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Bottled Ship Builder

Imperial Japanese Navy Battleship Kongō, 1944, Scratch Built, 1/1500


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Greetings 
 

I thought it would be fun to share my work in progress photos of the Japanese battleship Kongō, as she appeared in early 1944. The model is built entirely from boxwood and brass, and measures about 5.5 inches. The base is made from spalted tamarind and Patagonian rosewood. There is also a glass case which fits over the base. 
 

The model is scaled to 125’ to the inch, or 1/1500. This model is relying heavily on photo etched brass parts, which I have made myself. In addition to the many boxwood, brass wire, and brass stick parts, there are over 2,500 individual photo etched pieces. This includes about 250 crew figures which will be added later.

Thankfully, Dr Joseph Ed. Low recently published his absolutely wonderful series of monographs on the class, and saved me from a massive mistake resulting from poorly researched western books previously published on the ship. In his book he clearly shows the radio towers only lasting through the late spring, early summer of 1944, and that the misc. anti aircraft guns were added at the same time the towers were removed. Most western sources, until now, show both existing at the same time, which is clearly not true. A bullet dodged.

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Edited by joe100
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  • 1 month later...

Hey thanks! 
 

Im glad you like it because I’ve caught some hell for it, which was extremely annoying. I think it works well. 
 

I haven’t progressed any further than what you see sadly, I’m writing a book, and it’s been taking up a lot of time 

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