1:700 IJN Battleship Hiei

The battleship Hiei from the Japanese firm Fujimi

The Japanese battleship Hiei in 1:700 scale from the maker Fujimi. This scale is the most common choice for large surface ships, so you can build the Hiei beside cruisers and aircraft carriers from the same range and the force will look consistent.

From battlecruiser to fast battleship

The Hiei belonged to the Kongo class, that is to ships built before the First World War as battlecruisers. After the disarmament treaties she spent part of her life as a training ship, and only an extensive modernization in the 1930s turned her into a fast battleship able to keep pace with aircraft carriers. November 1942 off Guadalcanal proved fatal: after a night action she was lost as the first Japanese battleship of the war.

What to watch out for during the build

On large battleships the forward superstructure with its masts tends to take the most work, so it is sensible to finish the hull and the decks first and to fit the fine parts last. A base coat reveals seams and grooves that would be hard to put right once the model is finished. Keep the gun turrets separate and attach them only after the surfaces have been sprayed.

Which modelers it suits

• Lovers of Japanese battleships
• Builders who want the series of Kongo class ships
• Anyone interested in the night actions off the Solomon Islands
• Modelers with experience of small parts

It is supplied as an unassembled kit without a finish. Glue, paints and accessory sets are not included, unless stated otherwise.