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OSK Himalaya Maru

A note from Jim...

Firstly, let me say that my models of the freighters and tramp steamers of the Japanese Empire are my representations.
Data, plans and other details are not readily available in the West and are therefore trawled from photos on various websites and reference books in my possession.

Himalaya Maru:

The ship:
Laid down as World War I standard type March 15, 1918 at the Mitsubishi Yard, Nagasaki.
She was launched August 6 and completed August 28 1918.
She was operated by OSK (Osaka Shosen Kaisha) until her loss

Gross Tonnage 5229 Tons Deadweight: approx 8500 Tons
Waterline length (B.P.) 400 feet
Beam 55 feet
Draft (loaded) 25 feet
Normal cruising speed 10 knots

Himalaya Maru was bombed by US PBY (Catalina aircraft) December 2, 1943 North of Kavieng - location 00.52S/148.50E


The model:
While researching the SS ‘Legie’ which was used in the North Atlantic convoy diorama at the Telford show in 2007, I found out she was built in Japan and was launched as the Taikai Maru. Did she have sister ships? Of course.

Several evenings researching resulted in an ideal subject and a perfect donor model for my Maru fleet. The HP-Models ‘Legie’ had the correct length, breadth dimensions as my planned Himalaya Maru.

The main changes to the HP-Models ‘Legie’ were ventilators and mast & derrick arrangements. I used ventilators provided as separate sets by Loose Cannon. The masts were constructed using brass rod. Photo etch was from GMM Merchant ships set (ladders, rail), Lionroar (IJN vessels radial boat – davits, rudders etc),Eduard IJN Naval figures. Rigging was my usual fly-tying line.

Members of Modelshipwrights were able to provide me with the necessary colour scheme for the vessel. Thanks to them all!

The sea base is artist watercolour paper over an MDF base, painted with acrylics (phalo blue/black mix plus phalo green and white highlights). Bow wave and wake are silicon sealant, highlighted in white.

Jim S