Tamiya 78010 - 1:350 King George V British Battleship

Plastic model kit of the British battleship HMS King George V in 1:350 scale

Tamiya 78010 is a self-assembly model of HMS King George V — the lead ship of the last class of British battleships, a participant in the hunt for the Bismarck and later in operations in the Mediterranean and the Pacific. The kit comes from 1985 tooling.

The model is full hull and depicts the ship in her late configuration, as she served with the British Pacific Fleet: without the catapult and aircraft equipment removed during the war, but with an extensive radar suite and much heavier anti-aircraft armament. The distinctive silhouette with two quadruple turrets and one twin turret of 356 mm guns is carefully reproduced, and the finished model is displayed on the included stand with a name plate.

What is in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, superstructure, gun turrets and deck equipment parts
• Waterslide decal sheet for ship markings
• Display stand with name plate
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:350
• Catalogue number: 78010
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: approx. 649 mm
• Model type: full hull
• Tooling: 1985; depicted configuration: late, British Pacific Fleet
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (large model, many small anti-aircraft mounts)

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

Assembly:

The build follows a classic, logical sequence: hull, deck, superstructure and finally the small fittings. Thanks to the part fit typical of Tamiya the model is accessible to less experienced builders, although the numerous anti-aircraft mounts and radar antennas call for patience and precision tweezers. Painting the deck and hull sides before adding the small details is worth considering — access becomes tight later on.

Late-war British battleships wore Admiralty greys, with decks finished in darker matt shades and the underwater hull painted red. A matt varnish is recommended as a final coat, with a wash to bring out the detail — the decks and superstructure of a battleship gain a lot of definition that way. Modellers after a higher level of detail may find photo-etched sets for this model (railings, ladders, antennas) an interesting addition; these are available separately.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in several sizes
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Panel wash to bring out the detail
• Decal setting solution

About the ship — HMS King George V:

HMS King George V was the lead ship of the last class of British battleships, designed in the 1930s within the limits of naval treaties. Hence her unusual main armament: ten 356 mm guns in two quadruple turrets and one twin turret — a smaller calibre than that of her contemporaries, offset by solid armour protection and a strong dual-purpose battery of sixteen 133 mm guns.

Her greatest fame came in May 1941. As flagship of Admiral John Tovey she took part in the pursuit of the Bismarck, and on 27 May, together with HMS Rodney, she poured in the fire that destroyed the German battleship. King George V later escorted convoys, including those bound for the Soviet Union, and in 1943 operated in the Mediterranean in support of Allied landings.

In 1945 the ship joined the British Pacific Fleet, where she bombarded targets on the Japanese home islands while operating alongside American carrier groups. It is this period — catapult removed, radars extended and anti-aircraft armament reinforced — that the Tamiya model depicts. King George V was present in Tokyo Bay for the Japanese surrender. After the war she was quickly placed in reserve and was scrapped in 1957–1958.

Original ship specifications (HMS King George V):

• Type: battleship
• Standard displacement: approx. 39,100 tons; full load: approx. 42,200 tons
• Dimensions: 227.1 x 31.4 m
• Main armament: 10 x 356 mm guns (two quadruple turrets and one twin turret)
• Dual-purpose battery: 16 x 133 mm guns
• Anti-aircraft armament: numerous pom-pom mounts, 40 mm Bofors and 20 mm Oerlikon guns
• Propulsion: 8 boilers, Parsons turbines, 4 shafts, approx. 110,000 shp
• Speed: 28 knots
• Crew: approx. 1,500
• Service: took part in the sinking of the Bismarck (27 May 1941), convoy escort, Mediterranean 1943, British Pacific Fleet 1945; scrapped 1957–1958

About the manufacturer — Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. It began in the timber trade, moved on to wooden models in the late 1940s and released its first injection-moulded plastic kit in 1960. The brand is known for precise moulds and excellent part fit, which makes its kits a popular choice for beginners and experienced modellers alike. Tamiya's naval range covers 1:350 and 1:700 scales, from destroyers to battleships and carriers. Its assembly instructions are clear and consistently illustrated, which matters a great deal on warship kits with many small details. The company also produces a full line of modelling supplies: paints, cements, tools and brushes. Today Tamiya is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.