IJN I-400 "Sen Toku" Submarine in 1:200

[Fishcarver]

Hi Gang! today I finished railing the "gun deck" on top of the hangar, using cut off sequin pins, super glue and linen thread, as earlier advertised. This is a process requiring DISCIPLINE, as the patience tends to wear off after about six stanchions or so. Suffice it to say, the katz got well fed and I smoked more cigs/drank more coffee than usual.

I have described this in my log as a "learning day"

MTF

Jim

PS: BTW: a) the elephant-trunk-like structure is the snorkel vent for the auxiliary power supply. b) the entire conning tower assembly has been dry fitted for photographic purposes.

[Hiob]

Nice work!
Good to see you are going towards the end of this build.

[cdavenport]

I am past half-way through the Sen Toku Raid book by Mannock and it's a real page turner! This guy did his homework; all the details are spot on!

[Fishcarver]

I have finished railing both the gun deck and the main deck. The conning tower and the aft antenna support has been dry-fitted until I finish work below the waterline/
MTF
Jim

[Fishcarver]

There will be some touch-up needed (obviously) but this superstructure is starting to resemble that of (at least) a light cruiser.

TBTG that the railing is finished!!! I intend to drink a lot of carrot juice in the next couple of days in order to restore my eyesight!!

Both katz are still alive......Life is good!!

Jim

[Uyraell]

Congratulations on another intricate step achieved Jim my friend.

The skill in your work is not only a pleasure, but also an education to see.

She is certainly showing up now as a sizable beasty, but I guess the superstructure adds heavily to that mental impression.
I'm certainly enjoying seeing her evolve.

Kind and Respectful Regards Jim my friend, Uyraell.

[Fishcarver]

Urayell:
Good Monday (as I guess it is where you are in NZ) and thanks as always for your words of support and friendship!
Jim

[Uyraell]

Jim my friend you're more than welcome.

Timezone-wise I'm GMT+12 in winter, GMT+13 in summer as currently.
If my thinking is correct, I'm about 7.5 hours ahead of your time in BC, Canada?

I'm only going by rough guesstimate, as I have relatives in Ga, USA, and I'm "6 hours ahead of them, yesterday" ... meaning My 19th is their 18th, and I'm still 6 hours ahead as well.

My Monday though, has gone rather well, so Thank You Jim for your kind warm wishes.

Kind and Respectful Regards Jim my friend, Uyraell.

[cdavenport]

I finished reading Sen Toku Raid and it was a helluva read....I sped through the text in 1.5 days. I've passed my copy onto my oldest son who loves war novels, too.

I have the requisite background to know that Mannock did an excellent job of nailing the historical details. I even learned some new tidbits including the origin of the word "leatherneck" as it describes Marines.

Watching your model unfold brings to mind the description of the sub in the book. It's been fun thus far! You're almost at the finish line.

[Fishcarver]

Maj. Charles! I'm glad that you enjoyed the read!! I did too...especially when the author gets most of the tech/historical details right, and takes believable liberties with the rest!! .

There really WAS an I-403, but (I think) it was destroyed by the Allies before its launching. I-401 was destroyed in the Ulithi campaign, and I-402 met the same fate, but sometime later. (it was converted to a submarine oil/gas tanker). The Panama Canal mission called for an I-25 class as a back up. This was sunk during the Ulithiti campaign...

I-403 was being purpose-built to carry "KAITEN" manned torpedoes and OHKA Mod 43 (naval version-turbojet), manned cruise missiles, along with 2--3 metric tons (as rumour has it) of high explosive in its torpedo spaces as the "ultimate Kaiten".

I 400 never deployed the Kaiten, nor the Ohka 43 (which never entered production) but I still LOVE an author that does his homework!! It generates IDEAS!!!

MTF
Jim

PS: May your son become a modeler too! ;-)