Tamiya 77504 - 1:700 Nelson British Battleship

Plastic model kit of the British battleship HMS Nelson in 1:700 scale

HMS Nelson, name ship of her class, served for years as a Royal Navy flagship. Her unmistakable silhouette — three triple 406 mm turrets grouped ahead of a massive superstructure — was the result of a compromise between firepower, armour and the displacement limit imposed by the Washington Treaty. Tamiya 77504 reproduces the ship in 1:700 scale as a waterline model, showing the hull above the waterline.

The kit comes from a mould developed in 1974. Nelson and her sister Rodney were then the first non-Japanese warships introduced into the Tamiya 1/700 Water Line Series. The instructions offer two painting schemes: the ship in the Mediterranean in 1943, during Operation Torch, and the ship serving in the Far East in 1945.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, superstructure, main turrets and deck fittings
• Waterline display base plate
• Metal ballast weight
• Marking sheet
• Illustrated assembly instructions with two painting schemes: Mediterranean 1943 (Operation Torch) and Far East 1945

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:700
• Item number: 77504
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: approx. 308 mm
• Model type: waterline (no lower hull)
• Skill level: beginner

Please note: the kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model requires assembly.

Building the model:

The design is classic Water Line: the hull is joined to the base plate, and the metal ballast weight fitted inside gives the finished model a pleasant heft and stability. The parts fit well and no previous experience with warship kits is required. Small details such as anti-aircraft mounts, cranes, boats and masts are best painted before being cut from the sprue and handled with precision tweezers.

It is worth choosing the painting scheme before starting, as the two differ in shades: Royal Navy naval greys are recommended (for example Tamiya XF-53 Neutral Grey and XF-54 Dark Sea Grey), with a darker tone on the decks. A gently applied wash will emphasise the plating lines and superstructure details. Modellers looking for a higher level of detail may consider photo-etched sets and turned metal barrels for 1:700 warships, available separately.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Modelling knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers for small parts
• Brushes in a range of sizes
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash to emphasise details

About the ship – HMS Nelson:

The Nelson-class battleships were designed in the 1920s, when the Washington Treaty capped the displacement of new capital ships. To combine heavy guns with solid armour, British designers concentrated all three triple 406 mm turrets forward of the superstructure, which allowed the armoured citadel to be shorter and therefore thicker. The arrangement was controversial but effective — Nelson and Rodney were among the most heavily armed battleships of their day.

Nelson spent much of her career as a flagship. During the Second World War she operated in the Mediterranean, where she supported Operation Torch — the Allied landings in North Africa in November 1942 — and subsequent operations in that theatre. In the final period of the war she was sent to the Far East.

After the war Nelson was used as a target ship for weapons trials. She was scrapped in 1949.

Specifications of the original (Nelson-class battleship):

• Standard displacement: approx. 33,700 t
• Full load displacement: approx. 41,000 t
• Length: 216.4 m
• Beam: 32.3 m
• Main armament: 9 × 406 mm guns in three triple turrets forward of the superstructure
• Secondary armament: 12 × 152 mm guns
• Anti-aircraft armament: 6 × 120 mm guns and eight-barrelled 2-pounder pom-pom mounts
• Torpedo armament: 2 × 622 mm torpedo tubes
• Propulsion: steam turbines, approx. 45,000 hp
• Maximum speed: 23 knots
• Crew: approx. 1,300–1,360

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the heart of the Japanese model industry. It began as a timber business producing wooden models and released its first injection-moulded plastic kit in 1960. The brand built its reputation on precise tooling, excellent parts fit and clear instructions, which is why its kits are popular with beginners and experienced modellers alike. The 1/700 Water Line Series, to which the Nelson kit belongs, was launched in 1971 as a joint venture of several Japanese manufacturers and remains one of the most recognisable warship ranges in this scale. The common scale and waterline format allow models from the series to be displayed together in collections and sea scenes. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of paints, glues, tools and modelling accessories. The company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable brands in the hobby.