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By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Behind the Akagi model, Arizona Memorial ranger Daniel
Martinez shows reporter Gregg Kakesako photos of the
ship. Brad Sekigawa, right, built the model with Don
Pruel, who is partially visible behind him.

Arizona Memorial
unveils model of
attack flagship

The re-creation in miniature
includes 36 planes and
more than 300 figures

---

By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin

Thirty-six fighter aircraft poised on the deck of the carrier Akagi just as the Japanese took the first step into war are faithfully recreated as part of a new exhibit depicting a crucial element of the Dec. 7, 1941, raid on Pearl Harbor.

The 9-foot epoxy resin model of the Japanese Pearl Harbor strike-force flagship Akagi is one of three new exhibits unveiled this week at the USS Arizona Memorial Museum.

Another expands the display of the personal effects of Rear Adm. Isaac Kidd, who was killed while serving on the USS Arizona.

A third new exhibit is an explanation of the Opana Point radar site near Kahuku that initially picked up the raiding Japanese aircraft, but thought they were a flight of B-17 bombers arriving from the mainland.

By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
A close-up of a 9-foot epoxy resin model of Japan's
Akagi aircraft carrier, which shows a Zero taking
off with cheering sailors on deck.

"The Akagi recreates a stellar moment when Japan took the step toward war," said National Park Service Historian Daniel Martinez. "This was the end of the battleship era and the start of the carrier era, and the sword that carried it across the Pacific was this carrier."

Present last night at a special unveiling of the Akagi carrier model was Zenji Abe, a Japanese dive-bomber pilot, who participated in the second wave that hit Pearl Harbor.

Built by model builders Don Pruel, of Annapolis, Md., and Brad Sekigawa, the intent of the Akagi exhibit is to depict the actual moment when the 41,000-ton aircraft carrier -- one of six in the Pearl Harbor strike force -- launched the first wave of fighters at 6 a.m., 230 miles north of Oahu.

The six carriers furnished 354 aircraft and were part of a 33-ship task force led by Adm. Chuichi Nagumo, who directed the Pearl Harbor attack from the Akagi.

Sekigawa, who was responsible for constructing the 36 miniature aircraft lined up on the Akagi's flight deck, depended on historical photos to recreate the moment. Standing in the cockpit of his dark green high-level bomber is Cmdr. Mitsuo Machida.

Even in miniature, Fuchida, who personally coordinated all the preparations for the attack and led the first wave, is dressed in a brown flight suit with a fur collar, white silk scarf, helmet and goggles.

Sekigawa, a 1974 Pearl City High School graduate, also has Fuchida wearing a white "hachimaki" (headband), which bears a large red ball and the tiny Japanese kanji spelling out "certain victory." Even the number Al-301 can be seen on the tail of his Kate bomber, which was painted red.

Nine Japanese Zero fighters are first in line while 27 Kate and Vale bombers wait their turn on the yellow flight deck.

More than 300 miniature figures were created by Sekigawa and placed throughout the ship. Some of them can be seen with their hands in the air in celebration.

"The crew had been allowed special leave from their duties to witness the historical moment," Sekigawa, 44, said.

Plane handlers dressed in khaki coveralls and wearing white caps crouch under the wings of the planes to stay clear of the spinning props as the engines warm up for takeoff.

Sekigawa, who is part owner of Pacific Hobbyist, said the tiny crew members were cast in molds based on figures he got from Japan. He created 20 poses.

Pruel -- whose J&D Productions prepares scale models for museums, private collectors and corporations -- said he worked for nearly six months in 1996 to complete building the Akagi after he received the subcontract from the curator of ship models at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis.

"I must have worked for seven days a week, 12 hours a day to complete it," said Pruel, 45, who started building models when he was six.

The Akagi was delivered to the Arizona museum officials in May 1997. Since then, Pruel has made other refinements such as placing the mattresses the Japanese used to protect the Akagi's four-story superstructure, which housed its flight operations.

Working with Sekigawa, other details such as the flags flown on the Akagi on Dec. 7, the airplanes, the canvas and ropes draped around the flight deck and figures of the sailors, flight and crew members and pilots were added.

Martinez said he estimated that the total project cost $25,000.

"That's pretty inexpensive," Pruel added, "since today it could run anywhere from $40,000 to $50,000."

Up close on Akagi Akagi "Red Castle" Crew: 1,600 men Range: 9,430 miles Speed: 30 knots Length: 855 feet Displacement: 41,000 tons Aircraft: 91 Commissioned: May, 25, 1927 Sunk: Battle of Midway, June 5, 1942 Pearl Harbor events These events tomorrow commemorating the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor are open to the public: 7:45 a.m. -- National Park Service ceremony, waterfront lawn of the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center. Keynote speaker USS Utah survivor Clark Simmons. Noon -- Pacific Fleet Band concert, USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center. 4:30 p.m. -- Pearl Harbor Survivors Association annual sunset service, USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center. Keynote speaker Rear Adm. Robert Conway, commander of Navy Region Hawaii.