¹⁄350

Continuing their line of fine 1/350 plastic ship kits, Aoshima Models announced the upcoming release of their 1/350 SMS Konig. Schedule to be released in early September of 2008, this kit will retail for $80.17.

SMS König was the first of four König class battleships of the Deutsche Kaiserliche Marine (German Imperial Navy) during World War I. She was named in honour of one of the titles of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, since in addition to being the Emperor of Germany he was also the King (König in German) of Prussia, as well as the Markgraf of Brandenburg.
Upon commissioning the König was attached to the Third Battle Squadron of the German High Seas Fleet, where she would later be joined by her sister-ships. On 25 April 1916, together with the other König-class battleships, she provided distant cover for shore bombardment of Lowestoft and Yarmouth.
As part of the Third Battle Squadron under Rear-Admiral Paul Behncke, she was at the Battle of Jütland on 31 May 1916, where she sustained ten hits. The resulting damage required seven weeks to repair, completing by 21 July 1916. During Operation Albion the König saw action at the Battle of Moon Sound on 17 October 1917 where she heavily damaged the Russian pre-dreadnought Slava.
Under the terms of the Armistice, the König was interned in Scapa Flow in the Orkneys on 26 November 1918. Her finale occurred there on 21 June 1919 when, upon orders from Rear-Admiral Ludwig von Reuter to prevent its falling into British hands, the entire High Seas Fleet including the König were scuttled by their crews. On 21 June 1919 at 2:00 pm, the König vanished under the surface.