Japan's first trans-cruiser Mogami. I know let's stick planes on it.
Trans-cruiser. A cruiser that identifies as an aircraft carrier.
As usual, the box art is really nice and helped me no end with the finer details. Well, as fine as I get with old eyes at 1/700...
Mogami (最上) was the lead ship in the four-vessel Mogami class of heavy cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was named after the Mogami River in Tōhoku region of Japan.
It was not what you would call a lucky ship.
The Mogami-class ships were constructed as "light cruisers" (per the London Naval Treaty) with five triple 155-millimetre (6.1 in) dual purpose guns. They were exceptionally large for light cruisers, and the barbettes for the main battery were designed for quick refitting with twin 8-inch (203 mm) guns.
The class was designed from the start to be upgraded into heavy cruisers with the replacement of their main battery with 20 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval guns in twin turrets.
In 1937 all four ships were "converted" to heavy cruisers in this fashion.
Mogami served in numerous combat engagements in World War II, until she was sunk at the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944.
A grey battleship in dense fog... A typical image on the base of the box...
In initial trials in 1935, Mogami and Mikuma were plagued with technical problems due to their untested equipment, welding defects, and also proved to be top-heavy with stability problems in heavy weather. Both vessels, and their yet-to-be-completed sisters, Kumano and Suzuya underwent a complete and very costly rebuilding program. Once rebuilt, the design, with its very high speed, armor protection, and heavy armament was among the best in the world during World War II.
Mogami was laid down on 27 October 1931, launched on 14 March 1934 and completed at Kure Naval Arsenal on 28 July 1935.
The contents of the box.
Always a special time...
Her first captain was Captain Tomoshige Samejima, formerly captain of the cruiser Kitakami, who oversaw her completion and remained captain until November 1935. He was followed by Captain Seiichi Itō, until April 1936. Mogami was commanded by Captain Shunji Isaki from November 1939 to January 1941.
Other things too... Let's investigate further...
Bag containing the hull and forward deck...
Remaining decks funnels and accessories...
Peripherals.
Same bag from the top showing the decals for the aircraft... tiny.
And the long......
The usual 'Tech tips' sheet... Useful for beginners?
The reverse of the 'Tech tips' sheet.
And of course, the instructions.
Nudity warning.
Naked plastic beyond this point...
The hull...
The decks...
The accessories and decals...
the guns...
...wait weight. You knew it was coming...
Right. Let's build...
Torpedoes in place... Not going to see much more of them...
Secondary armament included eight 12.7 cm/40 Type 89 naval guns in four twin turrets, and 24 Type 93 Long Lance torpedoes in four rotating triple mounts.
That'll be these ones then.
Hull, torpedoes and base plate in place...
To save weight, electric welding was used, as was aluminum in the superstructure, and a single funnel stack.
New geared impulse turbine engines, driving four shafts with three-bladed propellers gave a top speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph), which was better than most contemporary cruiser designs and the Mogami class had twin balanced rudders, rather than the single rudder of previous Japanese cruiser designs. Not that you would know in a waterline kit...
The rubber inserts are for securing the main armament.
I suppose we call this a flight deck...
When you put your knife down and realise how small 1/700 is...
The hull is complete.
Brush painting requires deviations from the instructions.
Paint it while you can get at it.
Paint it while you can get at it.
Not a lucky ship.
Putting the superstructure together. Painting as we go.
Painting and weathering the hull...
Picking out the portholes...
Adding those big guns... and the masts and sticky things...
Notice that there are not five turrets..? Dammed Yankees...
The morning of 6 June 1942, Mikuma and Mogami were heading for Wake Island when they were attacked by three waves of 31 SBD Dauntless dive-bombers from the aircraft carriers USS Enterprise and Hornet. Mikuma was hit by at least five bombs and set afire. Her torpedoes ignited and the resultant explosions destroyed the ship. Arashio and Asashio were each hit by a bomb. Mogami was hit by six bombs. Her No. 5 turret was destroyed and 81 crewmen were killed. However, Lieutenant Commander Masayushi Saruwatari had jettisoned torpedoes and other explosives, making it easier to save the cruiser when it was hit by a bomb near the torpedo tubes.
Pete, Paul and Jake...
Mogami returned to Japan, and underwent a major conversion at Sasebo Naval Arsenal from 25 August to an aircraft cruiser to improve the fleet's reconnaissance capabilities. Her No. 4 turret and the damaged No. 5 turret were removed and her aft magazines modified to serve as gasoline tanks and munitions storage. Her aft deck was extended and fitted with a rail system to accommodate the planned stowage of 11 Aichi E16A Zuiun ("Paul") reconnaissance floatplanes.
The dual Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun and Type 93 13-mm machine guns were replaced by 10 triple mount Type 96s and a Type 21 air-search radar. As the new E16A aircraft were not yet available, three older Mitsubishi F1M2 Type 0 ("Pete") two-seat biplanes and four Aichi E13A1 Type O ("Jake") three-seat reconnaissance floatplanes were embarked. Rebuilding was completed on 30 April 1943, and Mogami was re-commissioned into the First Fleet.
Representing the barriers with stretched sprue.
More stretched sprue for the rigging...
I used the picture on the box to recreate this set up on the stern...
More railings and lessons learned. I:ll make the shorter next time...
More rigging and more weathering. I overdid the weathering... more lessons learned.
Ready for the finishing touches...
Stick a plane on it and make it...
And so for a final walk around...
I enjoyed this and I'm happy about the result. The railings are better for being there and I think I'll get better at creating a sence of the railings. I'm not using accessories for them.
So, out of the box, what do you think?
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