News from the far east, Tamiya Models has introduced another fine addition to their "Waterline Series" of plastic ship model kits, this time it's the 1/700 scale, "The Kumano", Japanese Light Cruiser.

Tamiya Models has now released a new addition to their 1/700 scale Waterline Series, and now we can complete our collection and display the Kumano with her sister ships Mogami, Mikuma and Suzuya, all previous 1/700 scale subjects by the manufacturer.

If you are not familiar with Tamiya's Waterline Series, each kit depicts warships of various nations as they appeared during WWII. What is of special significance, is that as their name Water Line implies, the models are of the portion above the waterline. Therefore, they can be placed on a flat surface and appear as they would on the ocean, with the draught portion omitted. What's more, 1/700 scale permits collecting great numbers of them and using relatively little space. With over 100 ships in the series, it is perhaps the largest collection of its kind in the world.


About the model


Kit Name-Japanese Light Cruiser Kumano plastic assembly kit.

Kit #-31344

1/700 scale, Injection Mold Plastic

Overall length: 286.5mm, Overall width: 36.5mm.

The graceful form of the Kumano has been accurately replicated. Kumano's characteristic structures have been accurately reproduced. The hull has been divided in two halves in order to reproduce the finest details. The layout of the rear flight deck with rails and turntables has been sharply represented. The main turrets can rotate after completion via polycap. Equipment such as armament including 12.7cm gun turrets or triple tube torpedo launchers, main mast, aircraft crane and catapults are accurately reproduced.



About the Japanese Light Cruiser Kumano

A main characteristic of the heavily armored Mogami class cruisers was the use of weight saving techniques. This, however, resulted in concerns for the ships overall strength and stability. The Kumano, the last Mogami cruiser completed in 1937, was subsequently fitted with a large bulge, and the upper deck was built narrower and lower than the first two Mogami cruisers. The Kumano was originally fitted with 15.5cm triple guns, with a speed of 920m/sec., a max. range of 27,400m and a projection angle up to 55 degrees. These 15.5cm triple guns were highly respected by artillery experts. The Kumano participated in many battles during WWII including the Battle of Midway, the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, and the greatest naval battle of WWII, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, before suffering a simultaneous torpedo attack causing it to sink in Santa Cruz Bay in 1944.



See more quality Tamiya products at the official company website, and remember. . .
When contacting vendors, tell 'em you saw it on the pages of Model Shipwrights Scale Modeling Magazine!