Calling All IJN Kongo-Class Fans

Dave Rowe · Post by **Dave Rowe** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:36 am

Moderator note: Since the pictures in the original first post were no longer visible, the links have been removed and the post re-purposed

Kit listings updated 10/17/2019 - Gallery listing partially updated 4/27/23 - DK

Available IJN Kongo-class kits*:
Injection plastic model kits of various Kongo class battleships date back to at least 1963, when Nichimo released a 1/550 Hiei.

1/700

As built:

Kongo 1913 by Joe World � item # n/a, resin kit, OOP
Kongo 1913 by ROP o.s. - item #ROPS700087, resin kit, released May, 2015

Kongo 1914 by Kajika, item # KJKKM70001, released Feb, 2017
Hiei 1915 by Kajika, item # KJKKM70002, released Dec, 2017
Haruna 1915 by Kajika, item # KJKKM70003, released Feb, 2018
Kirishima 1915 by Kajika, item # KJKKM70004, pending release May, 2018

As modernized:

1971 (Waterline Consortium 1st generation) - Fujimi issued

Kongo 1944
item #B016/ #16, released 1971
item #42016, re-released 1998 as SWM-15

Haruna 1944
item #B012/ #12, released 1971
item #420127, re-released 1998 as SWM-14

Hiei
item #B0?/ #?, released 1971
item #420233, re-released 1998 as SWM-17

Kirishima
item #B0?/ #?, released 1971
item #420202, re-released 1998 as SWM-16

1994 new tooling (Waterline Consortium 2nd Generation) - Hasegawa issued

Kongo 1944
item #43109, HSGWL #109, released 1994
item #30011, Super Detail version, released 2000
item #CH101, High Grade, Full Hull version with PE & Base, released 2006
item #010280, (Under Aoshima label) Fleet of Fog/Arpeggio of Blue Steel-Ars Nova, #6 , released February, 2014
item #082843, (Under Aoshima label) Kanmusu/1/700 Kantai Collection #7, released February, 2014
item #017821 (Under Aoshima label) Arpeggio of Blue Steel-Ars Nova, #19, released December 2015

Haruna 1944
item #43111, HSGWL #111, released 1994
item #30012, Super Detail version, released November 2000
item #010259, (Under Aoshima label) Fleet of Fog/Arpeggio of Blue Steel-Ars Nova, #7 , released February, 2014
item #083901, (Under Aoshima label) Kanmusu/1/700 Kantai Collection #21, released October, 2014
item #017838 (Under Aoshima label) Arpeggio of Blue Steel-Ars Nova, #18, released December, 2015

Hiei 1942
item #43110, HSGWL #110, released 1994
item #CH102, High Grade, Full Hull version with PE & Base, released March, 2006

Kirishima 1942
item #43112, HSGWL #112, released 1994
item #010266, (Under Aoshima label) Fleet of Fog/Arpeggio of Blue Steel-Ars Nova, #5 , released February, 2014
item #017845 (Under Aoshima label) Arpeggio of Blue Steel-Ars Nova, #17, released November, 2015

2008 new tooling (3rd Generation), no longer part of the WL consortium) � Fujimi issued

Kongo 1944
item #420172, SWM (EX)-15, released December, 2008
item #420189, Full hull version FH-6, released November, 2009
item #430560, Full hull DX, FHSP-1, released March, 2014
item #430690, SWM (EX) �SP35, 2nd Fleet 3rd Squadron 1944 Kongo, Haruna 2 vessel Set, released May, 2014
item #470047, EASY (EX) #5, released March, 2015
item #470191, EASY (EX) #SP2, Full hull with decking decal, released September, 2016
item #431482, SWM (EX) -SP52, DX, with photoetch and wood deck sticker, released March, 2017
item #460185, NEXT No. 7, with molded color parts, snap together type fit, released Oct, 2017
item #431864, SWM (EX)-SP83, with deck mask, released Oct, 2017
item #431963, SWM (EX)-23, EX-1, Special Version (w/Photo-Etched Part, Wood Deck Seal, Metal Gun Barrel), released April, 2018
item #451329, Full hull version FH-6, EX-1 with deck mask, released June, 2018
item #451435, Full hull version FH-6, EX-2 with photo etched parts, released September, 2019
item #460185, NEXT No. 7, with molded color parts and new planked deck, revised parts, stand, snap together type fit, released February, 2019

Kongo 1941
item #431222, SWM (EX)-83, released August, 2013
item #421803, Full hull version FH-28, released January, 2015

Haruna 1944
item #420134, SWM (EX) -25, released June, 2009
item #420141, Full hull version FH-7, released December, 2009
item #430584, Full hull DX, FHSP-3, released March, 2014
item #430690, SWM (EX) �SP35, 2nd Fleet 3rd Squadron 1944 Kongo, Haruna 2 vessel Set, released May, 2014 (identical to Kongo listing)
item #431680, SWM (EX)-SP69, with photo etch, released June, 2017
item #432076, SWM (EX) -76, Sho Ichigo Operation (Leyte Gulf, October 1944), released April, 2018
item #431987, SWM (EX)-25, EX-1, Special Version (w/Photo-Etched Part, Wood Deck Seal, Metal Gun Barrel), released April, 2018

Hiei 1942
item #420240, SWM (EX) -37, released August, 2010
item #420257, Full hull version FH-13, released March, 2011
item #420226, SWM (EX) �SP6, DX with PE parts, , released May, 2011
item # 420196, SWM (EX) �SP9, the Solomon War Set (Kirishima & Hiei) 2 vessel set, released October, 2011 (identical to Kirishima listing)
item #430577, Full hull DX, FHSP-2, released March, 2014
item #460079, NEXT No. 6, with molded color parts, snap together type fit, released March, 2017
item #431970, SWM (EX)-37, EX-1, Special Version (w/Photo-Etched Part, Wood Deck Seal, Metal Gun Barrel), released April, 2018

Kirishima 1942
item #420219, SWM (EX) -53, released September, 2011
item # 420196, SWM (EX) �SP9, the Solomon War Set (Kirishima & Hiei) 2 vessel set, released October, 2011
item #421650, Full hull version FH-21, released January, 2014
item #430591, Full hull DX, FHSP-4, released March, 2014
item #431994, SWM (EX)-53, EX-1, Special Version (w/Photo-Etched Part, Wood Deck Seal, Metal Gun Barrel), released April, 2018

1/350

Fujumi

Kongo (October,1944)
item #600000, released April, 2008
item #600079, High Grade version with PE parts, released August, 2011
item #600084, Premium version with PE parts, barrels, deck masking sheet, released July, 2015
item #600437, SP, with wood deck sheet, released March, 2017
item #600499, No. 1, with improved 25mm and 12.7cm AA parts, released May, 2017

Haruna (June, 1944)
item #600017, released August, 2008
item #600178, DX version with PE parts, main barrels, released January, 2014
item #600291, Premium version with PE parts, barrels, deck masking sheet, released July, 2015
item #600451, SP, with wood deck sheet, released March, 2017
item #600550, Sho Ichigo Operation (Leyte Gulf, October 1944), released January , 2018

Kongo and Haruna 1944 set
item #600604, SP, Sho Ichigo Operation (Leyte Gulf, October 1944), released 2019

Aoshima

Kongo 1944
item #041178, Ironclad series, released August, 2008
item #010945, Ironclad series, Retake version, released January, 2015

Kirishima 1942
item #041185, Ironclad series, released October, 2008
item #011034, Ironclad series, Retake version, released May, 2015

Other Scales:

Nichimo 30cm box scale (1/740)
Kongo � #033044, re-released several times
Haruna � #033112, re-released several times
Hiei � #033136, re-released several times
Kirishima � #033068, re-released several times

*Thanks to Dan Kaplan for compiling this list

Gallery Entries:
1/350
Jim Baumann's build: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Keith Bender's build: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Dave Rowe's build: http://www.shipmodels.info/mwphpBB2/vie ... hp?t=29868

1/350 IJN Kongo 1944 (Fujimi) by Hyun Soon Kim http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

1/350 IJN Kongo 1944(Fujimi) by Kostas Katseas http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

Andy Elwood�s Classic Warship Kirishima: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Jose Soca�s Yankee Modelworks Kirishima: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Luciano Rizzato�s Yankee Modleworks Kirishima: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Kym Knight�s Fujimi Kongo: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

David Gatt�s Fujimi Kongo: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Peter Hoskin�s Aoshima Kongo: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Peter Van Buren�s Fujimi Kongo: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Jee Yun Lee�s Fujimi Kongo: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Leo Jaudenes� Fujimi Kongo: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Irving Gonz�lez�s Fujimi Kongo: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Zdenek Krcmar�s Aoshima Kongo: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Robert Apfelzweig�s Fujimi Kongo: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Michael Franz�s Fujimi Kongo (with Chokai): http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

Kyriakos Chatzipares� Aoshima Kongo: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

Lim Kian Seng�s Fujimi Kongo: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

Philip LaVoie�s Fujimi Haruna: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

Ioannes Kim's Fujimi Kongo: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

Won-hui Lee's Aoshima Kongo 1944: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

Bill Kluge's Aoshima Kirishima 1942: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

Colin Swager's Kongo 1944 (A), 2020 entry: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

Luis Albendin Valenzuela's Kongo 1944 (A), 2022 entry: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

1/700 Entries (begun 5/18/18 - this will expand over time. Too many entries to do at once)

Christian Hoeltge's new tool Fujimi Kongo 1941: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Basilios Giehos's new too Fujimi Kongo 1944: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Christian Hoeltge's Kajika Kongo 1914: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Won-hui Lee's new tool Fujimi Kirishima 1941: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Qianqian Liu's new tool Fujimi Kirishima 1942: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Claudio Matteini's exquisite new tool Fujimi Kongo November, 1944 at Brunei: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

MORE 1/700 gallery entries further below

Miscellaneous scales
An exceptional scratch-built Kirishima in 1/200 by Yasuo Tomoi: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Joe Lavender�s 1/2400 GHQ Kongo: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Joe Lavender" 1/1800 scratchbuilt and 3D printed Kongo 1941: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

Mario Grima�s 1/600 Bandai Haruna: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Sandy Dalton�s 1/450 Fujimi Haruna: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Post by **JIM BAUMANN** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:18 pm

Ah yes... Kirishima...

I built mine back in 1997/8....

No major issues as such as I recall-the mast structure was a bit fiddly to align....

I added some detail to the ships boats--would advise getting replacement brass barrels for the white metal items...

I can shoot you some new photos if you wish of my ship--the old pics are scans from 35 mm film...

here is the build:

http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Jim Baumann

Dan K · Post by **Dan K** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 12:44 pm

ChrisC · Post by **ChrisC** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 1:34 pm

sah-weeeeeeeeeeeet

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 1:39 pm

I just noticed on Fujimi's Kongo kit, there are no openings for the secondary gun casemates. I thought if the ship had it, then a plastic model would have openings for it so the casemate can rotate. Were these removed from the real ship?

ChrisC · Post by **ChrisC** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 3:10 pm

Anonymous wrote:I just noticed on Fujimi's Kongo kit, there are no openings for the secondary gun casemates. I thought if the ship had it, then a plastic model would have openings for it so the casemate can rotate. Were these removed from the real ship?

Some were removed late in the war, maybe all of them, to compensate for the added weight of the extra AA. I couldn't tell you which ones or if it was all of them definitively until I can check the Warship Pictorial book on the subject.

Dan K · Post by **Dan K** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 3:46 pm

The forward mounts were removed prior to the war. By late war, there might be 3-4 mounts per side. The unused casemates were sealed up.

J. Soca · Post by **J. Soca** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 5:13 pm

She carried 8 casemates as secondary armament by 1944. I checked Kongo�s record of movement at the Nihon Kaigun website, this is what I found and quote
�30 June 1944:
Kure Naval Yard. A Type 22 surface search/gunnery control radar set and Type 13 radars are fitted on the bridge and the mainmast respectively. Seventy-six 25mm AA guns (twelve triple and forty single mounts) are installed. KONGO's secondary and AA armament are eight 6-inch/50, six dual 5-inch/40 and one hundred 25-mm AA. KONGO is loaded with materials and embarks Army troops for transport�.

I also checked my Warship pictorial booklet, the oldest picture I found here is from 1942 I counted a total of 7 casemates on the starboard side my guess, she should�ve had a total of 14 casemates at that time. There�s also a drawing which shows Kongo in 1944 and I can see 4 casemates on the starboard side. she carried 8 of them in her final refit.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:19 pm

Dan K wrote:It's almost here ..........

http://www.fujimimokei.com/prod_syosai/kongou.html

Completely devoid of 6" casemates, I see. Probably will have to scratch build them to backdate these ships to 1941.

Ultimo Tiger · Post by **Ultimo Tiger** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 9:45 pm

Well the site I got it off didn't have any other makes and I had no idea that Fujima Kongo's are of a poor make. Still its simple and lacks some of those horrible tiny bits you can't stick down without them sticking to your fingers etc. And Haruna did sort of survive WWII albeit grounded so maybe thats a good omen

Thanks for pointing out the quality issue though. I'll try find a Hasegawa Kongo some time next year. Are most of the Fujima kits like that? (Sorry if I'm going slightly off topic here).

J. Soca · Post by **J. Soca** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 10:49 pm

Here take a look at these and compare all 3 of them, Kirishima and Haruna were improved with P.E rails and other extras, you can see clearly both modelers added P.E ladders as window frames. Kongo is OOB. Check those pagodas , middle funnels and aft structures you�ll see they all look alike. BTW,

aboard mate, I just noticed you are a new registered member at MW.

http://www.steelnavy.com/FujimaKirishimaPL.htm

http://www.steelnavy.com/FujimiHarunaCWS.htm

http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Ultimo Tiger · Post by **Ultimo Tiger** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 10:54 pm

Thnals for the welcome

Yeah I see what you mean about the Pagoda's.

chuck · Post by **chuck** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 3:41 pm

New pictures of upcoming Fujimi 1/350 Kongo kit. Japanese price is 18,690 yens, which translates to approximately $200 street price. Release date is said to be April, this year.

Notice there are no 6" secondary guns.

http://www.fujimimokei.com/prod_syosai/kongou.html

Kym Knight · Post by **Kym Knight** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:45 pm

Thanks for that Chuck. I've been looking everywhere for info of a release date. Looks very very nice.

chuck · Post by **chuck** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:07 pm

I hope they will also release an version of the kit depicting either the Hiei or Kirishima.

Kym Knight · Post by **Kym Knight** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:53 am

Chuck, do you have any idea what time frame the Fujimi Kongo is?

Dan K · Post by **Dan K** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 8:37 am

With radar and deletion of the 2ndary battery (and casemates properly closed off, unlike in 1/700), approx. 1944. Several minor fit changes ocurrred in 1944 so, we need to see the kit to be sure, Probably late 1944.

Kym Knight · Post by **Kym Knight** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 9:56 am

Crap! So to get a '42-43' version, I would have open the casemates and add a few 6" secondary turrets. I might have to start looking for a set of plans for her 42' fit!

Dan K · Post by **Dan K** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:56 am

Well, the Miyukikai site has plans for a 1938 and a 1944: http://www2.odn.ne.jp/miyukikai/sub2.htm

Chances are good that a '42 won't be too different from the 1938. If I get some time, I will check the new Ishibashi BB "Bible" as it illustrates several fits for the Kongos. Also the (relatively) new Waterline Modeling Guide #2 from Model Art focuses on BBs and has a pretty good guide to the various Kongo fits: http://www.hlj.com/product/MDAKSEX-02

chuck · Post by **chuck** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 12:32 pm

Dan K wrote:With radar and deletion of the 2ndary battery (and casemates properly closed off, unlike in 1/700), approx. 1944. Several minor fit changes ocurrred in 1944 so, we need to see the kit to be sure, Probably late 1944.

Just realised something, in 1944 Kongo's hull side scuttles would have been blanked off with welded on cover plates with a as damage control measure. Early war Kongo would have had open glass scuttles. This suggests Fujimi would need a different mold to create an early war hull.

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