Tamiya Models will be announcing two new additions to their "Waterline Series" this month at the Tokyo Hobby Show, images of the models at this time are not available, but we do have the details and some pre-production box-art to share!

1/700 Scale, Light Cruiser Abukuma

Item #31349
Series : Water Line No.911
Scale : 1/700
Regular Price : 2,000 yen

About the Model

Model depicts the Abukuma as she appeared during the Pearl Harbor attack in December 1941.

Newly designed parts such as the bridge and ship hull, accurately reproduce the Abukuma's distinguishing features, such as the double-curved bow.

Includes parts for the ship's cutters and reconnaissance floatplane. Catapult and all seven 140mm gun mounts feature polycaps for free rotation after assembly.

Vessel History

"Completed in 1925, the Abukuma was the last ship in the Nagara-class of light cruisers/destroyer flotilla leaders and took part in many major naval engagements in the Pacific War.

Due to a collision with the cruiser Kitakami during an exercise in 1930, the Abukuma featured a different bow shape than her sister ships and was thus easily distinguishable.

Fast and well-armed with seven 140mm guns and eight torpedo tubes, the cruiser first saw action in Chinese waters, protecting transports near Shanghai. It then acted as flagship for the destroyers that escorted the Pearl Harbor carrier strike force in December, 1941.

The Abukuma was also present at several battles in the South Pacific as well as the Aleutian Islands, before finally being sunk off the coast of the Philippines by U.S. aircraft in 1944."
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British Battle Cruiser Repulse

Item #31617
Series : Water Line No.910
Scale : 1/700
Regular Price : 3,000 yen

About the Model

This model depicts the battle cruiser as she appeared when she left Singapore in December 1941.

Gun turrets feature polycaps, enabling free rotation after assembly. Parts for the amphibious Supermarine Walrus reconnaissance plane also included.

Posed together with the Prince of Wales and several E Class Destroyers the modeler can recreate the ill-fated Force Z.

Vessel History

" Launched in 1916, the H.M.S. Repulse took part in WWI naval actions before being refitted during the inter-war years.

When WWII broke out, the Repulse was in the Atlantic, escorting convoys, hunting German commerce raiders, covering Allied forces near Norway, and chasing German capital ships such as the Bismarck.

She was then transferred to the Far East as a deterrent against Japanese aggression. Together with the Prince of Wales and 4 destroyers, the Repulse formed Force Z, which sortied from Singapore in December 1941 and was sighted by Japanese aircraft.

In the resulting attack, both the Repulse and Prince of Wales were famously sunk, demonstrating that even capital ships were vulnerable to air attack."

Availability for both kits is planned for a late November release date.