Tamiya 78024 - 1:350 Tone Japanese Heavy Cruiser

Plastic model kit of the Japanese heavy cruiser Tone in 1/350 scale

Tone's silhouette cannot be mistaken for any other heavy cruiser: all four twin 20.3 cm turrets were concentrated ahead of the superstructure, and the whole stern became an aircraft deck able to accommodate as many as six reconnaissance floatplanes. She was conceived as the eyes of the Japanese strike forces. Tamiya 78024 recreates her in 1/350 scale — the finished model measures approximately 576 mm long and 71 mm wide.

The kit is based on 2011 tooling and depicts the ship as she appeared at the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944. It can be built as a waterline or a full hull model — the display stand is included, and the hull is split along the sides. The aft aircraft deck is fitted with trolley rails, turntables and a ramp, while the gun turrets and torpedo launchers remain movable once assembled, with barrels that can be set at two positions.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, superstructure, aircraft deck and armament parts
• Clear parts (bridge windows, searchlight lenses)
• Photo-etched parts (crane, catapult, floatplane propellers, trolleys)
• Metal anchor chains
• Metal propeller shafts
• ABS masts and aerials
• Gun turrets and torpedo launchers that remain movable once assembled, with barrels at two positions
• Trolley rails, turntables and a ramp on the aft aircraft deck
• Aichi E13A floatplanes
• Stands for displaying the aircraft in flight
• Parts to build the model as either a waterline or a full hull version
• Waterslide decal sheet for the markings
• Display stand
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1/350
• Product number: 78024
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Model length: approx. 576 mm, width: approx. 71 mm
• Version: waterline or full hull (display stand included)
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (large, elaborate kit with photo-etched parts)

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

The aft aircraft deck deserves the most attention — the trolley rails, turntables and ramp form a dense cluster of fine detail that is worth painting before the equipment is finally fitted. Decide between the waterline and the full hull version before assembling the lower hull. The photo-etched parts, especially the crane, catapult and floatplane propellers, are best fixed with cyanoacrylate glue and handled with precision tweezers, while the ABS masts and aerials require an adhesive intended for that material.

For the paintwork, the greys used on Japanese warships are recommended (e.g. Tamiya XF-75 IJN Grey (Kure Arsenal)), a light brown for the wooden deck areas (e.g. XF-78 Wooden Deck Tan) and red for the underwater hull (e.g. XF-9 Hull Red) on the full hull version. The E13A floatplanes are finished in Imperial Japanese naval aviation colours. Paint codes are given in the instructions. Applying the decals over a gloss coat helps to avoid decal silvering, and a matt varnish makes a suitable final finish. To take the detail further, aftermarket upgrade sets are available separately in our shop.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling side cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• ABS adhesive and cyanoacrylate glue for the photo-etched and metal parts
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash to emphasise detail

About the ship – Tone:

Tone was the lead ship of a pair of heavy cruisers designed to provide reconnaissance for the carrier task forces. Hence the unusual layout: all four twin 20.3 cm turrets were grouped in the forward part of the hull, while the entire stern — with its catapults, turntables and trolley rails — was given over to handling up to six reconnaissance floatplanes. This allowed the ship to conduct extensive scouting without drawing aircraft away from the carriers.

Tone took part in most of the key operations of the Pacific war: from the attack on Pearl Harbor, through Midway, to the Battle of the Philippine Sea. During the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944 she was involved in the action in which the American escort carrier USS Gambier Bay was sunk.

The ship spent the final months of the war at Kure, where on 24 July 1945 she was heavily damaged in an air raid and settled in shallow water. The wreck was scrapped in 1947–48. Tamiya 78024 depicts Tone in her Leyte Gulf fit.

Original specifications (Tone):

• Standard displacement: approx. 11,200 t
• Length: 201.6 m
• Power: 152,000 hp
• Maximum speed: 35 knots
• Main armament: 4 twin 20.3 cm turrets, all mounted forward of the superstructure
• Dual-purpose armament: 4 twin 12.7 cm mounts
• Anti-aircraft armament: numerous 25 mm mounts
• Torpedo armament: 4 triple 610 mm torpedo tube mounts
• Aircraft: up to 6 reconnaissance floatplanes on the aft aircraft deck
• Crew: 874
• Sunk in shallow water at Kure on 24 July 1945; the wreck was scrapped in 1947–48

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, regarded as the heart of the Japanese model industry. The company began in the timber trade and wooden model production, and released its first plastic model kit in 1960. The brand is known for extremely precise injection moulds and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are equally popular with beginners and experienced modellers. In its 1/350 warship kits Tamiya combines plastic sprues with photo-etched parts, ABS components and metal details, delivering a high level of detail straight from the box. The instructions are clear, richly illustrated and include paint codes from the manufacturer's own range. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling accessories: paints, glues, tools and brushes. Today the company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the best-known brands in the hobby.