1:700 Ijn Battleship Hiei - Full Hull Model With Photo-etched Parts

The battleship Hiei in 1:700 with etched parts

The Japanese battleship Hiei as an injection-molded plastic kit from the maker Fujimi. From the name of the item follow the version with a complete hull and the addition of etched metal parts, which replace elements that would come out needlessly coarse in plastic.

The fate of an imperial ship

The Hiei was a sister vessel of the Kongo. The interwar disarmament treaties condemned her to partial disarmament and the role of a training ship, but later she went through a rebuild back into a full-fledged combat unit. She served among other things as a vessel designated for the voyages of the Emperor. In November 1942 she suffered heavy damage in a night battle off Guadalcanal and the following day she was lost.

Building tips for the hull and the superstructures

Glue the halves of the hull and clamp them with clothespins while the glue cures; fill any seam and sand it smooth. Assemble the tall superstructure gradually from the bottom and keep checking that it is vertical. Fit the metal parts last, so that they do not bend during handling. A darker wash will help to draw out the recesses between the levels of the superstructure.

For which modelers

• More experienced builders who want fine details right in the package
• Collectors of Japanese battleships of the Kongo class
• Modelers building scenes from the fighting off Guadalcanal
• Display cases put together in a uniform 1:700 scale

It is supplied as an unassembled set without a finish. Modeling chemicals and a stand have to be bought separately, unless stated otherwise.