I’m probably in the Cleuso range of detectives.
Hey MC, I’m on the east side of Orlando. If you happen t find yourself near me and want a little range time, let me know.
So, here’s the latest from ikarhiro cleuso:
Still looks good to me Ikar!
Steve: Hope you find a new place!
Haven’t been down to Florida since the accident driving though Atlanta. Keep saying I’m going to just fly down there but never seem to get around to it. It’s a ten hour drive from here so I might as well.
Just a small update. Today I only had a few minutes to work on a couple items.
The first item was to fix a noticeable gap that was between the main deck and the hull at the rear of the ship. The area is directly behind the wings holding the enclosed triple AA guns on each side. I saw this called out on a couple other write ups concerning the old kit. For some unknown reason the main deck will lay flush and proper from the front of the ship all the way back through the rear wings. the area just after the rear deck wings and before the catapult pillars (a little more than 1 inch) has a 1/8 inch gap between it and the hull (?). I first though I did something wrong but I couldn’t find what it may be, then I saw the same issue in other build reviews.
My thought was to cut a narrow width from a thin sheet of plastic to fill the void. Afterwards I added bracing to the small landing by the catapult:
Materials
Correction applied to fill the gap and the bracing under the ledge
Painted correction. (yes, I know that detail painting of the hull still needed cleaned up and painted)
Thats it for now, next update will be concerning the remaining handrails and starting the little planes.
Till then…model something!
DRUMS01 / Ben
Man that is coming along well Ben.
Ikar, we’re leaving early morning back to Boise. But when we move here I’ll take you up on it [:D]
Gam, we narrowed it down to Daytona up, along the I-95 corrador Once we sell in Boise we’ll move down and see what we can get.
Ben: Again, wow that’s great work!
Steve: Drove past Daytona a few times but never visited. I’ve spent most of my time out in the panhandle at Pensicola/Fort Walton beach. If you get a chance visit the US Navy Aviation Museum- it’s fantastic if you like blue (USN) planes.
I did drive down to Key West once. Checked out Coral Castle- very weird but cool place.
I’ll be here, just let me know, I’m not going anywhere.
Once again, another two step backwards…
(1) After assembly to include some scratch building, PE, painting, decals, etc. I was applying a final dull coat over the aircraft and everything (paint) wrinkled and split. I do not understand it as I was applying acrylic over acrylic (?). In this case I laid down a future floor wax acrylic gloss coat to seal the decals and then later applied a dull coat of Model Master acrylic. To say they didn’t like each other is an understatement. To add to the problem, if I try to strip the paint It will without a doubt damage the very sensitive scratch built and PE items. That does not even take into account that I no longer have 1/350 IJN aircraft decals to apply after a repaint. 
Option # 1 would be to try and remove the paint (and details) from a 1/350 aircraft and then rebuild them without any new PE or decals. Option # 2 would be to purchase a new aircraft set with new PE and new decals and start over. I choose option # 2 and ordered the Hasegawa 1/350 WW2 IJN Seaplane set A. The bonus with this new order is that it Includes pieces for 4 Type Zero Reconnaissance seaplanes (Jake), 3 Type Zero Observation seaplanes (Pete), 3 Type Kure Mk.2 Model-5, 3 Type 95 Reconnaissance Seaplanes (9 total), clear canopies, Photo-etched parts, and more accurate decals. I probably should’ve went this route in the beginning. 
(2) Once the wood base arrived, I noticed that it was made from a very soft wood and the pre-routed edge was damaged more than could be repaired (torn wood from the router bit). So I changed my choice of bases and ordered a black laminate plinth 7x17 inches which will arrive within the week. I probably should’ve went this route in the beginning (sound familiar?). 
So ever forward, I completed the handrails around the hull and have been finishing small items throughout the kit. Soon I will begin minor detail painting of the hull. First a wash to the recessed areas, next is highlighting with a hairy stick, then some light wear with pastels, paint, watercolors, etc. So thats where I’m at right now. I wish I could show you more but I am getting close to the full reveal and want to keep the remaining work for that moment. I hope to have the parts and pieces in a week and have the kit done a week later. I may do a separate update on the new aircraft once they arrive, till then please take care of yourself, love well, and model something.
DRUMS01 / Ben
Sounds good Gary. I have Japanese markings (for a strike group) that I would have sent to you but your solution sounds better.
Looking forward to those new AC when you get them.
Gary???
Hey Steve, the Hasegaxa set has a more accurate aircraft profile, clear canopies, and better decals when compared to the kit aircraft so I have no problem with it… other than waiting for their arrival [:(]
Here are the boogered planes:
Here is whats in the mail:
DRUMS01 / Ben
Special thanks to all of you for both your input and compliments. While waiting for the Hasegawa aircraft to arrive I began researching more regarding what specific aircraft were used on the Yamato. Keep in mind that the model kit comes with what I identify as two Aichi E13A’s and two either Mitsubishi F1M2 Pete’s or two Nakajima E8N’s .
If you look close enough or at “everything” on the internet concerning modeling photos of aircraft sitting on the catapults of the IJN Yamato, you will soon find out that just about everybody has added just about any kind of seaplane to a Yamato model kit.
So I set out to try and determine exactly what aircraft and how many were deployed on the Yamato at any given time. Between Wikipedia, and several other sources to include a Japanese website titled, Baloons and Seaplanes for IJN Battleships", here is what I have found.
- When first comissioned the Yamato had up to 7 Nakajima E8N or E4N, or Kawanishi E7K aircraft. The E8 is a biplane that was used from 1935 to 1942.
A total of 755 E8Ns were built by Nakajima and Kawanishi, production continuing through 1940. It was subsequently shipped aboard all the capital ships then in service, mostly 16 cruisers and 5 seaplane tenders. Some aircraft remained in service with the fleet at the outbreak of the Pacific War, and one flew reconnaissance from the battleship Haruna during the Battle of Midway, but they were soon replaced by more modern aircraft. The Yamato could carry up to 7 of these aircraft with up to 5 being maintained in the internal hanger. In 1942 these aircraft were replaced with 4 E13A’s and 3 F1M type aircraft.
- The Mitsubishi F1M (series) replaced the Nakajima variants sometime after April 1942.
The F1M was originally built as a catapult-launched reconnaissance float plane, specializing in gunnery spotting. The “Pete” took on a number of local roles including convoy escort, bomber, anti-submarine, maritime patrol, rescue, transport, and anti-shipping strikes. The type was also used as an area-defense fighter and engaged in aerial combat in the Aleutians, the Solomons and several other theaters. In the New Guinea front, it was often used in aerial combat with the Allied bombers and Allied fighters through 1945. The Yamato could carry up to 7 of these aircraft with up to 5 being maintained in the internal hanger.
- The Aichi E13 (series) was a long-range reconnaissance seaplane used by the Imperial Japanese Navy IJN from 1941 - 45.
In China, it operated from seaplane tenders and cruisers. Later, it was used as a scout for the Attack on Pearl Harbor, and was encountered in combat by the United States Navy during the Battles of Coral Sea and Midway. It was in service throughout the conflict, for coastal patrols, strikes against navigation, liaison, officer transports, castaway rescues, and other missions, along with some kamikaze missions in the last days of war. There is very little information regarding its actual deployment on the IJN Yamato but Military Wiki indicates the Yamato could carry up to 4 E13A’s and 3 F1M type aircraft simultaneously.
Other IJN seaplane variants used during WW2 including the Kawanishi E15 series, Yokosuka E14 series, and Aichi E16 series, and M6 series have no record of ever being deployed or used on the IJN Yamato.
On the eve of the Allies’ occupation of Japan, special-service officers of the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyed virtually all records, drawings, photographs, of or relating to the Yamato-class battleships, leaving only fragmentary records of the design characteristics and other technical matters. The destruction of these documents was so efficient that until 1948 the only known images of the Yamato and Musashi were those taken by United States Navy aircraft involved in the attacks on the two battleships. Although some additional photographs and information, from documents that were not destroyed, have come to light over the years, the loss of the majority of written records for the class has made extensive research into the Yamato class somewhat difficult. Because of the lack of written records, information on the class largely came from interviews of Japanese officers following Japan’s surrender. So perhaps we will never fully know the exact aircraft configuration residing on the IJN Yamato at any specific engagement or time in history.
Clear as mud, right? I would show a complete listing of sources or references for this posting, but that would be significant. Basically, for most of the war the IJN Yamato would normally maintain an aerial armada consisting of 4 E13A’s and 3 F1M type aircraft.
As always, if I missed anything or am off on this subject, please be a modeling buddy and let us all know. Till next time, stay safe, live - love - and be well, and model something!
v/r,
DRUMS / Ben
Looks like you covered it Ben. You probably know more about the Yamato’s seaplane complement the 80% of the folks who say they do. The Yamato is a tough nut to crack for reasearch. Nobody knows for sure
Ben: Sounds reasonable to me. Like where you’re going with this.
My apologies everyone for not providing any updates lately. The build is at the point now of adding the rigging and the little aircraft and it will be done. Course I cannot do the aircraft until they arrive, which I hope is early this week sometime(?). Since the last update I have had both an intestinal bug and a sprained right foot which stole my motivation. While both of those situations have improved greatly, I still do not have the aircraft.
So I’ve spent some time working on the display base. I’ve decided on using a furniture grade laminate wood painted black with some after-market name tags that have a mostly white background so they are really visible on the black base. The reason for the black base versus anything else. Well, the Tamiya base is OK, but I think it is a little too small IMHO. I looked at a stained wood base but I thought it was lacking when sitting the Yamato on it. So, in my opinion the dull black compliments the colors of the ship.
I also have to be honest with you all, since the invasion of the Ukraine, it has taken a little of my modeling motovation away. My employment prior to retirement was working for the U.S. Government as an Emergency Services Manager specializing in emergency operations, continuity of Federal Government, contingency planning, communications security, and personnel and force protection which included anti-terrorism, physical security, evasion and escape planning, etc. With this war being so much in our face at near real time and considering the devastation and suffering , I cannot help but have myself being taken mentally into this to some degree. Since we only get part of the real intel, I begin thinking of what might be really happening in the daily threat briefs and mission planning.
Other things in life has pulled me away from modeling too. In the last two weeks we have purchased two large area rugs (9X12 and 10X14), one for the living room and another for the formal dining room. At the same time the control panel / mother board for our kitchen stove went out and two days later the above the range microwave handle broke in a way that is non replaceable (both Samsung), so there were two more purchases as well. So, being the person that I am, I have to research what is out there; which is rated the best (within our budget); what options do we want, where to purchase it that offers the best price, etc. So all of these things have temporarily pulled me away from the build for a couple weeks.
I hope to have the Yamato done within a week of having the remaining parts. Till then, stay safe, be strong for your family, live and love well, and model something.
DRUMS01 / Ben
Oh my Ben! I’m glad to hear you’re doing better. No worries about the time frame, the GB doesn’t have an end date because ships take so long and people have lives.
For myself, my wife and, at least for the moment, are separating. No worries, it’s been coming for many years and we are amicable about it. I’ll probably be morning to Texas. I was thinking Florida at first but I was raised in Texas, plus the only family I have is in Texas so…
All but one of my WIP’s are being packed awaiting the move.
See so like happens.[:^)]
Sorry to hear about that guys. Although it does make me feel a little better, that I’m not the only one here. I’ve been wondering more and more about if we’re living in ‘clown world’. Seems everything is bat-guano insane these days. Maybe misery loves company?
Hope things get better.
Ben and Steve… here’s hoping things will get better and work out for both of you.
Thanks guys, we will both be happer with less stress.
Yeah, know that feeling. Mine is down about 5% from July/August.
Took me a couple years after the first one passed.
Yeah, the first was VERY hard, the second not so much. This one is more a business decision.
There won’t be a forth!
That’s how we ended up in Florida. Returning from Okinawa it was my wife’s decision because her family wasaround Orlando. Besides, I was still a bit screwed up from the treatment I received from my final squadron commander at Kadena to argue the point.
If you’re ever in town, the offer still stands.
I just received a kit of the 1/35th scle type 96 tripple AA gun from Pit Road. I have never built anything of theirs but it looks good and each sprue in packed in plastic and then all in plastic. I’m going to order the PE set of it when I can find it.
It looks promising.