Date: Sunday, 5 March 2000, at 4:53 a.m.

In Response To: Arii Yamato kit? (Matt)

 

I am currently building the Otaki 1/250 kit. I assume that Arii has just changed the boxart like they have done on a lot of old Otaki kits.

Overall I feel that this is a fairly accurate kit considering the age of the molds. A lot of research has been accumulated since these molds were cut. This kit reminds me of an old Matchbox airplane kit. The shapes are good, but look at how much work there is still to do.

The hull is good, although about .400 inches short. Width is accurate. the tubes that the propellor shafts come out of the hull need totally rebuilt. Work needs to be done on the sides of the hull where the boat launch cavities emerge. A flat area needs to be added on the stern. Chisel off the portholes, most of them were blanked off during the 1944 refit.

The deck is OK, but many of the little details are wrong. Because of the molded in detail on the deck, you really can't build an April '45 boat unless you want to rescribe the already incorrect planking detail and do a lot of engineering work. If your real ambitious, replacing the deck with Evergreen .025 spacing scribed sheet probably would be better.

The superstructure is pretty fair. There is a large structure behind the forward tower stack that was added in the 1944 re-fit which is not present on the model. Also, the vertical levels on some of the decks needs to be reviewed. The aft conning tower shape is a mess. Best to scratch build this also.

The main mast is way out. Possibly some of the parts can be salvaged, but MAJOR work is required. Pay particular attention to the photos in the Skulski book. They don't completely agree with the drawings concering the members that join the 3 main mast components. I don't know if it has to do with changes to the masts over time, or if the drawings are wrong.

The guns and turrets seem to be in good shape. I suggest using brass tubing for the 25mm gun tubs. Appearantly there are two different sizes of tub diameters used on the ship. Open triple-25mm guns that replaced the enclosed turrets are one size tub. Open triple-25mm guns that were added to the deck and on top of the main gun turrets are somewhat smaller.

The biggest dilemma facing me in building this kit is the "treadplate" deck pattern on the bow, stern, and areas on the superstructure. I have decided that I am going to photoetch these areas. Another alternative is to have dry-transfer decals made with this pattern and apply that to the deck. Neither alternative is cheap. In scale, these features scale out to be less than .001 thick. However, their absence will be noticed by people who are use to seeing the oversized parts molded onto the kits. This will be a problem faced regardless of the kit you end up building.

Gold Metal Models is going to do a set in 1/250 scale. I talked to them back around X-mas and they confirmed it for "Spring". I hope that this will be a set to this kit, and not just an enlargement/reduction of one of their existing sets for a different kit.

You will have to have the Yamato book by Skulski, also the Model Art book is usefull. Based on recommendations thru this webpage, I have ordered the Gakken books from HLJ. That was a while back and I don't have them yet. A really good Xerox machine is a must for enlarging or reducing the drawings in the book.

 

Yamato antenna rigging question

Posted By: Jeff McGuire <jmcguire@cyberlodge.com>

Date: Wednesday, 19 January 2000, at 7:52 p.m.

 

I am in the research stage of getting ready to get started on my 1/350 Yamato. I noticed on the box art that the antenna rigging shown is different from what the instructions show. Is this rigging something that would change? Forgive me for my ignorance, but I know very little about ships and antenna rigging and the like. Also, another dumb question; what is to keep out-going shells from hitting and breaking the antenna rigging? The instructions show the antenna running the length of the ship, it just looks as if it would be hard to keep from shooting it. Is there anywhere online that information on this ship could be found? Forgive the ignorance!

 

Posted By: Aldert Gritter <agritter@inn.nl>

Date: Friday, 18 February 2000, at 12:56 p.m.

In Response To: Yamato antenna rigging question (Jeff McGuire)

 

About the first thing to do when having a go at Yamato is to buy "The battleship Yamato" by Janusz Skulski ("Anatomy of the Ship" - series). It contains several indications on the rigging too (besides nearly everything else)

Your question about shooting one's own rigging off isn't dumb at all - not asking questions at all is dumber. I never wondered until now! I really don't know how they would prevent it from happening. I'd say Mr. Cheng is right when broadside firing by main and secondary armament is concerned, but I'm not so sure about the 25mm AA's (those on top of Turrets 2 and 3 just might do it, for instance).

 

Posted By: C. C. Cheng <cheng.150@osu.edu>

Date: Tuesday, 25 January 2000, at 8:48 p.m.

In Response To: Yamato antenna rigging question (Jeff McGuire)

 

Since the rigging of "antenna network" is very complicate, most of the figures only show some significant rigging. I think that's why every figure shows some difference in detail. Of course the rigging sometimes changed during modification.

Don't worry about the rigging interfere the firing. Most warships fire either at port side or starboard side.

 

Yamato "Treadplate" in scale

Posted By: Jay Everett <jaynbeth@ticnet.com>

Date: Monday, 3 January 2000, at 3:06 a.m.

 

I seek your advise. I am at a crossroads in the construction of a 1/250 scale Yamato. Various parts of the deck are covered in what looks to be a "treadplate" surface. Based on the drawings in Skulski's book on the Yamato (p.154), these are more like weld strips. The metric dimensions of each "bump" are given as 20 wide, 200 long, 3.5 thick. In 1/250 scale, this equates to actual inch unit dimensions of 0.00314 wide, 0.03149 long, 0.00055 thick.

Just for something to think about, following are the actual dimensions for other popular scales:

1/200: 0.00393 wide, 0.03937 long, and 0.00068 thick.

1/350: 0.00224 wide, 0.02249 long, and 0.00039 thick.

1/700: 0.00112 wide, 0.01124 long, and 0.00019 thick.

If you don't already have a scale dimension conversion program, go to this URL - http://www.hyperscale.com/reference/calculatorfc_1.htm

Please consider the following 3 questions:

A. How to replicate this. Could you even perceive detail as small as this. Much less not cover it up during painting? (FYI, a human hair is 0.0025 thick)

B. Is it worth attempting?

C. Would people judging a ship category be expecting to see this pattern, and judge against you if it were absent? (expected detail vs. scale detail)

Your thoughts are most appreciated.

 

Posted By: Mike Connelley <mikeconnelley@yahoo.com>

Date: Tuesday, 25 January 2000, at 11:06 p.m.

In Response To: Yamato "Treadplate" in scale (Jay Everett)

 

Yes, I thought the treadplate thickness was a little big when I first read that part of the book, but who am I to argue? Anyway, the only way that I can think of doing that treadplate right is with relief photoetching. I have the Nichimo 1/200 Yamato, and I figure that to do it right I'll have to learn to do my own photoetching. I don't know how hard relief photoetching is relative to regular photoetching as I've never tried any photoetching in my life. So I can't say whether or not it's worth the effort. But, as I plan to do my own photoetching for the 1/200 Yamato, I'll give it a shot. Even in 1/200 scale I think the treadplate detail is too big, and I'm going to replace most all of the decking anyway. It's a pain to do, but I think it'll be noticable if it's not there.

 

Posted By: Paul S. Eisenberg <pesnbrg@marin.k12.ca.us>

Date: Thursday, 3 February 2000, at 1:29 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Yamato "Treadplate" in scale (Mike Connelley)

 

If you are a "purest" this may be upsetting, but I have found that on my 1:200 scale warships, a piece of fine netting, such as bridal veil, "looks good" even if it is a bit off in scale. I work in wood and find that this fine netting can be bonded to the deck surface with a layer of white glue that has been diluted with a bit of water. In my opinion, the results are good.

 

Posted By: jay everett <jaynbeth@ticnet.com>

Date: Thursday, 30 December 1999, at 11:39 p.m.

 

Please comment on the following. I currently have possession of the following books on the Yamato:

YAMATO, by Skulski

Model Art Super Illustrated #414, Battleship YAMATO

Maru Mechanic #52, Battleship YAMATO

I have seen the 3 different titles listed by GEKKAN on the Hobby Link Japan website. Please advise if these three books show enough added/new information to be worth the prices being charged. Also, what is the turn-around on surface shipments from Japan to US?

Your comments will be greatly appreciated.

 

Posted By: Dan Kaplan <dboykap@aol.com>

Date: Friday, 31 December 1999, at 11:24 a.m.

In Response To: Yamato Books (jay everett)

 

I have the Skulski book and all the original Maru specials that pertain to the Yamato class. I also have both Gakken issues, # 11 & # 20 on the Yamato class. I would highly reccomend purchases of the Gakkens as a necessary supplement to your resources. The Gakkens provide an excellent perspective thru the exquisite 1/100 models that they feature. Additional information abounds in the way of previously unknown (to me, anyway), enlarged and uncropped photos. There are additional outlines, line drawings,scale plans, etc.

You might even consider the deluxe issue volume devoted to the 1/100 scale model. I just received the vol. on the Zuikaku and am very impressed. The volume has 3 sections focusing on the model itself, the building of the model, and photos of the real thing. I assume the vol. on the Yamato is similar. It's hardbound and the same size as the Anatomy of the Ship series books.

Service via HLJ depends on availability in stock. My last order took approx. 3.5 weeks to deliver, as I waited on everything purposely.

 

Information on the "Super Yamato" illustrated in the Gakken

Posted By: DANIS Jean-Charles <amar.derni@cfwb.be>

Date: Wednesday, 24 November 1999, at 4:05 a.m.

 

Inside the excellent Gakken book # 20 on the Yamato, there's a three part folded picture(in color)showing a "Super Yamato" Project.

The only thing I understand (Japanese text!)is a date : 1950

It would be an interesting conversion project so, does anyone (who understand Japanese !) can explain me what it is.

 

Posted By: Tennessee Katsuta <kinson-garments@on.aibn.com>

Date: Wednesday, 24 November 1999, at 9:56 p.m.

In Response To: Information on the "Super Yamato" illustrated in the Gakken (DANIS 

Jean-Charles)

 

I have the Gakken book vol.20. Can you describe the picture a little more so we know we are talking about the same picture? Does the picture show "Super Yamato" escorted by a cruiser and a destroyer, with a formation of float planes flying above them? If so, where did you see "1950"? I can't seem to find it! Please let me know which picture it is, and I'll translate it for you!

 

Posted By: gary

Date: Wednesday, 8 March 2000, at 3:28 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Information on the "Super Yamato" illustrated in the Gak (Tennessee 

Katsuta)

 

super yamato is the follow on ship after shinnano with massive 20 inch guns and a standard of 70.000tons paintings can be seen in the garzak/dulin book battleships vol3

 

Posted By: Tennessee Katsuta <kinson-garments@on.aibn.com>

Date: Thursday, 11 November 1999, at 9:31 p.m.

 

An interesting news just fresh off a Japanese site. Apparently some top secret drawings of the Yamato was discovered in the maritime museum at the Kure city. Apparently they were drawn in india ink on a silk cloth! I wonder if any new discoveries regarding the Yamato was made?

 

Posted By: Dan Kaplan <dboykap@aol.com>

Date: Friday, 12 November 1999, at 1:07 p.m.

In Response To: Yamato (Tennessee Katsuta)

 

FYI, a full color reproduction foldout of those blueprints is included in the new Gakken #20, vol. 2 on the Yamato. This is good campanion volume to #11, vol1. Typical of the interesting extras in these volumes is a nice little photo spread & story surrounding a remnant of (and I'm interpolating as I have no Japanese language skills whatsoever) full depth armor plating from one of the Shinano's main 460mm/18.1" turret facings. If I am inferring correctly, these turrets were planned for use as land-based defensive batterys, much in the same manner as were two of the USS Arizona's 360mm/14" turrets that were salvaged and planned as emplacements on Oahu.

 

Super-Yamato Class Conversion Project

Posted By: DANIS Jean-Charles <amar.derni@cfwb.be>

Date: Sunday, 29 August 1999, at 11:28 p.m.

 

I would like to convert the Tamiya Yamato/Musashi 1/350 scale kit into the Super-Yamato Class Battleship (a 1942 Project with six 500 mm guns !).

I wonder where I could find drawings of this Battleship Project.

 

Posted By: V. Tapasanan <tvidya@hotmail.com>

Date: Monday, 30 August 1999, at 1:43 a.m.

In Response To: Super-Yamato Class Conversion Project (DANIS Jean-Charles)

 

The latest Model Graphix magazine (10/1999) has article in Super Yamato Class model converted from original Yamato but it is in 1/700 scale with very good picture. I hope this may help yopu somewhat.

 

Posted By: Ismail Hassenpflug <ismail@kurasc.kyoto-u.ac.jp>

Date: Tuesday, 15 February 2000, at 5:04 a.m.

In Response To: Re: Super-Yamato Class Conversion Project (V. Tapasanan)

 

I'm living as a student in Kyoto for the next three years, a build IJN as a hobby. I didn't notice the Model 

Graphix 10/1999 article, so if someone has the

magazine, would there be a chance of getting a scanned image of the article and

picture? (I can read japanese, so no problem there, as long as the scan is good

enough to read the characters). Yeah, I know it`s copyright, but I can't find the bakc issues anywhere so far.

 

Posted By: V. Tapasanan <tvidya@hotmail.com>

Date: Wednesday, 16 February 2000, at 5:28 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Super-Yamato Class Conversion Project (Ismail Hassenpflug)

 

I am so sorry to inform you that I don't have either Model Graphix (1/1999) or scanner. The only suggestion I have is that you should contact the publisher directly and ask for the back issue (normally they will not charge delivery cost) or ask your local bookstore to order the magazine for you (also free of charge).

 

Posted By: David Roper <droper@staktek.com>

Date: Sunday, 22 August 1999, at 8:51 p.m.

In Response To: Yamato Expedition (JM)

 

Amazing that the Imperial Crest is so intact. My understanding of it's construction is that it was made of teak wood overlaid with gold leaf. Obviously if the crest were not damaged during the attack and the subsequent voyage to the bottom of the sea it could be in such a pristine condition. If I were a billionare I'd be out there looking for the carriers involved in the Pearl Harbor attack too! The crew of the ship doesn't look Japanese -are these the French????

 

Posted By: Mike Quan <MnkQuan@worldnet.att.net>

Date: Tuesday, 24 August 1999, at 8:14 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Yamato Expedition (David Roper)

 

Yes, the Caucasian crew are French. Please see URL below for the English parallel webpage to Asahi's Japanese site.

BTW: The chrysanthemum Imperial Crest of Yamato was made of cyprus wood, not teak.

Editors Note: The link is no longer active

 

Posted By: Jerry Wesolowski <J.wes@worldnet.att.net>

Date: Friday, 8 October 1999, at 8:35 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Yamato Expedition (Mike Quan)

 

By any chance do you know if they did any exploration of the wreck of the YAHAGI? For all the times I've read Capt. Hara's book JAPANESE DESTROYER CAPTAIN. It would be neat to see if they went after and explored her wreck also.

 

Posted By: Mike Quan <MnkQuan@worldnet.att.net>

Date: Saturday, 9 October 1999, at 10:11 a.m.

In Response To: Re: Yamato Expedition (Jerry Wesolowski)

 

AFAIK, very bad weather hampered the Yamato expedition about mid-way into their search. There was 

only a limited amount of funding to pay for the research vessel and operation of the mini-subs, besides obtaining the permission of the Japanese Government to search for only a limited number of days in what is considered their very "sacred" territory because of the fear of plundering of the site as well as its historical significance. Thus, the search was focused entiredly on the Yamato with no thought (or time) devoted to other vessels or wrecks down there. As it was because the weather limited the time spent down below, only a single shoe was recovered for the sponsoring historical shrine (at Kure, I believe). HTH.

 

Posted By: Jerry Wesolowski <J.wes@worldnet.att.net>

Date: Saturday, 9 October 1999, at 9:05 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Yamato Expedition (Mike Quan)

 

Thanks for the info. I was also wondering if, seeing how RMS TITANIC INC. was the ones doing the diving. Does anyone know if there is any chance of a possible special on the Discovery Channel, or The Learning Channel? It would stand to reason because RMS TITANIC INC. has done an awful lot of things with them in the past.

 

Battleship on "Tora, Tora, Tora"

Posted By: Scott Woelm <woelmwx@skypoint.com>

Date: Sunday, 18 April 1999, at 3:16 p.m.

 

In the opening segment of the movie, "Tora, Tora, Tora", there

looks to be a "real" Japanese battleship. I always wondered if

this was the Nagato, since it "survived" the war.

However, based on what I have read from this thread, none of

the battleships survived past 1946.

Was this just a model they used? The rest of the Japanese

vessels were clearly models or American warships.

If ship this was indeed a model, they did an excellent job

of camera work. Particularly when the planes fly by.

 

Posted By: Tennessee Katsuta <kinson-garments@on.aibn.com>

Date: Sunday, 18 April 1999, at 5:15 p.m.

In Response To: Battleship on "Tora, Tora, Tora" (Scott Woelm)

 

The Battleship Nagato you see in the movie is not a model but a life size set, built in Japan. I believe the set was demolished after the filming of the movie was finished. I also recall reading in a magazine that most model ships used in the movie were susequently auctioned off.

 

Yamato I

Posted By: Hiroyuki Takeuchi

Date: Wednesday, 7 April 1999, at 10:25 a.m.

 

Today is April 7th.

Besides being my dad's birthday (^^;),

this day brings special sentiments for Japanese people

like me (note: there are LOTS of Japanese people who are

NOT like me and don't give a damn) because 54 years ago today

the Yamato went down.

My sincere prayers for the mighty ship and the crew that went down with her.

 

Posted By: Rob Graham <rgraham111@aol.com>

Date: Thursday, 8 April 1999, at 9:24 a.m.

In Response To: Yamato (Hiroyuki Takeuchi)

 

Here it is, a day late, but my sentiments are with yours, nonetheless. Is April 7, 1945 a day that is honored for ALL lost Japanese sailors, as Memorial day is for American servicemen, or is it a day to remember Yamato and her crew?

 

Posted By: Hiroyuki Takeuchi

Date: Sunday, 11 April 1999, at 5:33 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Yamato (Rob Graham)

 

Unfortunately, that was no national holiday or anything and ordinary people would not even know that it was the day she sank. Just my personal thing for the event that symbolized the death of our navy.

Thanks for sharing your semtiments with me.

 

Japanese Battleship, Cruisers Fate

Posted By: Shaharom <shaharome@hotmail.com>

Date: Tuesday, 6 April 1999, at 6:12 p.m.

 

Hi.

I would like to know what happen to the Japanese Battleship and Cruisers after being abandoned ( Allied Strike ) at their port at Japan mainland..What is the name of the ship?..What happen to them?..Scrap or being repaired to meet atomic test or be a Japanese Self Defence Force?..

 

Posted By: Tennessee Katsuta <kinson-garments@on.aibn.com>

Date: Tuesday, 6 April 1999, at 7:00 p.m.

In Response To: Japanese Battleship, Cruisers Fate (Shaharom)

 

The following Battleships and cruisers were at home waters and met the following fait:

Battleships

Nagato-minor damage and afloat-atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll

Haruna-sunk at Kure Harbour-scrapped in 1946

Ise-sunk at Kure Harbour-scrapped in 1946

Hyuga-sunk at Kure Harbour-scrapped in 1946

Heavy Cruisers

Aoba-sunk at Kure Harbour-scrapped in 1946

Tone-sunk at Kure Harbour-scrapped in 1947

Myoko-damaged but afloat at Singapore-sunk by the British in 1946

Takao-damaged but afloat at Singapore-sunk by the British in 1946

Light Cruisers

Sakawa-afloat with no damage-atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll

Kashima-afloat with no damage-used to bring back Japanese servicemen to mainland Japan, then scrapped

Oyodo-capsized at Kure Harbour-scrapped in 1948

Kitakami-damaged but afloat-used for repair/service of other ships-scrapped in 1946

None of the capital ships were permitted to survive because at the time, the Allies had no intentions of letting the Japanese retain any military power. The Allies insisted the Japanese have some military power only when the Korean War started. Incidentally, the destroyer Nashi(a Matsu class destroyer) which sunk in 1945 was salvaged and recommissioned as the escort Wakaba for the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force in 1951.

I hope this helps.

 

Posted By: Hiroyuki Takeuchi

Date: Wednesday, 7 April 1999, at 10:19 a.m.

In Response To: Re: Japanese Battleship, Cruisers Fate (Tennessee Katsuta)

 

Also, some destroyers and corvettes were handed over to the Chinese (ie Taiwanese) navy as a part of post war compensation and remaind in service for a while. Some surviving carriers were used to transport Japanese soldiers and civilians from overseas, too (LSTs were provided by the US forces for this purpose as well. My father came back from Shanghai on one of these.)

Some corvettes (kaibo-kan) were retained and used by the Maritime Safety Agency (equivalent to the Coast Guard). One of them, was moored in a pond in Tokyo and used as a community meeting place, but it was scrapped last year despite pleading from many citizens to preserve it, as it was the last IJN vessel that fought WW2.

By the way, the battleship Mikasa, the flagship in the famous battle in the Sea of Japan during the Russo-Japanese War, can still be seen in Yokosuka.

 

Yamato colors

Posted By: Arjun Sarup <sarup@intnet.mu>

Date: Wednesday, 28 October 1998, at 12:07 a.m.

 

I've just come across this discussion board, and hope to get some help from anybody, since I've spent the last 2 months trying to figure out as to what exactly the colour of Yamato's hull and superstructure might have been. I picked up a 1/350 Tamiya kit of the same, but decided to stick to enamel rather than acrylic paint. The problem is that I couldn't find the equivalent of Humbrol enamel for Tamiya acrylic paint in Singapore (where I bought the kit), and the best I can now hope to do is to mix my own paint from stuff commercially available at the hardware shops in Mauritius.

Here's the problem: No Tamiya Neutral Grey XF53 was available in Singapore for the hull & superstructure, so I couldn't get any kind of reference. The box in

which the model came shows a reasonably light to medium grey on the cover, the side of the box shows a medium grey, the painting guide says that "Japanese warships were painted dark grey with a tinge of blue", and a reference to Musashi in Suicide Squads of WWII, O'Neill, Richard, mentions that the "Musashi had been newly-painted light grey, in contrast to the drab, near-black paintwork of other ships." (That book is the only piece of reference I have, and Mauritius has no other sources of reference.)

Can anybody indicate a hull and possibly deck colour by either giving the percentages of paints to be mixed, or post a swatch?

 

Posted By: jon dodson <jonboy1205@aol.com>

Date: Tuesday, 18 January 2000, at 7:51 p.m.

In Response To: Yamato colors (Arjun Sarup)

 

I keep seeing the book "The Battleship Yamato" by Janusz Skulski referred to but does anyone know for certain where I can get a copy? Amazon has looking for two weeks. I am also searching for plans to use in super detailing my 1/200 Nichimo kit, of special concern is rigging details.

 

Posted By: Rob Graham <RGraham111@aol.com>

Date: Wednesday, 28 October 1998, at 9:07 a.m.

In Response To: Yamato colors (Arjun Sarup)

 

Yamato Colors

As described in The Battleship Yamato by Janusz Skulski

Part of The Anatomy of the Ship series published by the Conway Maritime Press, © 1988

ISBN 0 85177 490 3

This book is a real great book on the Yamato, and I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone wishing to model this mighty ship. It has rare photos, many scale drawings, and lots of details and otherwise hard to find info. You don't even have to be a ship buff to appreciate it, as the technical specifications tell a tale we Westerners seldom get to see. The specs on the 18.1 inch (46cm) guns are amazing! As a for instance, imagine flying in to attack the Yamato when the San Shiki round for this gun is fired: 900 incendiary tubes with rubber thermite and 600 steel stays blowing a spray of incendiaries 20 degrees from its detonation point, throwing out 3000 degree CELSIUS (!) incendiaries which burn for 5 seconds. BTW, the muzzle velocity for this round was 805 m/sec, which is impressive considering the round weighed 1360kg; the armor piercing round (1460kg) could travel over 40,000m with a projectile flight time of about 1 ½ minutes.

Anyway, info it has on the colors is as follows:

"Wartime Colour Schemes

1. The hull colour of the Imperial Japanese Navy ships varied in shade, although it was on regulation colours. The basic grey (medium grey, sometimes called silver-grey) was made up according to a Paint Mixture Standard formula and consisted of 15 per cent black, 75 per cent white, 6 per cent brown, 4 per cent blue. This colour was used for the above water part of the hull, the superstructures, all metal decks, the gun turrets, the topside fittings and the boats.

2. A reddish-tinged brown ('aka aji ga katta chairo') was used on the underwater part of the hull consisting of 20 per cent red, 65 per cent brown, 10 per cent black, 5 per cent white.

3. The concrete surfaces of the aircraft deck were similar to the basic gray - some darker.

4. White was used for azimuth scales of the AA rangefinders, the Chrysanthemum on both sides of the funnel (April 1945), the stripes on the circular railings of the open triple 25mm MG mounts, the 200 mm high numbers on the base of the deck, 25mm MG enclosed mounts, the stripes on the edge of the hull (1944-45).

5. Brown (canvas) was used for the blast bags and the gun muzzle covers.

6. Yellowish-brown (ochre) was used for the non-slip linoleum strips on the aircraft deck (with 10mm brass strips attaching it to the deck surface) and the deck of the air defence platform - deck XI.

7. Gold was used for the Chrysanthemum crest on the bow and the ship's name on the stern.

8. Black was used for the upper part of the funnel and mast.

9. The wooden deck was unpainted 'hinoki' cypress wood with a grey tint.

10. Aircraft: upper surface sea green N-1, lower surface gull grey N-2, orange stripes on wing's leading edge (middle parts), white-red-white stripes on floats. White on stripes on tailplanes and number codes on fins. Hinomaru was a red colour with white borders."

 

Posted By: Lars Ahlberg <lars.ahlberg@halmstad.mail.postnet.se>

Date: Thursday, 22 October 1998, at 11:29 a.m.

In Response To: Yamato colors (Arjun Sarup)

 

Japanese ships were generally painted with a colour called "warship grey" and this colour consisted of 15% black + 75% white + 6% brown + 4% blue (= 100%). The colour was half matt and not unlike the present colour of US warships.

The underwater part was painted with a reddish-tinged brown colour called "aka aji ga katta chairo" and this consisted of 20% red + 65% brown + 10% black + 5% white (= 100%). Japanese warships had no boottop colour (the black line above the underwater hull).

Painting systems of IJN warships can be found in:

* Janusz Skulski, "The Battleship Yamato", Conway Maritime Press, London, 1988.

* Janusz Skulski, "The Heavy Cruiser Takao", United States Naval Institute, Annapolis, 1994.

* Lars Ahlberg, "Japonskie pancerniki typu Nagato", Wydawnictwo "Okrety Wojenne", Tarnowskie Gory, 1996.

* Linton Wells II, "Painting Systems of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1904-1945", "Warship International" # 1, 1982.

* "1/700 Water Line Series Guide Book of Imperial Japanese Navy Ships", Shizuoka Mokei Kyozai Kyodo Kumiai, Shizuoka, 1992. (Japanese text)

 

Floatplane related- Yamato recovery crane

Posted By: Dan Salamone <heroncreek@qwest.net>

Date: Friday, 2 February 2001, at 11:00 p.m.

While the first part of this may be better suited to the Ship Board.... Do any of the Yamato references have clear photos or drawings of the recovery crane on her stern? Also wondering about launch trolleys and other related equipment for handling floatplanes once on board.

The second part of the question is: What aircraft types were operated off of Yamato and Musashi during their service careers and to what units did the aircraft belong (including codes if possible)?

 

Re: Floatplane related- Yamato recovery crane

Posted By: Jim Broshot <jbroshot@socket.net>

Date: Friday, 2 February 2001, at 11:22 p.m.

 

In Response To: Floatplane related- Yamato recovery crane (Dan Salamone)

Skulski's THE BATTLESHIP YAMATO may answer this.

Second question first: designed seven aircraft, F1M2 and/or E13A1. Drawings of E13A1 and F1M2 represent tail code to be 211-04 (on E13A1) and 211-01 (on F1M2).

First question second: aircraft crane is identified as "a 6ton crane with 20m long arm"

There are detail drawings of the catapults, trolleys and catapult cradles (one for JAKE and different one for PETE), and turntables and deck rails.

Less detailed drawing of crane in general arrangement drawings.

Posted By: p.pieters <pp8184@hotmail.com>

Date: Saturday, 3 February 2001, at 11:52 a.m.

 

In Response To: Re: Floatplane related- Yamato recovery crane (Dan Salamone)

The ISBN number is 085177 490 3 it is a book from conway maritime press LTD the battleship Yamato

Posted By: Jim Broshot <jbroshot@socket.net>

Date: Saturday, 3 February 2001, at 5:40 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Floatplane related- Yamato recovery crane (p.pieters)

My copy is published by the Naval Institute Press (1988)

ISBN 0-87021-019-X

I think they may have had it reprinted.

 

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