Aoshima 1/700: IJN Chiyoda seaplane / submarine tender
Aoshima 1/700: IJN Chiyoda seaplane / submarine tender
First a little bit of history...
IJN Chiyoda
The Chiyoda was designed in the early 1930's as a Chitose-class seaplane and submarine tender. Its keel was laid in 1936, with it being commissioned into service by 1938. It saw action as a seaplane tender in the early stages of the Sino-Japanese War. In mid-1940, the Chiyoda was recalled for refitting into a seaplane and submarine tender (for the Type-A Kohyoteki-class midget submarines).
Following the Japanese losses at the Battle of Midway, the Chiyoda was again recalled to Japan for conversion into a light carrier. The conversion would last until December of 1943. The new Chiyoda light carrier would be involved in many naval battles throughout 1944. She was finally sunk in October, 1944, during the Battle of Cape Engano, with a loss of all hands.
The Kit
This kit, from Aoshima, is number WLE091-500 and was released in 1979. Being an old kit, I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it all was. The parts were crisply molded in very good plastic. Flash was minimal. The "decals" were basic (two flags and windows) to say the least. The instructions were entirely in Japanese, but the illustrations were easy to follow.
The Build
Really, this was a fairly easy build for which I am most thankful for. Unlike my last ship model, this one was a lot of fun to work on. I had a couple of problems but don't know if I was to blame or if there was a problem with the kit. There are four cranes (two on each side) of the raised deck/platform in the middle of the ship. All four has specific places indicated by either the assembly instructions or by a hole in the deck for placement. I found that, once the platform was in place, the cranes wouldn't fit. I ended-up repositioning them slightly to clear other parts or allow for the platform itself. Not a big problem, but it was a surprise considering how well everything else went together.
The kit comes with three float-planes and two midget submarines. I lost one of the floats so that plane was hurriedly converted into a Nakajima A6M2-N "Rufe" with a single float and was positioned under the platform. The decals lacked the Hinumaru that the ship painted on the platform (must have been a great target for USN bombers!) so I had to raid my spares box. As luck would have it, I had one of the correct scale to place on the deck.
Conclusions
I really enjoyed building this model. It is a large ship (close in size to my HMS Nelson battleship) that has a very unusual silhouette. It also has an interesting history. I would easily recommend it to anyone building a 1/700 Imperial Japanese Naval Force.
IJN Chiyoda
The Chiyoda was designed in the early 1930's as a Chitose-class seaplane and submarine tender. Its keel was laid in 1936, with it being commissioned into service by 1938. It saw action as a seaplane tender in the early stages of the Sino-Japanese War. In mid-1940, the Chiyoda was recalled for refitting into a seaplane and submarine tender (for the Type-A Kohyoteki-class midget submarines).
Following the Japanese losses at the Battle of Midway, the Chiyoda was again recalled to Japan for conversion into a light carrier. The conversion would last until December of 1943. The new Chiyoda light carrier would be involved in many naval battles throughout 1944. She was finally sunk in October, 1944, during the Battle of Cape Engano, with a loss of all hands.
The Kit
This kit, from Aoshima, is number WLE091-500 and was released in 1979. Being an old kit, I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it all was. The parts were crisply molded in very good plastic. Flash was minimal. The "decals" were basic (two flags and windows) to say the least. The instructions were entirely in Japanese, but the illustrations were easy to follow.
The Build
Really, this was a fairly easy build for which I am most thankful for. Unlike my last ship model, this one was a lot of fun to work on. I had a couple of problems but don't know if I was to blame or if there was a problem with the kit. There are four cranes (two on each side) of the raised deck/platform in the middle of the ship. All four has specific places indicated by either the assembly instructions or by a hole in the deck for placement. I found that, once the platform was in place, the cranes wouldn't fit. I ended-up repositioning them slightly to clear other parts or allow for the platform itself. Not a big problem, but it was a surprise considering how well everything else went together.
The kit comes with three float-planes and two midget submarines. I lost one of the floats so that plane was hurriedly converted into a Nakajima A6M2-N "Rufe" with a single float and was positioned under the platform. The decals lacked the Hinumaru that the ship painted on the platform (must have been a great target for USN bombers!) so I had to raid my spares box. As luck would have it, I had one of the correct scale to place on the deck.
Conclusions
I really enjoyed building this model. It is a large ship (close in size to my HMS Nelson battleship) that has a very unusual silhouette. It also has an interesting history. I would easily recommend it to anyone building a 1/700 Imperial Japanese Naval Force.
- Clashcityrocker
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Re: Aoshima 1/700: IJN Chiyoda seaplane / submarine tender
Great looking ship, and the last pic is a beauty.
Nigel
Nigel
Re: Aoshima 1/700: IJN Chiyoda seaplane / submarine tender
That looks really good.
Hoping to return to modelling sometime this year!!
Owner of Marky's Model Emporium since 2013!.
Owner of Marky's Model Emporium since 2013!.
- DavidWomby
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Re: Aoshima 1/700: IJN Chiyoda seaplane / submarine tender
That is very different. I have never seen a ship configured that way before. Thanks.
David
David
- iggie
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Re: Aoshima 1/700: IJN Chiyoda seaplane / submarine tender
That's a really unusual subject and a fine build too; great work!
Best wishes
Jim
If you can walk away from a landing, it's a good landing. If you use the airplane the next day, it's an outstanding landing
"Never put off till tomorrow, what you can do the day after tomorrow"
Jim
If you can walk away from a landing, it's a good landing. If you use the airplane the next day, it's an outstanding landing
"Never put off till tomorrow, what you can do the day after tomorrow"
Re: Aoshima 1/700: IJN Chiyoda seaplane / submarine tender
Thank you all for your kind comments, gentlemen. It's a fun kit to work on.
- general rocket
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Re: Aoshima 1/700: IJN Chiyoda seaplane / submarine tender
Nice model.
Bomber pilots would definitely find that meatball a very tempting prospect.
Bomber pilots would definitely find that meatball a very tempting prospect.
I wish, that I knew what was doing!
- JohnRatzenberger
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Re: Aoshima 1/700: IJN Chiyoda seaplane / submarine tender
Looks very good, especially in the water.
The big cover was really just that, a cover for the aircraft storage and maintenance on deck ? Or did a/c get taken under there and then below decks ? It would seem to have been a better arrangement to have the boats on the cover and leave more room under it. Just curious.
The big cover was really just that, a cover for the aircraft storage and maintenance on deck ? Or did a/c get taken under there and then below decks ? It would seem to have been a better arrangement to have the boats on the cover and leave more room under it. Just curious.
John Ratzenberger
It's my model and I'll do what I want with it.
It's my model and I'll do what I want with it.
Re: Aoshima 1/700: IJN Chiyoda seaplane / submarine tender
A very unusual shape on a ship,very well done model.
Re: Aoshima 1/700: IJN Chiyoda seaplane / submarine tender
From what I found out about the ship (online research), that cover primarily acted as a cover for working on the aircraft and, later, submarines. In fact, I read that the crew held Sumo wrestling matches on it (and I have seen pics where a modeler included that feature on his build of the ship). There are also two hatches (for lack of a better term to call them) in the deck to the hold, but I don't know if they could be used like aircraft carrier elevators or not. It is an interesting design, isn't it?jRatz wrote:Looks very good, especially in the water.
The big cover was really just that, a cover for the aircraft storage and maintenance on deck ? Or did a/c get taken under there and then below decks ? It would seem to have been a better arrangement to have the boats on the cover and leave more room under it. Just curious.
Aoshima also makes a 1/700 version of this kit in the submarine-tender version (without any aircraft). The deck behind the stack is removable and you have a good number of mini-subs in the hold. Also, the aft-section of the ship apparently has doors to allow the subs to be launched (and recovered?).
Thanks for asking and for your comments (Yours too, Celt )
- JohnRatzenberger
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Re: Aoshima 1/700: IJN Chiyoda seaplane / submarine tender
Thanks for that effort and the info.
John Ratzenberger
It's my model and I'll do what I want with it.
It's my model and I'll do what I want with it.
Re: Aoshima 1/700: IJN Chiyoda seaplane / submarine tender
That looks fantastic!
Regards, Paddy.
On The Bench
Fujimi 1/72 A-7E Corsair II
On The Bench
Fujimi 1/72 A-7E Corsair II
- FAAMAN
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Re: Aoshima 1/700: IJN Chiyoda seaplane / submarine tender
Great build and finish of a kit I did in 1982, there is far more information around now for finishing IJN subjects more accurately
This is mine from 1982,
DSC05152 13 Chiyoda CVSs by Neil, on Flickr
This is mine from 1982,
DSC05152 13 Chiyoda CVSs by Neil, on Flickr
Been modelling for years, still learning . . . .
Model kits are meant to be assembled . . . . . . . . . . eventually.
Model kits are meant to be assembled . . . . . . . . . . eventually.
Re: Aoshima 1/700: IJN Chiyoda seaplane / submarine tender
Very nice too!.
Hoping to return to modelling sometime this year!!
Owner of Marky's Model Emporium since 2013!.
Owner of Marky's Model Emporium since 2013!.
Re: Aoshima 1/700: IJN Chiyoda seaplane / submarine tender
Thanks for including your build, FAAMan. It looks great! I really need to start experimenting with weathering ships now that I have a few builds done.