1350
Yamato, in 1/350 Scale

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"MSW crew-mate Kym Knight (Rab) continues to dazzle us with his top quality builds, this time, it's Yamato in 1/350 scale, in this "On Display" feature!"



Model Details...

Builder: Kym Knight
The Model: Tamiya 1:350 Yamato
Photo-Etch: White Ensign Models
Wooden Deck: Shinsengumi
Brass Barrels: Aber (460mm) & Fukuya (155mm)
Paint: WEM Colourcoats
Accessories: Veteran Type 89 12.7cm AA guns & 25mm Triples for extra tubs, Hasegawa optical pieces, Resin Shipyard anchor chain, KA Models Boat Booms and Accomodation Ladders P/E, Fujimi figures. Reference: Anatomy of the Ship - Yamato, Warship Pictorial - IJN Yamato, a set of 1:200 1945 plans by Miyuki-Kai and hudreds of photo's of the 1:10th Kure museum model.

The build...
Having built this kit as my second ever attempt at model building some 9 years ago, I was in no hurry to build it again. But after some statement's by fellow model club member's, that doing my dio of the ships involved in operation TEN-ICHI-GO without the Yamato, was like going to Pearl Harbor and not visiting the Arizona museum.

Once I had all the parts needed, it was a pretty easy build. Water-lining and stiffening the hull has become second nature for my builds now and the only thing that caused any worries was the constant checking of reference for the known updates. There are a couple of things not quite right (probably quite a few if the Yamato-holics went over it), but I'm happy with the result.

Yamato's final days...
Displacing 72,800 tons, the ship was 862 ft in length and her beam, 121 ft. Her powerful engines could propel her at 27 knots. The vessel’s massive proportions were designed to support her three main turrets which carried three 18.1-inch guns each. These enormous batteries fired armor piercing shells weighing 3,200 pounds which could range 45,000 yards – a distance of over 25 miles. She was the zenith of the man-o-war, the ultimate floating gun platform.

But by April of 1945 Yamato had contributed little to her builder’s war efforts. With its offensive capability nearly destroyed, the Japanese Navy conceived a desperate plan to utilize their greatest remaining asset to strike a desperate blow at the rising tide of American forces.

To deter the April 1st amphibious landings on Okinawa, the Japanese Army planned to launch the bulk of its remaining air fleet in kamikaze attacks on the hundreds of U.S. ships supporting the landings. In response to a query from Emperor Hirohito, the Japanese Navy drew up a plan to destroy the ships which escaped the kamikaze onslaught. Yamato would be fully loaded with ammunition, yet only given enough fuel for the voyage to Okinawa. There she would beach herself offshore and fire upon the invasion force for as long as possible. The survivors were then to join the other defenders on the island. Yamato would not be provided air cover. There was none to give.

On April 6, the “Special Surface Attack Force” consisting of Yamato, the light cruiser Yahagi, and eight destroyers, sortied from Japan’s Inland Sea under the command of Vice Admiral Seiichi Ito. However, U.S. Naval Intelligence had information regarding the run and a picket of submarines lay in wait. At 1926 hours, the submarine Threadfin picked up the task force on sonar and radar as it emerged from the Bungo Suido. Under strict orders to send a contact report prior to attacking, Threadfin dutifully notified ComSubPac headquarters. Due to Yamato’s speed, Threadfin lost her attack opportunity. However, the great ship’s fate had been sealed.

Though Yamato skirted west to avoid detection, US aircraft carriers immediately began to search for her. She was located on April 7, at mid-day by over 400 aircraft from Admiral Marc Mitscher’s Task Force 58. Helldiver dive bombers attacked immediately, releasing rockets and bombs from 1,500 feet. Hits aft started fires belowdecks that could not be extinguished. Flights of Avenger torpedo planes assaulted her next, concentrating on the port side in an effort to overwhelm the ship’s ability to counterflood. Yamato’s less heavily armored bow and stern were specifically targeted.

Despite having over 150 anti-aircraft guns aboard, Yamato could not beat back the overwhelming numbers of attacking planes. By 1415, three successive waves had struck Yamato with approximately 15 bombs and eight torpedoes. With steering and power lost, and both flooding and counterflooding causing her to settle, Admiral Ito ordered the mission canceled. At 1420, Yamato slowly capsized and began to sink but not before being rent in two by the explosion of her after magazines.

Though her remaining escorts picked up those they could before returning to Japan, of Yamato’s complement of 3,063 men only 269 survived.
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About the Author

About Kym Knight (Rab)
FROM: QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

I just love modelling stuff with big guns!


Comments

Just fantastic! Great setup, build, composition.... even the background fits in perfectly. cheers
JAN 06, 2010 - 02:02 AM
HI Kym Fantastic stuff mate.....a really nice build...I wish I could fly over down under and spend a week in your Models room.....awesome my friend I am presently doing the Yamato in 1/350 scale as well...needs a bit more work...hopefully it will be finished in two months time approx...in time for our expo... again brilliant stuff Kym Take care and best regards Louis
JAN 06, 2010 - 02:32 AM
Kym, that anchorage of yours sure gets a lot of action! --Karl
JAN 06, 2010 - 07:04 AM
Great job as usual. Love the wooden deck. I've done 2 Yamatos so far. One in final configuration about 22 years ago and a couple of years back i did her up in inital config. Thought she looked a wee bit too rusted for the flagship, but then when i read she was in prep to go on the final mission it made sense.
JAN 06, 2010 - 09:31 AM
Wonderful job Kym.
JAN 06, 2010 - 01:00 PM
Your not kidding Karl and until I purchase another back board to extend the skyline, that position for photography is about the only place where complete scenery fits in the picture. There is a major extension happening due to the constant new releases being put out on the market to tempt me. I think there is another 3 or 4 IJN ships to be added to this site soon and your sure going to get sick of the background view. BTW, here's a couple of photo's of the overall construction so-far and as you can see, quite a way to go.
JAN 06, 2010 - 04:59 PM
Steve, My initial idea was to convey a visual mood for the viewer of the IJN's desperation towards the end of the war. Ships in need of major overhauls, but couldn't, men in need of rest, but couldn't. Basically, that used and abused look that comes from the knowledge of certain defeat. Deep, hey!!!!!
JAN 06, 2010 - 05:08 PM
Love the extended version of the scene Great job and spot on with the "mood" portrayed. And I am personally very jealous at all that space you have! Thanks for sharing this great work, cheers
JAN 07, 2010 - 04:19 AM
Very impressive! I love the whole layout, all the ships, the island... everything! That's awesome that you have so much space to spread things out like that.
JAN 07, 2010 - 04:37 AM
I've onlky seen one diorama that big. A dozen guys got together to portray a German truck column going through Holland in the early part of the war. There must have been close to 150 figures and 50 vehichles. It won at the Nationals that year. They fixed folding legs under it so It could be transported. Problem was after the show everyone wanted their trucks and things back. I sure was glad to have known the guys and been able to take tons of photo's I plan to take a trip to Austrailia some time. I definitely expect a tour. Heard Aussie women love us. I'm southern so don't call me a yank
JAN 07, 2010 - 07:32 AM