Chikuma - Tamiya - 1/350 - IJN Heavy Cruiser-Finished

[KevinM]

I started this build I think 2019/20 and I am in that mood to clear some stuff off the deck per say.I am almost finished with the bridge but I screwed up up sets of ladders for the back so more are inbound.I have to repaint the funnels and stripe them out should be interesting with the pipes on?I feel I am about 50% ATTM looking at what sprues are left mainly guns,planes and a bit PE four nice size frets.The part I luv the best is rigging going to have to do some research to get her right makes a ship look the part. Some pics in there that come off the Tamyia Website to give a look at her finished lines Japanese and the Germans had some nice hulls.

 

Some History.............

Chikuma
Country    Japan
Ship Class    Tone-class Heavy Cruiser
Builder Name    Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Laid Down    1 Oct 1935
Launched    19 Mar 1938
Commissioned    20 May 1939
Sunk    25 Oct 1944
Displacement    15,200 tons standard
Length    649 feet
Beam    60 feet
Draft    21 feet
Speed    35 knots
Crew    850
Armament    8x200mm, 8x130mm, 75x25mm anti-aircraft, 12x610mm torpedo tubes
Chikuma was a Tone-class heavy cruiser built at Nagasaki by Mitsubishi. With her large seaplane capacity, long-range scouting missions fitted her well. She was a member of Sentai 6 (Sixth Squadrion) until transferred to Sentai 8 in Nov 1939. She participated in exercises and patrolled off southern China until the outbreak of the Pacific War. She participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor, the event that sparked off the war, as an escort to the fleet carriers; one of her seaplanes flew pre-strike reconnaissance mission over Pearl Harbor before the attack. Immediately after Pearl Harbor, she sailed for Wake Island to assist in the conquest there. During Japan's conquest of the South Pacific in the opening six months of the war, Chikuma played a part in many of the key events aside aircraft carriers. She was also present beside the carriers when they met their end at Midway in Jun 1942. On 24 Aug 1942 she participated in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, and then on 26 Oct Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, both off the Solomon Islands. In the latter action, she was moderately damaged by American dive bombers and was placed out of commission in Japan until late Feb 1943. In early 1944, she was transferred to Sentai 7. She participated in a cruiser raid into the Indian Ocean in Mar, then fought off the Mariana Islands in Jun. Off Philippines, she was attacked by submarine and aircraft on 23 and 24 Oct as she headed toward the eastern shore of the island of Samar; at the battle bearing the island's name, she helped in the sinking of escort carrier Gambier Bay, but was later seriously damaged by torpedoes. Destroyer Nowaki took on Chikuma's crew as Chikuma was abandoned. When Nowaki was later sunk, all but one of Chikuma's crew survived.  https://ww2db.com/ship_spec.php?ship_id=37

 

[GazzaS]

I love these Japanese cruisers.  Will enjoy seeing you complete it.

[Peterpools]

Kev

Awesome progress on the Chikuma and so glad the mojo is back and are going to be moving forward with the build again. I'm very much interested in type of ship building and for years have been eyeing a Fletcher or Gearing Class Destroyer - just maybe someday I'll take the leap.

Looking forward to following your build front and center. 

[KevinM]

Turrets have the requested PE applied  just need to repaint and do the blast bags.

[Landlubber Mike]

Hey Kevin, good to see you here.  Just posted on the MSW site   Love the lines on this one!  The Japanese navy had a lot of beautiful ships.

[Peterpools]

Kev

Looking good and you're rolling now

 

[Drifter]

Looking good. I have two ship builds "planned" A 1:350 Tamiya Bismarck, and then a 1:200 HMS Hood. Ships are way out of my comfort zone. My hat off to you for doing so well.

[KevinM]

2 hours ago, Drifter said:

Ships are way out of my comfort zone.

They are not the hard just a different way of planning and thinking The PE is a must for extra details to be obtained but like anything else not all PE needs to be used to weras the plastic does will enough.I have the Prinz Eugen at about 40% now it may be next on the list as I work on the backlogs of unfinished kits.

[Bomber_County]

Looking amazing Kevin, I also have a stalled ship KGV 1/350 Tamiya with White Ensigns PE. You’re right about the PE it does require a different approach, looking forward to the next update….

[JohnB]

Looking good so far! Those Japanese sure had some good looking ships.

[KevinM]

40 minutes ago, JohnB said:

Those Japanese sure had some good looking ships

I think the same John but the fella down the street a History/Marine Archeologist he's not that fond of the lines he goes S.Dakota class for him.I am trying to get something going daily even if just an hour or so,

[KevinM]

The fella I mentioned in the above post has a small very simple wood project I have to integrate into my work a base for a commission job of a Biloxi Schooner "The Raken II".It's a scratch built wooden model from plans he drew up from measurements of old schooners it's 1/48 scale and the commission started with 1K payment up front .The final product will end up in the Panhandle of FL at a restaurant if I heard right.Just thought/found it quite interesting this is the same guy doing a commission job for the City of Gulfport of the first ship to land in the port in like 1902(?)

 

http://www.historicalsocietyofgulfport.org/trojan.html

[DocRob]

Great work on the Cruiser Kevin, the PE detail make the difference. I still have to venture into 'modern' ships, but have some in stash.

Cheers Rob

[KevinM]

Well I have been working this build a little each day I am now on Holiday I have the a/c crane completed ,F/Antenna and the Funnel are now complete.The portion I worked on today which was a first for me hull ladders 96 holes on each side of the hull to be drilled with steps installed!!I have to say the curve took me about 2 hrs to do the 24 rails but the next 38 took a little over an hour.The system has been developed and refined only 38 left I will probably get some pics up M/Tues a cousin is in New Orleans doing a shoot(makeup artist) have not seen her in 40+ years 1979 she stayed the summer Dad said"never seen so many damn boys hanging around" All my friends wanted to date her.

[KevinM]

Well all the hull handrails are in place 48 each side meaning 98 holes nothing is glued on the decks yet.I have to pick up some screws tomorrow to mount the ship to it's stand after that already staring secondary guns dealing with a bit of PE.

[Peterpools]

Kev

Amazing work! I've always wanted to try my hand at WWII ship, something simple but all that PE just keeps putting me off. I am always in awe of ship modelers who can handle and work with such intricate and fine details - way beyond my abilities these days.

 

[KevinM]

I do not use all the PE they supply Peter as in A/C some of it is redundant or the plastic is just fine and some just to small.

[Peterpools]

Thanks Kev, that's perfect advice and a note for future use.

 

[KevinM]

Just chugging along fellas built the PE catapult,incline rear deck and added some double A's.The SS is now glued and the Funnel various ladders have been added around the deck more to come.

[GazzaS]

Looking good!  Railings and rigging will really bring her to life.

[KevinM]

2 hours ago, GazzaS said:

Railings and rigging will really bring her to life.

Esp. the rigging Gary one of my favorite parts.

[KevinM]

The aft area is complete I have a little left up front not much and have already started on the boats.I think you can tell I am on holiday I got my shots for the back yesterday head is clear that Ti/T2 when going can cause some nasty clouds in the head to which only meds fix shots are doing there job.

[GazzaS]

Looks better in each pic!  This ship has a very interesting bow form.  It'd be interesting to know if it made any difference.  I've only done one ship in modern days.  BUt railings were a huge pain and I did the rigging with stretched sprue.  

Keep rocking it, man.

[KevinM]

6 hours ago, GazzaS said:

This ship has a very interesting bow form.

I find the lines of Japanese WWII ships stunning to me but beauty as they say ..............

I did get a better set of pics this was the second set.

[JohnB]

The Japanese warships usually were very attractive with their curved bow and pagoda superstructure. I have a 1/200 Nichimo Akizuki DD that has been in my stash for a long time. A very attractive ship. Maybe I'll build it some day but will likely sell it off.