• LUCZORAMA SHIPWRECK SCAVENGER HUNT GIVEAWAY. 4 Weeks of Fun • 1 Legendary Prize ((OcCre’s Fram Ship)) • Global Crew Welcome!
    **VIEW THREAD HERE**

I am a 78 years old Japanese model ship building enthusiast.

Masaaki Hikosawa

Masaaki Hikosawa

Joined
May 26, 2025
Messages
14
Points
68

Nice to meet you all,
I am a 78 years old Japanese model ship building enthusiast.

I’m looking forward to deepening my interactions with everyone here on this forum.
I belong to a Japanese model ship enthusiasts' club called “The Rope.”

To start off, let me introduce the most recent model I built.
I bought this one 18 years ago in Lübeck, Germany.
I usually build wooden sailing ship models, but this is my first papercraft project.
I think it’s a very well-designed kit.
Since the internal frames were printed, I also tried making a structural model.
I recreated the beams typical of the Hanseatic cog, which pass through the hull.
In addition to the photos, I’ve included a reference URL.

https://theropetokyo-en.jimdofree.com/

https://www.kartonbau.de/forum/thema/32694-hanse-kogge-schreiber-1-100/?pageNo=1

https://www.kartonbau.de/forum/thema/17214-hanse-kogge-ein-modell-das-sich-lohnt/

https://www.kartonbau.de/forum/thema/17214-hanse-kogge-ein-modell-das-sich-lohnt/

https://www.karton-im-wind.de/nicht-von-pappe-doch/die-anfänge/hanse-kogge/

IMG_1477.JPG

IMG_1478.JPG

IMG_1479.JPG

IMG_1578.JPG

IMG_1579.JPG

IMG_1581.JPG
 
Dear Mr Masaaki Hikosawa

いらっしゃいませ = welcome aboard

What is beautiful and unique about our site is the good people from all over the world who are warmly welcomed by the old friends, and everyone tries to help each other and contribute their experience and knowledge.

After several trips to your beautiful country, I am happy to have more representatives of a country and culture rich in art, including in the field of wood, models, etc.
you can see my recommendation on the Maritime Museum and in Kobe
(you probably have been there)

A recommendation for the Maritime Museum and in Kobe, Japan

Hello dear friends Today I visited the Maritime Museum in Kobe, Japan. I recommend everyone who visits the country and is in the Osaka and Kyoto area to visit In the beautiful city of Cuba and in too two impressive and very interesting museums. The maritime museum, as well as the woodwork...
shipsofscale.com

I read about the "Rope" club, it reminded me somewhat of the group we established in my country at the beginning of the Corona pandemic and our monthly meetings.

We would be happy to see your work and contribute to you as much as requested, welcome to our warm group:)Ship-1
 
Last edited:
Dear all,
I truly appreciate your heartfelt message in response to my post.
I see that some of you have visited Japan.

I have been abroad, to Italy once and Germany three times.
My first post was on paper crafts, but I exclusively make wooden sailship models.
So next time I'll post about the Dutch gunboat.

"皆さん　どうぞ　これからも　宜しく　お願いします"
“ Minasan douzo korekaramo yorosiku onegaisimasu”
"I kindly ask all of you for your continued support."
 
Welcome aboard our ships of scale

Masaaki Hikosawa​

I will be looking forward to your models and I hope you enjoy it on this channel and never be afraid to ask for help or give help as everyone is always willing to learn new tricks and skills. There are plenty of tricks and skills you could bring to the sos no doubt. Enjoy!
 
Dear all,
Thank you all for your kind comments.

I also appreciate your interest in The Rope.
I’m delighted to be able to connect with you all beyond nationalities and races through our shared passion for sailing ship models.

This is my second post.
This is a Dutch gunboat.

It is Gunboat No. 2 from the time of the Belgian War of Independence.
Lieutenant Jan van Speijk, the captain of the vessel, refused to surrender and blew up the ship with himself on board, becoming a national hero of the Netherlands.

This kit came with many challenges.
Should the hatch be placed in the center of the deck or on the sides?
There are two anchor lines: a chain and a cable. Which side should the chain be on, port or starboard?
Since the chain would be used when departing as an anchor chain, shouldn't it be on the starboard side?
Isn't the swivel gun mounted above the capstan too high?
(It's too high to operate)
The gun carriage of the carronade is too large.
Both the carronade and the stern cannon are oversized.
The gun carriage for the cannon appears to be an outdated type from before the 17th century.
The position of the tiller is too low.

I only made modifications for the issues I could confirm through research.

Lowered the height of the swivel gun
Raised the position of the tiller
Rebuilt the carriages for the cannon and the swivel gun
Handmade the tackle for the pivot gun
Modified the stern rudder pulley so it can be detached with a hook

Additional modifications:
Created a diorama of Captain Speijk's self-destruction
I used a chemically treated, flexible piece of wood to stretch the hull planking.
Placed a musket on the capstan.

I exhibited this work at The Rope exhibition in 2024.
Please see the details of the work at The Rope's URL below.

Photo Gallery of THE ROPE 49th Annual Ship Model Exhibition 2024
Dutch Gun Boat N.2　　M.Hikosawa
https://www.theropetokyo.org/2024/04/12/第49回ザ-ロープ帆船模型展-1-5/#49-01

Here are the URLs I used as reference for my production.

The materials from the Amsterdam Museum were particularly helpful.
The drawings from the Dutch National Archives were also helpful. There were two drawings of the hatch: one showing it on the ship's side and the other at the center of the deck."

Rijksmuseum
https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/colle...ged-gunboat--06db4478622e78bc0c427a5af5533a3b

National Archives of the Netherlands
Hatch is in the middle of the deck NL-HaNA_4.MST_447-klein

https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/ond...-HaNA_4.MST_447?eadID=4.MST&unitID=447&query=

Hatch on bullwork side NL-HaNA_4.MST_448 (2)
https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/ond...-HaNA_4.MST_448?eadID=4.MST&unitID=448&query=

Jan van Speijk Debating whether to Set Fire to the Gunpowder
https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/colle...bruari-1831--62683b7d8f50d084fe8fac24873a3f7b

IMG_0815.JPG

IMG_0816.JPG

IMG_0819.JPG

IMG_0820.JPG

IMG_0821.JPG

IMG_0822.JPG

IMG_0832.JPG
 
That is just beautiful work, Hikosowa-san. I notice you don't include nail heads or trennel heads in your planking. Is this a personal choice or is it more normal for Japanese modelers?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top