by Lars Juel Mosbaek
1/700 IJN Hyuga 1941 (Hasegawa)
This was my first plastic kit in 25 years! As a kid I build a lot of plastic kits -planes in scale 1:72, but also all of Airfix ships in scale 1:600. In some years now I had a dream of building all of the Imperial Japanese Navy's Battleships (Water Line Series 1:700). There has been a lot of improvement over the years of how to build model ships since I was in that alley. Back them in the 1970´s there was some glue in a tube and paint. It was a matter of hours and the model was "finish" with some differences in quality!!
As mentioned above it's my first model ship in many years, so in Nov. 2005 the model was finish as my first warship in a growing line of IJN Battleships. But here in Jan. 2007 after seven more models - I think the ship could be improved, as my skills and references was more on solid grounds.
So here in Jan. 2007 the model was disassemble down to the hull except the funnel and main guns turrets!
Hasegawa's new mold plastic kit is one of the best in IJN BB range, but I found some things that needed attention. The main mast is different from her sister ISE. The top of HYUGA main mast was T-shaped and the Red/green navigation marks was high over the starfish. ISE has the W-shaped main mast and the Red/green navigation marks were lower under the starfish. First after HYUGA conversion to hybrid BB/CV in 1943 she carried the W-shaped main mast. HYUGA has scuttles on her freeboard they where first removed after the conversion in 1943. ISE's was removed earlier maybe as early as 1937.
When I first build the model in 2005 I was very glad of Tom Christensen article regarding modification of the tripod pagoda mast and the tube/lattice structure under the funnel (website Warship). At that time I scratch build it with styrene plastic bars, paper and copper wire. Here in 2007 the lattice structure was remade of surplus PE from Tom's model works.
I also rebuild the entire aircraft deck with new aircraft-crane as well as the anchor deck with chain from a necklace. The aircraft was painted in camouflage colors as in 1941. I added parts on the kit:
The hull was sanded down and new coat of "Kure naval gray" (Humbrol # 27 matt)
The deck was painted in "wood colors" please see my model of HIEI for details.
I added an new rigging and signal flags J, G, H, A for HYUGA
References:
Books:
"Japanese Naval Warship Photo Album Battleship and Battle Cruisers” from Diamond Sha books.
Gakken" IJN Battleship Prefect guide".
"Kartoteka Marynisty 3 Japonski pancernik HYUGA" from BS Poland.
Profile Morskie 31 "Japonski pancernik ISE" from BS Poland.
Web:
Models of HYUGA and ISE on Model Warships, Steel Navy etc.
