Turuga (Tsuruga) Maru
 
As an island nation Japan, like Britain, had a large merchant fleet prior to World War two.  I’ve always thought that the losses sustained by the Japanese Merchant Marine have been overlooked by modellers and have set out to capture the essence of run-of-the-mill tramp steamers that served throughout the war.
 
Turuga (Tsuruga) Maru was typical of these tramp steamers.  She was one of 19 similar ships built in various yards for Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) from 1915 to 1921.   Of the 19, only 1 survived the war, the bulk of the others were torpedoed.
 
The basic specifications were:-
 
            Overall length (LPP)         445.04ft (135.6 mtrs)
            Beam                                    58.09ft (17.70 mtrs)
            Draft                                  Loaded 27 ft   Light  9 ft
            Gross Tonnage                   6712 – 7296 tons
            Normal cruising speed      11 knots   Max 14.5 knots
 
            Propulsion                        Reciprocating – 2 screws   N.H.P.  630
            RPM                                 65 @ 10 knots;   73 @ 12 knots
            Fuel                                   Coal
            Capacity                             2500 tons
            Range                                 18000 miles @ 10 knots
           
Tsuruga Maru was sunk January 24, 1942 by the Dutch submarine KXVIII (K18) South of Celebes, Dutch East Indies.
 
The model:-
Detailed plans of the ship were not available to me so I am indebted to the photo evidence contained in the excellent ‘ History on CD ROM’ ONI 208-J pack.  Also useful was the British Standard Ships of WW1 by Mitchell & Sawyer.
 
The kit is therefore my interpretation using the above evidence.
 
The model is a ‘kitbash’ using the HP models Armed Empire type Freighter ‘Tobruk’ as a donor.
 
The main revisions to the kit included adding a clipper stern (fabricated from Evergreen plastic sheet and modelling clay), extending the main superstructure, repositioning the hatches and masts and adding a new funnel.  The masts and derricks are brass rod and I have used my usual fly tying line for the rigging.
 
The model was painted using Warhammer Citadel paints.  In this instance I used a cream colour (bleached bone) for the superstructure – the prototype may have been white – difficult to tell from the photo evidence.
 
The ‘smoke’ is cotton wool, painted black, teased out into 3D, reinforced with copper wire and sprayed with hair lacquer.
 
I hope you enjoy. 
 
Jim C Smith (Freighter)