Answer's 1/200 Junyo

[Don Boose]

Joe –

I’ve been trying to track down the Junyo air group at the time of the Battle of the Marianas/Battle of the Philippine Sea. I think you are right on track with the aircraft you identified. All four of those types appear to have been on Junyo’s flight deck during the battle.

Based on various sources (listed below), it appears that the Junyo element of the 652nd Naval Air Group (652 Kaigun Kōkutai) on 15 June comprised 27 Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero Model 52 (Allied code name “Zeke”) fighters (Kansen), 6 Nakajima B6N1 or B6N2 Tenzan Model 11 or 12 (Allied Code Name “Jill”) torpedo attack aircraft (Kankō), 9-11 Yokosuka D4Y1 Suisei Model 11 (Allied code name “Judy”) dive bombers (Kanbaku), and 9 Aichi D3A2 Model 12 (Allied code name “Val”) dive bombers (Kanbaku).

There is some variation among the sources regarding specific numbers and model types.

The Junyo aircraft carried the tail code “321.”

Sources:
Rene J. Francillon, Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War, New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1970
Samuel Eliot Morison, History of Untied States Naval Operations in World War II, Vol. VIII, New Guinea and the Marianas, March 1944 – August 1944, Boston: Little, Brown, 1964
Dan Muir, Order of Battle, The Battle of the Philippine Sea, 19-20 June 1944,” available from Order of Battle - The Battle of the Phillipine Sea - 19-20 June 1944.
“IJN CVL Questions,” J-Aircraft Forum, available from Re: IJN CVL questions
“Battle of the Philippine Sea (June, 1944) Tail Marking Debate Summary,” J-Aircraft Forum, available from http://www.j-aircraft.org/smf/index.php?topic=8850.0
“IJNAF carrier based aircraft identification & marking,” available from http://pacific.valka.cz/planes/ijnaf_marking.htm
“Yokusuka D4YSuisei (Judy), Japon,” available from YOKOSUKA D4Y SUISEI / "JUDY"

Don

[Michael Mash]

Hello Paperfan,
I always enjoy watching an IJN aircraft carrier being built. They have a look all their own. Count me in the audience.
Mike

[PAPER FAN]

Getting ready for tonight's Orange Bowl. Go Hokies, from a SU Orange fan. I only wish Andrew Luck would last to be picked by the Buffalo Bills, sadly not likely to be the case. At least when the Bills are playing I can build models, you know going in the s*%k.

Today I placed the center hull bottom plate and 3 forward plates. The center plate covers 6 segments at once, the largest single piece I have ever placed and it fit very well.

Yesterday, I added the stern and bow decks. There are no major issue yet other than I did mix up the direction of the aft formers and had to razor saw as a result. This will not effect the final effect of the model as the fix went well.

Caution with this model. The instructions are extremely limited, I don't read Polish and the images are almost as bad as I have ever seen for a lack of detail. I will have to study the parts more than ever before to prevent more screw ups.

Aside from the poor instructions the model itself is like putting together a finely design plastic kit. This model so far is a real pleasure and I am starting to think the build time will be much faster than expected.

The deck and the frame are as true as my ability yo see straight and I have done nothing to hold her. I let gravity hold the frames in place as poured medium CA glue on the corners and let them set.

[GreMir]

Originally Posted by PAPER FAN

...I let gravity hold the frames in place as poured medium CA glue on the corners and let them set.

I think that was the key to achieve perfectly straight hull frame.
Great job!

[redhorse]

Looks very good so far! This is going to be a monster...

[Don Boose]

Beautiful hull frame and plating!

Don

[PAPER FAN]

I plated enough of the lower hull to ensure I won't twist her while handling for the next phase not in the models instructions.

I added a upper rim to provide support for the hull sides later during construction. The carrier has no deck edges to support the hull side plating so I added a false one made of balsa. With the lower hull plated the assembly could not accidentally twist during this step.

Joe

[Papercut]

After watching you with this one, I thought since I am a IJN fan and there was another AC not listed as being built right now, I sprung for a Shokaku from Papermodel Store. I have never built an AC before, but hey, you got start with one somewhere. I would love to get my hands on an Angraf Graf Zep!

Really have enjoyed you insight to the construction of the hull and while covering. Look forward to more.

[treadhead1952]

Hi Joe,

You are rolling right along with your Junyo. I chicken out when it comes to these hull forms, I fill them up with balsa wood and sand it down to the formers so I have a good place to join the hull plates and sides to as well as more strength. I have a habit of snatching the model up while I am working on it, if they are hollow, I run the risk of sinking dips into the plates and such. With the balsa wood in there, it isn't an issue.

Looking forward to your next installment.

[PAPER FAN]

I have finished the lower hull primary plating and added one upper main plate. The upper plate port holes were drilled out with a Japanese 1.5 mm bit. Like the lower hull I add 1 layer of card stock to the formers to provide better gluing surface. I used black paper to give the port holes a depth appearance. The plate installed well.

Next post Saturday. Hopefully I will have the upper hull nearly finished by then. I will add the shaft housings and paint the lower hull after the upper plating is completed. This will cover up most issues on the bottom. I do not add the props or rudder until near the completion of the model to ease handling.

This model seems to be building faster than most, I can only credit the designers for this as I believe my skills and speed have peeked.

Side note: Yesterday no work was done because I just received my new 1/200 USS Arizona from Trumpeter. An absolutely perfectly molded model. I have not built plastic since discovering paper but I could not resist this model. I can only say get yours now before the molds start to wear out. by the way, she's 1/200 and will look great next to my soon to arrive USS Oklahoma. WOW.