The Japanese heaves were a force to be reconed with. Broadside and they were downright trouble. Unfortunatly (not for the allies) Like Bill said, they were top heavy and early in their career they had issues with hull strength so the torpedo blister was added. They also didn’t fair well in high seas.
The history of Japanese cruiser development is facinaing (if you’re into that sort of thing). The Tone class for instance, bennifited with the forward main gun placement. The aft deck contained a flight deck for the scout float planes. Japanese doctrin did not provide a scout asset on carries reliying on their cruisers to provide the scouts.
The torpedoes were a diffrent story. Highly explosive; a round hitting in that area was almost a guarantee critical hit. After the battle of Midway, while we were hunting the cruisers, the Mogami ditched her torpedoes while the Makuma didn’t. The Mikuma’s sinking had a lot to do with her torpedoes detonating.
Nah no bad on your part just conversation,I’m not an expert but I really like reading about the Japanese Heavies.I got the Squadron in action book awhile ago,very informative but pricey now.
After that gluing session , some of the glue got under the tape and melted the dimond pattern deck just fore of the starboard catapult. After trying to come up with ideas the only three I can think of is 1. find a PR dimond pattern deck replacement 2. sand the area and cust continue on or 3. revert to the old armor solution, put a tarp over the catacult or onn the deck to cover the area. Anyway, if I go with the third choice I’ll have to change the scene from a battle scene to just her steaming along and the crew doing daily chores.
I completed the 02 deck and flight deck, installed the torpedo launchers prior to installing the decks and filled the gaps. I also replace the doors and ladders in the small boat well using gereric IJN ladders and doors PE sets. Aoshima gives the builder a rubber sprue tree for the gauss cable and you attech them using pieces. I started that process using CA but need to refer to refereces befor proceding.
The damaged deck.
If anybody has any ideas for the deck, yell out please [:D]
Since you’re doing a battle scene, what about hiding the worst of it under say, a 5" hit. Use your wave and wake skills to do the smoke and flame effect.
Might be able to rescribe the lighter damage around the edges.
My original idea was the second naval battle Guadalcanal where she came out without a scratch. I don’t want to damage her so I’ll just show her steaming unless I can come up with a way to repair that area.
I can see I may have to get more popcorn, order my next ship model, or two, and keep an eye on this build.
I’m also thinking of doind the Nagato. If I was a glutten for punishment I could do it as it looked after the operation crossroads tests. Or cheat and show it as it looks after it sank at Kwajeline atoll after it ran over the rocks and capsized. That might be more fitting in a 1/700th scale kit.
I completed the gauss cable and finished the seam clean up around the small boat well and flight deck. It looks like the funnels and conning tower are next.
Try burnishing down a piece of tin foil over an undisturbed area and then see if you can glue it down over the damaged area. Long shot but it might work.
Thanks Chris. I’ve had a setback. The handholds I was trying to install on the smokestack just didn’t look good at all so I had to remove them. Unfortunatly doing that left glue residue which I’m removing but also removing any detail left. I’m going to check if I can get a replacement from Aoshima.
