Reviewed by Rob Mackie |
| Read Jim Gordon’s Mutsu
article to learn more about the Mutsu and Nagato, as well as the 1/700
Aoshima alternative to the Hi-Mold Nagato
Click the thumbnail to view full-size pic |
Hi-Mold (part of the Pit Road group that includes Skywave and
Waveline) has released the IJN battleship Nagato. This is an entirely new model
and not a re-hash of the Nagato/Mutsu resin upgrade previously available from Waveline.
The kit depicts Nagato in her 1941 fit. Unlike her sister ship Mutsu
- and just about all other IJN capital ships - Nagato survived the war mostly
intact, only to be expended post war in the Marshall islands A-bomb tests. This 1/700
scale waterline kit sells for a breathtaking 14,800 yen, which equates to $115 at current
exchange rates. What, you may ask, do you get for your money? Be warned, there are a lot of parts - 60 resin, 39 white metal and 4 sprues of Skywave injection molded fittings. Pagoda masted IJN battleships were chock full of decks, catwalks, gun tubs, directors, fittings…you name it. This is not a model you will throw together while watching Victory-at-Sea. Take a look at the exploded view. The hexapod pagoda mast consists of 9 levels penetrated by six legs fabricated from brass rod. Hi-Mold's superb engineering will keep you from taking to drink during this step, but newcomers to 1/700 resin should consider something less complex before taking on this beauty.
Some other highlights:
Is there anything wrong with this kit, you ask? No etched brass! The illustrated parts list shows a brass fret, but with a black line through it. What gives? According to Bill Gruner of Pacific Front, the kit is marketed in Japan with a generic Gold Medal Models IJN battleship fret. The export version does not include the GMM brass, which retails for US $12. Fix this shortcoming by purchasing either the GMM fret or the upcoming Tom’s Modelworks IJN battleship brass. Or at least affix generic IJN 3-bar railing to your Nagato. By any measure this is a stunning kit, but not for the beginner. Casting, accuracy and execution are flawless. Jim Gordon showed that hard work and skill can create a silk purse from the $25 Aoshima Mutsu's sow's ear, so there is an inexpensive alternative. But the Hi-Mold Nagato will look great right out of the box. And if you choose not to build it, then savor it like a fine wine while you watch Victory-at-Sea. Either way, this is the best 1/700 kit I have ever seen.
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A
stunning kit that defines the current state-of-the-art in 1/700 scale. I could run
out of superlatives in describing the Hi-Mold Nagato. The hull and deck
structures are expertly resin cast and larger components snap into place via locator tabs.
There were neither air bubbles nor voids in any of the resin parts. You will need to
remove casting sprues, but this is less cleanup than is required on better injection
molded models. 
The
extraordinarily sharp and clean resin components are fully detailed on all sides. These
are not flat sided parts cast in open-faced molds. TheHi-Mold caster has utilized two
piece molds throughout and has done so with consummate skill. This makes the
modeler’s life easier. You won’t be adding underside detail to the many deck
levels. It’s already there. 