Ship Modelling


Japanese Training Windjammer "Nippon Maru" (1930)


The Japanese built two four-masted barques in the 1930s: "Nippon Maru" ("Japan") and "Kaiwo Maru" ("The King of the Seas"). They are sister ships.
They have been both replaced with "Nippon Maru II" and "Kaiwo Maru II" in the 1980s.
The older ships are being kept in shape as memorials and even set sails sometimes ...

There were some rare plastic model kit available from Aoshima, in two scales: 100 and 150.

Data

Type/Class: Dimensions: Decks: Armament: Rigging: Crew:
Japanese Training Windjammer Steel hull

  • Length: 97m
  • Width: 12,95m
  • Height: 46m
  • Stepped Deck with a "long poop deck" none 4 masted barque
  • 6-6-6-0 yards (fore-main-mizzen-jigger)
  • 4-4-4-3 staysails
  • 138

    Sources for Research

    "The Plates and Diagrams of the Sailing Ships Nippon Maru & Kaiwo Maru", Kaibundo Shuppan, 1979, Japanese & English text.

    Compilation

    The Rigging

    The Nippon Maru has a barque rigging:
  • 6 yards on 3 masts, the last only with a single spanker sail and a top gaff sail.
  • 4 Staysails on the bowsprit and 4/4/3 staysails between the masts.
  • The naming of the masts is yet another variation how it can be done: Fore/Main/Mizzen/Jigger.
  • The Standing Rigging

    Bowsprit

    Fore Mast

    Main Mast

    Mizzen Mast

    Jigger Mast

    Topgallant Mast

    • 1 Jacob ladder abaft the mast
    • 1 royal stay
    • 1 topgallant stay
    • 2+2 backstays
    • 1 Jacob ladder abaft the mast
    • 1 royal stay
    • 1 topgallant stay
    • 2+2 backstays
    • 1 Jacob ladder abaft the mast
    • 1 royal stay
    • 1 topgallant stay
    • 2+2 backstays

    Topmast

    • 3 shrouds
    • 1 topstay
    • 1 middle stay
    • 2+1 backstays
    • 3 shrouds
    • 1 topstay
    • 1 middle stay
    • 2+1 backstays
    • 3 shrouds
    • 1 topstay
    • 1 middle stay
    • 2+1 backstays
    • 1 Jacob ladder abaft the mast
    • 1 royal stay
    • 2+1 backstays

    Lower Mast

    • 2 chain water stays
    • 3 steel guys
    • 5 shrouds
    • 2 lower stays
    • 5 shrouds
    • 2 lower stays
    • 5 shrouds
    • 2 lower stays
    • 4 shrouds

    The Running Rigging

    Bowsprit

    Fore Mast

    Main Mast

    Mizzen Mast

    Jigger Mast

    Royal Sails

    6th yard, hoisted

    Fore Royal

    • 1 Halyard
    • 2 fixed Topping Lifts
    • 2 Sheets
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 3 Buntlines
    • 2 Braces

    Main Royal

    • 1 Halyard
    • 2 fixed Topping Lifts
    • 2 Sheets
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 3 Buntlines
    • 2 Braces

    Mizzen Royal

    • 1 Halyard
    • 2 fixed Topping Lifts
    • 2 Sheets
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 3 Buntlines
    • 2 Braces

    Upper Topgallant Sails

    5th yard, hoisted

    Fore Upper Topgallant

    • 1 Halyard
    • 2 fixed Topping Lifts
    • 2 Sheets
    • 2 Downhauls
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 4 Buntlines
    • 2 Braces

    Main Upper Topgallant

    • 1 Halyard
    • 2 fixed Topping Lifts
    • 2 Sheets
    • 2 Downhauls
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 4 Buntlines
    • 2 Braces

    Mizzen Upper Topgallant

    • 1 Halyard
    • 2 fixed Topping Lifts
    • 2 Sheets
    • 2 Downhauls
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 4 Buntlines
    • 2 Braces

    Lower Topgallant Sails

    4th yard, fixed rack

    Fore Lower Topgallant

    • no Halyard, fixed rack
    • 2 Sheets
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 4 Buntlines
    • 2 Braces

    Main Lower Topgallant

    • no Halyard, fixed rack
    • 2 Sheets
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 4 Buntlines
    • 2 Braces

    Mizzen Lower Topgallant

    • no Halyard, fixed rack
    • 2 Sheets
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 4 Buntlines
    • 2 Braces

    Upper Top Sails

    3rd yard, hoisted

    Fore Upper Topsail

    • 1 Halyard
    • 2 fixed Topping Lifts
    • 2 Sheets
    • 2 Downhauls
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 4 Buntlines
    • 2 Braces

    Main Upper Topsail

    • 1 Halyard
    • 2 fixed Topping Lifts
    • 2 Sheets
    • 2 Downhauls
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 4 Buntlines
    • 2 Braces

    Mizzen Upper Topsail

    • 1 Halyard
    • 2 fixed Topping Lifts
    • 2 Sheets
    • 2 Downhauls
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 4 Buntlines
    • 2 Braces

    Lower Top Sails

    2nd yard, fixed rack

    Fore Lower Topsail

    • no Halyard, fixed rack
    • 2 Sheets
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 4 Buntlines
    • 2 Braces

    Main Lower Topsail

    • no Halyard, fixed rack
    • 2 Sheets
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 4 Buntlines
    • 2 Braces

    Mizzen Lower Topsail

    • no Halyard, fixed rack
    • 2 Sheets
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 4 Buntlines
    • 2 Braces

    Lower Sails

    lower yard, fixed rack

    Main and Mizzen have triangular versions as well

    Fore Course

    • (fixed in a rack)
    • 2 Topping Lifts
    • 2 Sheets, 2 Tacks
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 2 Leechlines
    • 4 Buntlines
    • 2 Braces

    Main Course

    • (fixed in a rack)
    • 2 Topping Lifts
    • 2 Sheets, 2 Tacks
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 2 Leechlines
    • 4 Buntlines
    • 2 Braces

    Crossjack

    • (fixed in a rack)
    • 2 Topping Lifts
    • 2 Sheets, 2 Tacks
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 2 Leechlines
    • 4 Buntlines
    • 2 Braces

    Stay Sails
    Fore and Aft Sails

    Fore Topmast Staysail

    • 1 Halyard
    • 1 Downhaul
    • 2 Sheets

    Jib

    • 1 Halyard
    • 1 Downhaul
    • 2 Sheets

    Outer Jib

    • 1 Halyard
    • 1 Downhaul
    • 2 Sheets

    Flying Jib

    • 1 Halyard
    • 1 Downhaul
    • 2 Sheets

    Main Topmast Staysail

    • 1 Halyard
    • 1 Downhaul
    • 2 Sheets

    Main Middle Staysail

    • 1 Halyard
    • 1 Downhaul
    • 2 Sheets

    Main Topgallant Staysail

    • 1 Halyard
    • 1 Downhaul
    • 2 Sheets

    Main Royal Staysail

    • 1 Halyard
    • 1 Downhaul
    • 2 Sheets

    Mizzen Topmast Staysail

    • 1 Halyard
    • 1 Downhaul
    • 2 Sheets

    Mizzen Middle Staysail

    • 1 Halyard
    • 1 Downhaul
    • 2 Sheets

    Mizzen Topgallant Staysail

    • 1 Halyard
    • 1 Downhaul
    • 2 Sheets

    Mizzen Royal Staysail

    • 1 Halyard
    • 1 Downhaul
    • 2 Sheets

    Jigger Topmast Staysail

    • 1 Halyard
    • 1 Downhaul
    • 2 Sheets

    Jigger Topgallant Staysail

    • 1 Halyard
    • 1 Downhaul
    • 2 Sheets

    Jigger Royal Staysail

    • 1 Halyard
    • 1 Downhaul
    • 2 Sheets

    Top Gaff Sail

    • 1 Halyard
    • 1 Downhaul
    • 1 Sheet Outhaul
    • 1 Sheet Inhaul
    • 2 Tacks

    Single Spanker

    • 2 Gaff Vangs
    • 1 Lower Gaff Outhaul
    • 1 Lower Gaff Inhaul
    • 1 Boom Outhaul
    • 1 Boom Inhaul
    • 1 Boom Sheets
    • 2 Boom Guys
    • 2 Brails
    These are the lines to be belayed ...

    Belaying Positions

    This is one of the utterly rare occasions to study history from originals =)

    Compiled by me, using Japanese documents and my own pictures from Japan, in 2016 (click to zoom in):


    The Japanese sailors actually use English terms for the entire rigging - so You will be able to read it!

    Questions? Feel free:
    j_gelbrich@gmx.net