1:350 Kirishima 1942

Kirishima 1942 1:350 - Aoshima

An injection-molded plastic full-hull model of the Japanese fast battleship Kirishima as she was in 1942, in 1:350 scale from the Japanese company Aoshima. The model is notable for fine engraving and the richly detailed superstructures characteristic of Japanese warships; a stand for display is included in the package. Thanks to the 1:350 scale the result is a sizable model over 60 cm long.

The real subject

Kirishima was a Japanese fast battleship of the Kongo class. Originally built as a battlecruiser, she went through rebuilds that turned her into a fast battleship able to operate with carrier strike forces. During the war she escorted Japanese forces in the Pacific and took part in a number of operations. In November 1942 she was lost during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, where she was heavily damaged by the gunfire of the American battleship USS Washington; Kirishima subsequently sank. She carried main guns of 356 mm caliber.

Building and painting tips

First glue and clean up the hull carefully so that the side joint does not show; set the full-hull model on the stand supplied. Build the tall superstructures and the pagoda mast patiently and paint them in sections before assembly. Bond any photo-etched railings and ladders with super glue. An airbrush and the shades of Japanese naval gray prove themselves; washes in the recesses and light dry-brushing will bring out the decks, the anchors and the intricate superstructures. Bring the wooden deck areas to life with light toning.

Who the model is for

• anyone interested in the Imperial Japanese Navy and the war in the Pacific
• modelers who want a large showpiece ship model in 1:350
• enthusiasts of intricate Japanese superstructures and pagoda masts
• builders with experience of an airbrush and of naval weathering

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.