Tamiya 1/350 Japanese submarine I-400

[digger303]

The wooden deck received a brown wash , trying to make it a teak colour.


Stuck to my filing cabinet to try to keep it flat with small magnets.

[digger303]

A bit of history

The Japanese I-400 class submarines were commissioned during World War II
as a last-ditch, revolutionary secret weapon intended to shift the tide of the war by launching surprise aerial attacks against the United States mainland and key military installations.

Initial Strategic Purpose
The I-400 class was the brainchild of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, who conceived the idea shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack. The primary goals for these vessels included:

Striking the U.S. Mainland: The initial plan called for a fleet of 18 submarines to launch coordinated aerial bombing raids against major American coastal cities, such as New York and Washington, D.C..
Neutralising the Panama Canal: A key strategic objective was to destroy the Gatun Locks of the Panama Canal. This would have cut the critical supply and shipping link between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, severely hindering the U.S. Navy's ability to move reinforcements to the Pacific theatre.
Psychological Warfare: By bringing the war directly to American shores using undetected vessels, Japan hoped to force the U.S. to divert massive resources to homeland defence and potentially dissuade them from continuing the fight in the Pacific.

Key Specifications

Aircraft Capacity: Each submarine featured a massive, watertight hangar capable of housing three Aichi M6A1 Seiran attack floatplanes. These planes could be launched via a 120-foot deck catapult within minutes of the sub surfacing.
Enormous Range: With a cruising range of approximately 37,500 nautical miles, they could circumnavigate the globe one and a half times on a single tank of fuel.
Massive Size: At roughly 400 feet long and displacing 6,500 tons submerged, they were the largest submarines ever built until the advent of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines in the 1960s.

Operational Shift and Surrender
By the time the first boats were commissioned in late 1944, Japan's strategic situation had worsened significantly.

Mission Changes
Initial plans to bomb U.S. cities or use biological weapons (Operation Cherry Blossoms at Night) were eventually abandoned in favor of a final, desperate mission to attack the U.S. naval base at Ulithi Atoll.
The End of the War: Before the submarines could carry out their first combat mission, Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945. The crews were ordered to scuttle their planes and torpedoes before surrendering to U.S. forces.

They were also used as desperate attempts to resupply installations key to the japanese efforts and were never known about by the allies until after the surrender.

[Quax]

this will be interesting, looks like the PE will need skills akin to neurosurgery!

Paul

[digger303]

this will be interesting, looks like the PE will need skills akin to neurosurgery!

Paul

Yes it's causing me some angst and I haven't even looked closely at it yet

[digger303]

Not happy with the colour so far achieved with the deck I lightly shaded it with a Prismacolour brown pencil and to me it still seemed too light. Redoing it with the pencil (as a test showed) would result it a awful full on brown. So as I would have to seal it I combined a Liquidtex acrylic ink with the acrylic sealer, added a drop of AK 3g thinner and I think I'm close.



As you can see the wood reacts violently to being soaked in water based product, so it is currently being held down flat until it behaves itself.

[DBMiller]

I love subs! I'll be watching this build.

[Tomcat64]

Every day is a school day - I didn't know anything about this submarine, or that there was as kit of it - nice find.

I think the deck colour in the final photo looks great, hopefully you can convince the wood to behave without too much hassle.

Looking forward to seeing this go together.

[Stokesy44]

Every day is a school day - I didn't know anything about this submarine, or that there was as kit of it - nice find.

I think the deck colour in the final photo looks great, hopefully you can convince the wood to behave without too much hassle.

Looking forward to seeing this go together.

I agree with TC, the wood colour looks very good

[digger303]

Thanks fella's.
I'll try to get this completed in a reasonable time frame and regularly posting to keep it interesting.

[DRUMS01]

Digger, I think this is going to be a great subject and build.

The wood and PE will really bring this up to another level.

I'm also looking forward to seeing it complete with weathering.

Next update please...

[Stokesy44]

Digger, I think this is going to be a great subject and build.

The wood and PE will really bring this up to another level.

I'm also looking forward to seeing it complete with weathering.

Next update please...

You're under the pump now Digger. DRUM has spoken, better get a wriggle on.

[digger303]

Digger, I think this is going to be a great subject and build.

The wood and PE will really bring this up to another level.

I'm also looking forward to seeing it complete with weathering.

Next update please...

You're under the pump now Digger. DRUM has spoken, better get a wriggle on.

Cracking the whip.

[digger303]

Here you go DRUM's


Tamiya very thoughtfully provided a couple of weights and when handling the whole hull it really improves the feel of it. Having weight really improves it more than I would have credited the idea.


Got the easy bits together and had a go at one small bit of decking in the conning tower. A bit premature as I should have done some painting before doing that, but I was impatient and now I'll pay for it.



The 1/350 planes are not bad at all given the size.
I however have a question....What is the best way to colour the windows to give the illusion of glass. Is it a light blue or a reflection of the sea, I'm kind of lost trying to figure that out.....HELP !

[RangerNeil]

I'd have said a very pale green as its more likely to be reflecting the wings upper surfaces.....

[Stokesy44]

I'd have said a very pale green as its more likely to be reflecting the wings upper surfaces.....

Gosh, you've opened up a can of worms there Digger.

Kit looks good and those aircraft are nicely detailed.

[digger303]

I'd have said a very pale green as its more likely to be reflecting the wings upper surfaces.....

Gosh, you've opened up a can of worms there Digger.

Kit looks good and those aircraft are nicely detailed.

Perfectly innocent question and I really like to know everyone’s thoughts on the matter

Other than that I've spent a hr tonight flushing off a big seam line and sanding the heck out of it.



While Tamiya is known for great fit and this time is really no exception they aren't immune to a little warping either. While I thought the joint was pretty good in the dry fit in actuality there is a 0.1-0.2mm discrepancy in certain places. What I should have done was add a few bracing spars on the inside lower hull and the joint would have been practically invisible.
First time I've had to use my pen sander in a long time and ships hulls is one place where they are very practicable.

[aur0ra145]

Now that's a lot of sanding!

[Stokesy44]

I'd have said a very pale green as its more likely to be reflecting the wings upper surfaces.....

Gosh, you've opened up a can of worms there Digger.

Kit looks good and those aircraft are nicely detailed.

Perfectly innocent question and I really like to know everyone’s thoughts on the matter

Ranger was right on the money.

I had a look at how aircraft detailing sets for 1/350 aircraft carriers are painted when advertised. IJN WWII was a very pale gloss green if the aircraft were IJN green. US Aircraft of the same era were similar. Modern USN seemed to be a light gloss blue.

[digger303]

Gosh, you've opened up a can of worms there Digger.

Kit looks good and those aircraft are nicely detailed.

Perfectly innocent question and I really like to know everyone’s thoughts on the matter

Ranger was right on the money.

I had a look at how aircraft detailing sets for 1/350 aircraft carriers are painted when advertised. IJN WWII was a very pale gloss green if the aircraft were IJN green. US Aircraft of the same era were similar. Modern USN seemed to be a light gloss blue.

Lovely mate thanks.

[Phillip1]

digger303-You are making good progress here! I have always been a fan of the I-400 series IJN submarines. Concerning the painting the aircraft "greenhouse glass area" I did want to share what I did in the same situation (as a possible option). Several years to I built Nichimo's 1/200 scale I-19 IJN submarine kit, which also included a single floatplane (Yokosuka E14Y "Glen"). My choice was to:
-First, paint the main airplane colors (IJN green/gray)
-second, mask off the greenhouse "glass" area and paint it flat black
-Finally, use a small paint brush and carefully apply Future Floor Polish (now called Pledge Floor Finish) over the greenhouse glass area producing a high gloss shine

The bright shine over a dark color provides a good contrast against all the flat colors on the rest of the submarine. Below is a photo of my model so you can see what I am talking about. My two cents worth, anyway. Looking forward to more updates!



Phillip1

Thanks for posting that, it gives me a new option.
Your build looks very nice and very sharp.
Since I have spare aircraft I might try all 3 options and see how it compares.

[Phillip1]

Phillip1

[digger303]

This week I've repainted the upper hull and found my seam to be fairly prominent still due I think to the warp page factor and not shrinkage. So sanded and scraped some more and that has still to be repainted.
Instead I've been more focused on the conning tower.
These planes aren't really going to be seen so Not really doing too much to them.


The deck I've scraped back to get a better gluing surface and to reduce the height for the wooden deck. I've cleaned the deck up with extra thin.


Now this part of the fun, well it's supposed to be fun at least that's what I've been telling myself. Some of the steps on the instructions need a little green man to clearly point out exactly what they mean.


This is my second attempt which went more quickly , but I still stuffed up the mount and hand wheel for the elevation adjustment or at least I think that's what it is. For the sharp eyed yes the right side one is MIA and I'm just hoping it will turn up. The first gun mount I half built, but I will tear it apart and rebuild it now I know a little better.




Took me 2 sessions to build this little sucker, 3 more to go....



Ps..... Sorry about the crappy photography

[Garion77]

Nice progress my friend ! things are getting back on track ! And it takes lots of courage in my book to undertake that kind of PE !! And you nailed it !

[Phillip1]

digger303-I agree the gun assembly you built looks good. At 1/350 scale those are some REALLY small PE parts.

Phillip1

[Stokesy44]

Man alive those gun emplacements are tiny.

Superb effort mate

[digger303]

Nice progress my friend ! things are getting back on track ! And it takes lots of courage in my book to undertake that kind of PE !! And you nailed it !

digger303-I agree the gun assembly you built looks good. At 1/350 scale those are some REALLY small PE parts.

Phillip1

Man alive those gun emplacements are tiny.

Superb effort mate

Thanks guys I appreciate it.
Not much to add this week as I've been dragging the chain a bit.
More Pe work and nothing to show on the main hull

[Kevthemodeller]

I've missed this build somehow

This is a very interesting subject there's a lot of information after they were captured/surrendered by/to the Americans. They used the information to build their first ballistic missile subs USS Tunny and the later USS Greyback both carried what is effectively a V1. The Germans were planning the same thing even with V2s.

It is rumoured that the I subs capture were kept secret from the Russians and all scuttled before they could see them.

[Stokesy44]

I've missed this build somehow

This is a very interesting subject there's a lot of information after they were captured/surrendered by/to the Americans. They used the information to build their first ballistic missile subs USS Tunny and the later USS Greyback both carried what is effectively a V1. The Germans were planning the same thing even with V2s.

It is rumoured that the I subs capture were kept secret from the Russians and all scuttled before they could see them.

I love talk about subs. Its all so SNEAKY and covered in mystery. Submariners are a breed apart, they've got sneaky DNA.

[Kevthemodeller]

I love talk about subs. Its all so SNEAKY and covered in mystery. Submariners are a breed apart, they've got sneaky DNA.

I had a good friend who was RN submariner, he was in last P & O class diesel electric boats. One of the boats he served on is now a museum in Chatham. He did some very sneaky stuff in the 80s, got depth charged by the Russians a few times! Shadowed their ballistic boats as they put to sea, photographed their shore facilities etc. He was a fellow diver that's how I met him sadly died about 10 years ago now massive brain hermitage in his sleep. Really was a great bloke

[Stokesy44]

I love talk about subs. Its all so SNEAKY and covered in mystery. Submariners are a breed apart, they've got sneaky DNA.

I had a good friend who was RN submariner, he was in last P & O class diesel electric boats. One of the boats he served on is now a museum in Chatham. He did some very sneaky stuff in the 80s, got depth charged by the Russians a few times! Shadowed their ballistic boats as they put to sea, photographed their shore facilities etc. He was a fellow diver that's how I met him sadly died about 10 years ago now massive brain hermitage in his sleep. Really was a great bloke

Fascinating stuff. I'd heard about how they bugged one of the main undersea communication cables, there must have been some really goofy stuff going on that may never see the light of day.

[digger303]

I love talk about subs. Its all so SNEAKY and covered in mystery. Submariners are a breed apart, they've got sneaky DNA.

I had a good friend who was RN submariner, he was in last P & O class diesel electric boats. One of the boats he served on is now a museum in Chatham. He did some very sneaky stuff in the 80s, got depth charged by the Russians a few times! Shadowed their ballistic boats as they put to sea, photographed their shore facilities etc. He was a fellow diver that's how I met him sadly died about 10 years ago now massive brain hermitage in his sleep. Really was a great bloke

Fascinating stuff. I'd heard about how they bugged one of the main undersea communication cables, there must have been some really goofy stuff going on that may never see the light of day.

I think every major country tries to do this intelligence gathering whether they admit to it or not....most embarrassing when they get caught.

[RangerNeil]

I love talk about subs. Its all so SNEAKY and covered in mystery. Submariners are a breed apart, they've got sneaky DNA.

I had a good friend who was RN submariner, he was in last P & O class diesel electric boats. One of the boats he served on is now a museum in Chatham. He did some very sneaky stuff in the 80s, got depth charged by the Russians a few times! Shadowed their ballistic boats as they put to sea, photographed their shore facilities etc. He was a fellow diver that's how I met him sadly died about 10 years ago now massive brain hermitage in his sleep. Really was a great bloke

I have unfond memories of HMS Otter in the 70's, Off Chesil Beach at around 01:00 Hrs, sliding down the hull on a rope (wet!!) hoping and praying the inflatable was going to be underneath me and not bounced off to the side like in the training film....

[Stokesy44]

I think every major country tries to do this intelligence gathering whether they admit to it or not....most embarrassing when they get caught.

The trick was not to boast about it on Twitter or Insta once you'd done it.

[digger303]

I think every major country tries to do this intelligence gathering whether they admit to it or not....most embarrassing when they get caught.

The trick was not to boast about it on Twitter or Insta once you'd done it.

Yes or the frogman ends up on the 6 o'clock news having been caught out on the tides or a rogue fishing net

[digger303]

Hi, ALL
My update includes a couple of mishaps and as you can see on the first pic when cleaning my AB i spilt gp lacquer thinner on the freshly painted stand. I did sand it down and just re sprayed it with top coat, but low and behold it showed through pretty convincely. So sanded and primed and top coated again and this mostly fixed it this time.



Now most of the wood deck is on, hull is sprayed and started a little of the detail paint work.



Yep I dropped it and it landed on the tail end, I guess I was lucky and only dropped it a distance of 200mm.
It's fixable so all is not lost, but one thing through the wood deck appears to be a little bit short around the edges in places. I didn't paint around the edges so the glue would stick to the plastic and not paint. So I've given myself a problem....really need a smiley showing shooting oneself in the foot.

[Stokesy44]

Disaster averted. These things are sent to try us!

[Phillip1]

digger303-Wow! You certainly have been experiencing a series of unfortunate events. Hopefully it will turnaround and the next steps will go smooth.

Phillip1

[Kevthemodeller]

Great save, on the base shame about the crash 'dive' I'm sure you'll sort it

[Garion77]

Great save indeed ! And it's quite stunning to see the build... it's huge !! Great job !

[digger303]

Disaster averted. These things are sent to try us!

I wasn't thinking that at the time.

digger303-Wow! You certainly have been experiencing a series of unfortunate events. Hopefully it will turnaround and the next steps will go smooth.
Phillip1

Fingers crossed

Great save, on the base shame about the crash 'dive' I'm sure you'll sort it

Great save indeed ! And it's quite stunning to see the build... it's huge !! Great job !

Not as big as the pic's make it. It's about 330mm long, but feels much smaller.

[digger303]

I've been a bit busy spraying summer weeds and getting up at 4am and working as much as I can before the temp reaches 30 C at that point the chemical won't penetrate the leaves.
Upshot is I've been a bit tired and haven't done much until today.



I lost a gun assembly, I just don't know how something that big can disappear. I had it in the tweezers half built and I dropped it ( no surprise), didn't flick it just dropped and I thought I heard it hit the floor yet it's gone. Frigging amazing.


Deck looks a bit so so in places ...my fault for the out side edges.


I shall continue on building below show stand models

[Stokesy44]

Good stuff. I really like the wooden deck

[Phillip1]

digger303-Good to see another update! I agree the wood decks look really nice. The aircraft crane looks good too.

Phillip1

[Kevthemodeller]

Good stuff. I really like the wooden deck

What he said

[digger303]

Thanks guys I like the deck too and wouldn't be adverse to buying another.

Some good news in that I found my missing barrel, but not the whole gun mount that had 2 or the 3 barrels installed so not really helpful. I gave in and went online and bought a 3d print set, now the question is will it out shine what I already have

Some more good news, I got one small railing set in place. Only took me 2 sessions at the bench

[Kevthemodeller]

On the home straight now mate, glad you found the missing barrel

[digger303]

On the home straight now mate, glad you found the missing barrel

Shame I went and lost the whole gun mount with the other 2 barrels attached.

[aur0ra145]

Nice looking wood deck! Great looking build so far.

[digger303]

No big steps forward,just struggling getting the railings done. I've had a lot of trouble being able to control the placement and holding it steady while the Ca glue cures.
So I've had a bit of a thought after trying blue tack which wouldn't hold the PE I thought why not stick a pin in it. That not working well with the pin head not big enough I found old glue bottle caps that had a centre pin, trimmed the edges down and it works so far at least.



Not sure if it will be a ongoing useful thing , but while I'm able to show it and take a pic of it...I'm sharing

[Garion77]

That's a great show of patience my friend ! Already PE for me is just a tedious job most of the time and I hate working with CA glue. You're doing a great job !