1/350 Hasegawa Model Ships

Hasegawa's Legacy of Naval Modeling Excellence

Hasegawa has established itself as the world's premier manufacturer of Imperial Japanese Navy model kits through decades of meticulous research, superior engineering, and unwavering commitment to historical accuracy. This collection of 1/350 scale warship kits represents the pinnacle of Japanese naval modeling, offering enthusiasts the opportunity to build museum-quality replicas of vessels that shaped Pacific naval warfare from the Russo-Japanese War through World War II. Hasegawa's reputation for exceptional molding quality, innovative parts breakdown, and comprehensive detail sets makes these kits the gold standard for serious ship modelers seeking authentic representations of Japanese and Allied naval vessels.

Imperial Japanese Navy Aircraft Carriers

The collection features two of Japan's most significant aircraft carriers in meticulously detailed 1/350 scale. The IJN Aircraft Carrier Akagi 1941 depicts this legendary First Carrier Division flagship in her Pearl Harbor attack configuration, featuring accurate flight deck markings, comprehensive air group complement with folded and spread-wing aircraft, detailed island superstructure, and precisely scaled anti-aircraft armament. The IJN Junyo Aircraft Carrier represents Japan's successful conversion of the passenger liner Kashiwara Maru into a fleet carrier, showcasing the distinctive features of converted carriers including modified hull lines, improvised flight deck arrangements, and unique superstructure configuration that distinguished these expedient conversions from purpose-built carriers.

Legendary Japanese Battleships

Hasegawa's battleship offerings span four decades of Japanese naval development. The IJN Battleship Mikasa "The Battle of the Japan Sea" represents Admiral Togo's flagship during the decisive Battle of Tsushima in 1905, the only surviving pre-dreadnought battleship in the world and a national treasure of Japan. This kit features intricate Victorian-era naval architecture, comprehensive rigging diagrams, detailed armament including main battery turrets and secondary casemate guns, and historically accurate paint schemes. The IJN Battleship Nagato showcases one of Japan's most powerful interwar battleships, featuring the distinctive pagoda mast that became synonymous with Japanese capital ships, heavy 16-inch main battery, extensive anti-aircraft armament, and detailed superstructure that evolved throughout her service life.

Imperial Japanese Navy Destroyers

The destroyer selection represents the pinnacle of Japanese destroyer design and operational history. The IJN Destroyer Shimakaze "Late Type" depicts Japan's fastest destroyer, capable of 40 knots and armed with the distinctive quintuple Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedo launchers that gave Japanese destroyers unmatched night-fighting capability. The IJN Destroyer Type Koh Yukikaze and IJN Destroyer Type KOH Hamakaze represent the successful Kagero-class design that formed the backbone of Japan's destroyer forces, while the Japanese Navy Type A Destroyer Yukikaze "Operation Tenichigo" depicts this legendary survivor in her final configuration during the doomed sortie accompanying battleship Yamato to Okinawa in April 1945.

Light Cruisers and Unique Vessels

The Japanese Navy Light Cruiser Yahagi "Operation Tenichigo" represents the final evolution of Japanese light cruiser design, featuring powerful 6-inch main battery, extensive anti-aircraft armament, and the sleek lines that characterized late-war Japanese cruiser construction. This kit depicts Yahagi as she appeared during Operation Ten-Go, providing modelers with an opportunity to build a complete task force alongside the Yukikaze destroyer. The unique Antarctica Observation Ship Soya and updated Antarctica Observation Ship Soya 51152 represent Japan's famous icebreaker that served Antarctic research expeditions, offering a fascinating non-military subject with distinctive hull reinforcement, observation equipment, and cold-weather operational features.

American Escort Carrier

The U.S. Navy Escort Carrier USS Gambier Bay CVE-73 honors one of the heroic Taffy 3 carriers lost during the Battle off Samar in October 1944, when a small force of escort carriers and destroyers fought a desperate action against Japanese battleships and cruisers. This kit features accurate Casablanca-class configuration, comprehensive aircraft complement, detailed flight deck and island superstructure, and historically accurate markings for this Medal of Honor-earning vessel that represents the courage and sacrifice of the U.S. Navy's escort carrier forces.

Superior Kit Engineering and Features

Hasegawa kits distinguish themselves through exceptional molding quality with crisp surface details including accurate rivets, weld seams, deck planking, and panel lines that replicate full-scale construction methods. The well-engineered parts breakdown simplifies complex hull and superstructure assembly while maintaining scale accuracy and proper alignment. Many releases include comprehensive photo-etched brass detail sets covering railings, radar arrays, aircraft handling equipment, and delicate superstructure details that would be impossible to replicate in injection-molded plastic. Detailed deck fittings and armament are precisely scaled and positioned according to historical references and original plans, while optional waterline or full-hull construction in select kits allows display flexibility. Aircraft carrier kits feature accurate aircraft complements with properly scaled planes in both folded and spread-wing configurations, and clear instruction manuals provide historical notes, paint guides, rigging diagrams, and assembly sequences.

Complementary Products and Scale Options

Enhance your Hasegawa warship builds with premium aftermarket components from our 1/350 Hasegawa Ship Accessories collection, featuring manufacturer-specific photo-etched sets, wooden deck upgrades, and turned metal gun barrels. Explore our complete 1/350 Ship Accessories inventory for additional enhancement options from Eduard, Pontos, Flyhawk, and other premium aftermarket producers. Compare with alternative manufacturers through our 1/350 Tamiya Model Ships, 1/350 Fujimi Model Ships, and 1/350 Trumpeter Model Ships collections. For smaller scale fleet building, discover our 1/700 Hasegawa Model Ships collection offering greater display density and expanded subject coverage.

Historical Accuracy and Research Resources

Hasegawa's commitment to historical accuracy extends beyond precise dimensional scaling to include authentic paint schemes, accurate markings, and period-correct configurations based on extensive archival research and consultation with naval historians. Each kit represents a specific vessel at a particular point in its operational history, with instruction manuals providing historical context, service records, and technical specifications. Modelers seeking additional reference material should consult period photographs, official naval documentation, and specialized publications covering Japanese naval camouflage schemes and operational modifications. The included decal sheets provide accurate hull numbers, ship names, aircraft markings, and national insignia, though aftermarket decal sets offer additional options for specific time periods and alternative vessels within each class. Visit the Hasegawa official website for complete product catalogs, historical references, and technical support resources.