I received word that the Model Art Warship Special #33 will be on Akagi and Shokaku. Oh yes, once received from whomever, it will be translated. Don't worry about that! Imazumi Hiroshi

I hope this is what you were referring to....just a preview. Imazumi Hiroshi CAMOUFLAGE OF ROYAL NAVY VESSELS The camouflaging of RN warships at the start of the war light gray 507c that was similar to the peacetime but, since the beginning of 1940 the successive camouflaging based on British fleet that was mooring at Scapa Flow was being conducted. Studies were being conducted based on world war 1 camouflaging but what was to become a system similar to that of the US Navy following the commencement of hostilities in world war 2, along with the unification of the Camouflage Unit in the Navy Ministry, a somewhat regulated camouflage was likely to become enacted. That was the case but what was formalized since there were a few varieties , the painting that was independently judged on warships that were camouflaged and those painted on individual ideas from shipbuilding yard staff were numerous, as for the ones at the beginning of the war they were difficult to adjust to a system that was already set. As for the vessels that took part in the pursuit of Bismarck, Hood that was in the battle of Denmark Straits had the hull in dark gray 507a, the upper structure in 507 b medium gray that were referred to as light hull-dark upper works, this camouflaging was used on Renown and Ark Royal of Unit H (drawing 7-1) Prince of wales which sailed along with Hood in this mission promptly after completion at the end of March,this camouflage at the time of completion was The standard 507c but as for the photographs taken just before the pursuit of Bismarck, it was clearly finished in 507b or 507a. Based on the photographs the bow section wasin507a with the other areas noticed to be in 507b but the bow section in this case had the paint peeling off but, this was based on the near misses captured just after the sea battle (drawing 7-2). Bismarck which was spotted when patrolling was done at Denmark Straits, Norfolk and Suffolk which continued with the chase were painted in the French Curve pattern based on MS3 medium gray green and 507a dark gray on the hull from top of the peace time camouflage 50c entitled Admiralty Disruptive Type, Norfolk had a part of the bridge and funnel in 507b and bow remaining in 507c from the top of 507c, thought to have been camouflaged in "Unofficial Disruptive Designs" (drawings13/14). Furthermore Norfolk in "Warship Perspectives Series" Royal Navy 1939-1941 which is a collection of camouflage for RN, at the time of pursuing Bismarck it was finished in 507a dark gray. Dorssetshire which released the torpedo that was said to have delivered the fatal blow to Bismarck had this pattern, the lower half of the hull and bow and stern in 507b medium gray from top of standard 507c the first and second funnels, and numbers 3 and 4 gun turrets and sides of rear structures were also painted in 507b. (drawing 15). King George V was had been changed to the dazzle pattern when painted at the time of the visit to the U.S. in January 1941, the upper half of the hull and upper structure was in 507b, the lower part of the hull was 507a, 507b, 507c gray colors distributed into stripes (drawing 10). Rodney which had sent 40 cm shells reciprocating King George V onto Bismarck in order to accept the modification work in the United States went out on a sortie here and there for escorting the large sized passenger ship Brittanica which became the crew transport ship, it was link up upon receiving the report "Bismarck has been spotted" but, it is presumed to have been changed from brown-green type applied in the year before to the 507b. Pursuing along with King George V, Victorious which added in the initial torpedo attack on Bismarck was painted in Admiralty Disruptive Design straight line type. This meant the essential parts of the hull were painted in MS3 medium gray-green and 507a, on the bow and stern a white WS pattern was added on (drawing 11). Up until around this many improvements were made to the anti submarine anti surface vessel dazzle paint which showed effectiveness in world war one, the deck camouflage for anti aircraft use was not conducted but in the case of Victorious the deck was painted in MS3 medium gray-green onto which a french curve camouflage of 507a dark gray was applied. LIght cruisers Hermione, Aurora, Galatnia, Kenya, Neptune whose mission was to escort Victorious from Scapa Flow had PB10 dark ultramarine blue, MS4 light gray-green, B20 medium blue, MS3 medium gray-green and others were used on top of the 507c light gray hull that was quite commonly conducted on cruisers and destroyers french curve type camouflage for the Admiralty Fast Disruptive camouflage and Mountbatten pink camouflage, constrast type and others extending over to digression. Sheffield which was added into Unit H were in the Dark Hull Light Upperworks similar with Renown and Ark Royal (drawing 16). Cossack, Sikh, Maori, Zulu of the 4th destroyer group that was formed from the Tirbal class which were added into the final battle in any case were painted in Dark Hull Light Upperworks with two recognition bands painted in black on the number 2 funnel (Sikh had one red band and one black band applied and there are references for this as well) Drawing 17/18. The colors used for the British fleet digressed but what was used at the very start of the war were mainly 507a dark gray, 507b medium gray, 507c light gray, MS3 medium gray green and WS white used on Victorious, PB 10 dark ultramarine blue and B20 medium gray blue mainly used on destroyers, later on the warships using Mountbatten pink system and Western Approach system that was formalized, were not likely in the pursuit of Bismarck. The reproduction of colors used on British warships is fairly difficult, it was quick and easy to use the Royal Navy color set specific for warships sold from White Ensign. However, the paint set is enamel based which is specific for a group of modelers whom brush paint using Humbrol thinner. In the case of painting with GSI Creos Mr.Color 507a was Sasebo Navy color, 507b 13 neutral gray or 331 dark sea gray 2 parts with 1 part 62 flat white mixed together. 507c is equal amounts of 35 light gray white and matte white mixed together MS3 is thought to be close to FS34012 gray green 303 but since many vessels were grimy and peeling, if you want to finish up realistically, I thought it was required to have weathering and washing technique.

I hope you have received the translation for Model Art 30 and/or 31. I want to know if you feel the 'photo caption' layout is acceptable and easy to follow. Appreciate everyone's feedback. Imazumi Hiroshi

Translation for Model Art Warship Special number 32 has been sent over to Pacific Front. Beginning work on number 33. Imazumi Hiroshi

Greetings: I am about finishing up Warship Special 33. Initially it will contain the articles in regards to the 1/350 and 1/700 Akgai and Shokaku. I decided to speed up on these four articles since many of the readers are most interested in those subjects. I hope to send over the manuscript to Bill Gruner early next week. Imazumi Hiroshi

Hoping for a far better year in 2010 to everyone: A while back I mentioned to a member on this board about sending me a copy of a publication long out of print for possible translation. His worry was about bending up the book while scanning. Well, I may have found a solution: Plustek company has a scanner that scans books without ruining the spine, or so it seems. I purchased a unit and am waiting it to arrive in the mail, a very late Christmas toy. But if this should work out, then I will post my findings. It is approximately $250 USD, so it is considered a bargain by United States standards. Plus, since it can save files to a computer, a great way to archive the library, again a guess. My best to all of you and let us keep the fingers crossed for the rest of this year! Working on MA 34. Imazumi Hiroshi

Greetings: I have not been able to contact Mr. Bill Gruner at Pacific Front Hobbies for over two months. I have sent the manuscript for MAWSS 33 and 34 over 6 weeks ago. I have not seen a reply in regards to posting them on his web site. Beginning with MAWSS 35, I will be fulfilling requests on an individual basis from interested persons. Please submit a request to my business e-mail [email protected]. Hope to hear from each of you soon. I am about ready to begin the work on translating. Imazumi Hiroshi

Well, finished translating MAWSS 35 and 36. I will have Pacific Front list or post them. Also, I will create CDs for the two sets in addition to the paper print outs. The CDs format will be for 'pdf', so one can use Adobe(r) Acrobat reader or similar program. Regards, Imazumi Hiroshi

Everyone: I was just informed 14 April 2011 that Mr. Bill Gruner has sold Pacific Front to Mr. Brandon Lowe whom also runs two other shops, but will continue the Pacific Front shop name and focusing on the original store concept. So far I have not been able to determine the fate of my previous agreement with Mr. Gruner being transferred to Mr. Lowe. Hope he will continue to provide the supplements. I already completed #37 two months ago, and am beginning work on #39. Imazumi Hiroshi