Japanese Class A 1/16

[MFR1964]

You really want play that annoying mortal, don't you, Finish your XXIII !!!!!!<br />
<br />
Manfred.

[greenman407]

HA! You and David both

[MFR1964]

Watch it Mark!!, or i'll start up the lightning generator, have fresh angelwing anodes installed.<br />
<br />
Manfred.

[greenman407]

Thats why he refers to himself as a "detail NUT of the first order"

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Now, this! .... THIS is model-building!

M

[greenman407]

Attaboy Manfred! I know you love a challenge, and this boats a challenge for sure.

[MFR1964]

Hatch and cable-tensioner time!!!!



This is my version of the japanese class A cable-tensioner, i made it static, those threads are soldered tight, the shackels are functional with a M 1 bolt.



A make-shift rigg with some cable to show how it will be fastened to the hull.



Used this picture as reference for the cable-tensioner, there are more shackels, but i don't want to overcomplicate this contraption.



Also made me a boat-stand, most usefull to shove the boat around and to keep it safe from the cat.



Made the hatch the same way as my XVIIb, used CBP board as the base material, hinges are from the stock i have.



From pictures i know the hatch is slightly recessed, used a cardboard template to imitate that, found out another thing, it seems that the hatch on a Class A hinges towards the bow, and at the B Class it hinges towards the stern, have several pictures from both types and this caught my attention.
There was also a removed area on top of the tower in front of the hatch, this way allowing the hatch to open more as 90 degrees.



If you look closely you can see that removed piece, just in front of the sailor standing on the tower, it seems they removed the entire hatch during the salvage.



It can be opened, made a poor imitation of the locking device to secure the hatch, it will do untill i find a good picture from the hatch itself.

Manfred.

[MFR1964]

Thanks for the support, the hatch is proceeding well, still have to add some details, it's functional, you know i have a slight disorder for hatches, the designdrawing for the cable-tensioner is being made, hope to start with this item this week, so i can show you guys some pictures.
Manfred.

[trout]

Manfred,
You are doing a great job on this! Do not let it get to you, sit back and enjoy a beverage of your pleasure. Kick the cat. Then solutions will prevent itself to you. (Kicking the cat is optional)

[MFR1964]

Thanks Von,

Working on the hatch, still have to make that cable-tensioner, the rear-end, the front-part, aaaaarrrrggggghhhhhh!!!!, i'm loosing it!!!!


Manfred.

[Von Hilde]

I'm getting inspired to dig mine out an do some work, Manfred. Looks real good.

[MFR1964]

Stage one, adding the front anti-fauling bars.



Second stage, adding those bars which protect the peroscope housing, and punched some holes into the protector with the help of a mold.



OOPS!!, made a mistake, those bars near the peroscope housing where sitting too high, modified it accourding to the pictures i have.



Drilled out the housing and shoved the future scope in for testing.



I'm going to make a mold of this tower, so each component can be removed, used two M2 bolts for fastening the housing, will need more bolts in the future to keep the tensionwheel on it's place.
Now i can start building the hatch.

Manfred.

[MFR1964]

Thanks Von, Always nice those historical facts, i bet this is only the tip of the Iceberg.
As for me, i played around in the cave and made me something new,



Stage one, made a fourspoke wheel, not sure if they where used at the real boats, but the japs made practical things not german overcomplicated. cutted both sidewalls from copper sheet, drilled all holes in one attempt, so they center nicely.



Dryfitting all parts before soldering.



Soldered everything and used the dremel to make it shine, the wheel can be turned and there is a small groove inside the wheel to run the cable.



A dryfitt at the conningtower, now i have this part i can make the bars which where part of the anti-fauling system, those are connected between the persocope protector and the tensionwheel, to be continued.

Manfred.

[Von Hilde]

Excelent craftsmanship, as usual, Manfred. The fair weather housing for the periscope, is part or the battery vent system, hence all the holes. Additionally the aft top section of the tower, as well.. It is integrated with the anti fowling system to insure the cable diflection does not get hung up on the periscope housing itself.. At this point I wonder why you would use a static WTC balast system. The type As did not have any balast tanks It was a dynamic diver, and ran neutral buoyancy, water level being just slightly below the base of the tower, at rest. They could submerge, statically, by cracking a scuttle valve to flood the boat, as a last ditch effort. This was a contingency plan that was a standard order for the Pearl Harbor attack force crews. The orders were to, once their mission was completed, the were to try to make it to the mother sub pick up point after sending the radio report of success. If that was not possible, they were to scuttle the boat and set the demo charge, and make their individual way to a number of Japanese houses in Pearl City. This most likely happened in one boats case, as new evidence of what the fate of the fifth missing boat. This boat was the one that reportedly fired both torpedoes, at the USS West Virginia. The 8 pm radio report from one of the midgets declaring success with both torpedoes support this theory, as well as the only boat wreckage with both torpedoes expect was the one found on the bottom after the north lock disaster when all the ammo filled LSTs exploded and burned. During the salvage operation of thr Lock, there was a midget wreckage dredged up, with no torpedoes or bodies. This boat was removed and relocated to the bay near Hickam airfield during the land fill operation to extend the runway,. This boat is most likely the object in question in the photograph taken by a Japanese aircraft during the attack on battleship row. There accounts from other ships during the attack firing on a midget in that area at the time the West Virginia and Oklahoma were receiving several torpedo hits that sank both.. In on gunners mate's account on firing his gun at a proposing mini sub that was firing torpedoes at battleships, He reported knocking the head off of a man sticking his head out.. I believe that he did hit the tower of the sub since it was quite close, but most likely knocked the fair weather over the scope odd, which would appear to be a head sticking out a hatch.. The mystery is still open, since there were two wrecks recovered with both tubes empty. One torpedo was recovered un exploded on shore next to a pier, which narrows down the successful hits to 3. There were two possible in the W Va. An there was an incident of a cruiser and a distroyer engaging Fire with a midget sub that fired 2 torpedoes at the cruiser missing it but on traveled onward an hit a destroyer that was escaping the attack. Reportedly blew up under the stern and lifting the ship out of the water, where it ran aground to survive sinking and blocking the g harbor. Little history lesson for a crappy Sunday weather day down here. Tornadoes in January in Florida??? World is falling apart quick. Tide is up over the sea wall today, whoever said the sea isn't rising must live in the mountains.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Fantastic work, Manfred. You lead the way, my friend!

M