Japanese Waterline Models Series
 

Starting back in the 1970s and 1980s, a group of model companies including Tamiya, Hasegawa, PitRoad, Fuji, and others entered into an agreement to reproduce most of the Japanese Navy in 1/700 scale plastic models with no hull below the waterline (hence the name waterline series) - that way, they could be placed on a flat surface. I was just wondering which ones were released in this manner. These are the capital ships I have seen (I don't have time to list cruisers or anything smaller right now):

Battleships:
- Kongo Class (Kongo, Hiei, Haruna, Kirishima)
- Fuso Class (Fuso)
- Nagato Class (Nagato, Mutsu)
- Ise Class (Ise, Hyuga)
- Yamato Class (Yamato, Musashi)

Carriers:
- Hosho
- Kaga
- Akagi
- Hiryu
- Soryu
- Ryujo
- Shokaku Class (Shokaku, Zuikaku)
- Shoho Class (Shoho, Zuiho)
- Junyo Class (Junyo)
- Taiho
- Taiyo Class (Unyo, Chuyo)
- Unryu Class (Unryu, Katsuragi)
- Shinano

Essentially, these are the ones I haven't seen and was wondering about, just for curiosity's sake:

Battleships:
- Fuso Class (Yamashiro)

Carriers:
- Ryuho
- Junyo Class (Hiyo)
- Chitose Class (released as 1/700 Seaplane carriers only)
- Unryu Class (Amagi)
- Kaiyo
- Shinyo

This isn't a life or death question here; I was just wondering if anyone knew of the existence of any of these. Not that I am planning to buy them all...:88)

I bought one back in 2001. I think it was the light cruiser Kuma. However, the 1/700 scale just wasn't for me. Makes for some very fragile and intricate parts that are easy to lose and break.

Akagi and Kaga
 

I built a 1/700 scale Akagi, and found that some parts were very small and delicate as well. I have an unopened Kaga at home as well to be built later. And no, I'm not posting any pictures to show everyone what a crappy job I did.:p Let's just say I did a good job, but not a completely professional one.:shifty:

Now in Japan water line series group is
Tamiya, Hasegawa, Aoshima,

They are corporate and making waterline series.

Fujimi was leaved from their group in 90s.
Now Fujimi making their own way.
So we can buy Yamato from Fujimi and Tamiya.

And Pitroad is making their own way.
They make a lot of minor ships.

Now water line series are renewal to new one.
I heard battle ship Fuso will renewal from Aoshima.:up:

I have made IJN escort ship and post here .:up: :up: :up:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=93961

Waterline Ships
 

:o:rock:Great job on the escort zaza - a lot better than my carrier anyway.:cool:

Yes, it was Fujima, not 'Fuji'.:damn: I am an idiot and forgot their name, as I don't see many of their ships on eBay. The Hosho and Fuso are the only ones I can think of from them at the moment.

As for Pitroad, didn't they make the Soryu and Hiryu at one point? All of the other ones I saw from them are auxiliaries, including a nice looking tanker that sold on eBay for a small fortune.:huh:

Some of the series seem to have gone OOP now, but it seems as if there are still a lot available from the official sites of Hasegawa and Tamiya. I have never visited the websites of any of these other companies.

BTW - There are also quite a few waterline series ships from the navies of other countries as well, including the UK, Germany, and the US aren't there?

Lots of Germans and Americans and British. I have somebody's Graf Spee in 1/700.

I picked up a collection of early-era turrets and small guns a few years ago. I'm dreaming of someday making a 1/700 scale model of the British pre-Dreadnought battleship HMS Majestic. Probably never get done, but I'm hoping.

Kits to Consider
 

I've thought about picking up the harbour vessels set by Tamiya, as I want the two Coastal Tankers which are in it. However, I imagine they would be very small. I've also considered buying the Hasegawa Type VIIC and IXC U-Boat kit - it does come with both subs and a sinking freighter right?

You're not s'posed to play with them!:cool:

I have all of the subs, except for the I-400 and the I-58 (late edition). I have a great diorama of a Japanese sub base.

Sub Base Pictures
 

Do you have any pictures of that sub base that you wouldn't mind sharing?:hmm:

yes, but they're not very good. I need to borrow a better camera and re-take them.

AG124 here you go.

Pit-road item list I think you can buy a lot of allies ships tankers and so on,

http://www.pit-road.jp/sw/index.html
http://www.pit-road.jp/w/index.html


Hasegawa waterline list

http://www.hasegawa-model.co.jp/e-w/ITEMLIST/WL.htm


Aoshima waterline list I dont know why but only in Jpanase

http://www.aoshima-bk.co.jp/scripts/...d=19&si_id=256


Tamiya waterline list

http://www.tamiya.com/english/waterline/index.htm


Fujimi seaway model series (only in Japanese.)

http://www.fujimimokei.com/product/seeway.html
http://www.fujimimokei.com/product/yamato_musasi.html


Dragon models (This is Hong Kong Chinese maker.Very good detail maker)

http://www.dragon-models.com/
http://www.dragon-models.com/html/modelnews.html

(Look 1/700 MODERN SEA POWER SERIES)quite good
Bismark U.S.S. Independence CVL-22 USS LEXINGTON CV-16etc....


Trumpeter Chinese plastic model maker looks interesting

http://www.trumpeter-china.com/war51...21&Nclassid=46


Recently I bought Aoshimas new tooling I-400 class.
It looks great.
And Pit-road U-XXI class sub.

Hasegawa and Aoshima now developing a lot of
photo etching detail up kits.
I think We can available these easy by before.
:up: :up:

Site Links
 

:rock::D Thanks for the links zaza. The Tamiya site looks a lot different than the last time I saw it.

I might have to buy some more of these later - maybe during the summer when I have more time on my hands.:hmm:

Testing out my camera. Still messing with the lighting. Here's my sub base.
http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/5324/p1030066kz0.jpg

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/9379/p1030064lv2.jpg

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/1888/p1030062qr0.jpg

Good job nikimcbee! It seems, though, that the focuse was a little off for the first pic. A better focal point would have been right behind the second sub's conning tower. Otherwise, perfect!