ijn ships wwii

Agreed 100%. In 1941/42, the IJN showed itself equal to or superior to any navy on the planet. And considering the Japanese penchant for hygiene and the fact that the IJN was modeled on the Royal Navy, they should defintely be more "ship shape".

IMO for aircraft, there are mostly photos of captured aircraft so there you go. Discipline on IJN ships certainly matched that on ours, ever seen the pictures of their sailors exercising on deck? Very martial kind of formation.

And, you bring up a point on weathering that is not often modeled well.

A ship at sea is exposed to salt spray every day and night.  Further, military ships have larger crews than merchant vessels.  So, you have a work force available who ought not be left with "idle hands."  This is coupled with a need for every single thing to work, and to work properly.

Now, at sea, it is near impossible to paint the hull.  You need  good stretch of time in port, with punts and flats available to paint the hull--and you generally can only paint the side not receiving supplies.

Which means the superstructure gets the chip-paint-to-bare-metal; prime; then finish paint routine a lot more often.  This will be limited by places that need scaffolding or rigging to paint.  Officer's country will get more repainting, too--partly for being seen by officers; partly for the "revenge" of using a needle gun on the brass' quarters.

The long and short of it, no one's navy goes to sea in slovenly ships, by and large.  They may return to port needing work, but they generally do not leave that way.  In addition, rust compromises valuable steel on your ship.  it is in every sailor's interest to maintain ground tackle, gun mounts, davits, winches and the like.

Now, what people model is a different issue.  I sometimes wonder if any bother to look at references.  Which brings back a comment by subfixer or ed gruene or maybe bondo on how few underwater hulls are weathered, even when there is significant efforts above the waterline (and often more suited to an East Front panzer than a ship-of-war).

I spent a few weeks with the modern Japanese military in 2003. And I learned a LOT about the Japanese charecter. which from what I have read, I dont think has changed too much. One of which is a love of ceremony and all the associated dog and pony aspects, Japanese style. Yes late war stuff was often beat up, but untill Mid 1944 or so that was the exception and not the rule.

You may also want to check these photos of the Yukikaze taken in 1947. Please read the comments made to the left of each thumbnail.

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-fornv/japan/japsh-xz/yukikaze.htm

CapnMac82

And, you bring up a point on weathering that is not often modeled well.

  Further, military ships have larger crews than merchant vessels.  So, you have a work force available who ought not be left with "idle hands."    

HAH! Spoken like a true officer! I liked it when my hands were idle. Do you guys know why man overboards occur?? Cuz you guys always come up with busy work!   Bah!    ;)

 

  Officer's country will get more repainting, too--partly for being seen by officers; partly (mostly) for the "revenge" of using a needle gun on the brass' quarters.

That's payment for busy work, yer welcome! I always preferred deck crawlers for revenge, myself.

The long and short of it, no one's navy (ever see the Moroccan navy?) goes to sea in slovenly ships, by and large.  They may return to port needing work, but they generally do not leave that way.  In addition, rust compromises valuable steel on your ship.  it is in every sailor's interest to maintain ground tackle, gun mounts, davits, winches and the like.

Now, what people model is a different issue.  I sometimes wonder if any bother to look at references.  Which brings back a comment by subfixer or ed gruene or maybe bondo on how few underwater hulls are weathered, even when there is significant efforts above the waterline (and often more suited to an East Front panzer than a ship-of-war).

The waterline thing is something that gets me riled.

As far as the IJN went, oil was at a premium in wartime Japan and enamel paint does use a lot of oil. Maybe this could be a factor in the condition of their ships' appearances.

knabria

You may also want to check these photos of the Yukikaze taken in 1947. Please read the comments made to the left of each thumbnail.

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-fornv/japan/japsh-xz/yukikaze.htm