great quality and detail
Tamiya makes one heck of a model. The pieces are surprisingly detailed for 1/700 scale, and there's virtually no flash to be trimmed at all! It's a very easy build per the box directions, and it's pretty easy to add the little bits of extra detail. One downside is that the actual model isn't a 100% faithful reproduction. Most notably there are supposed to be support struts between the upper and lower aft decks on the port side. I used spare AA gun barrels (provided in the kit) to replicate them. There's a good picture on the instructions that shows those sorts of things if you're interested in exact reproduction. I was skeptical about quality details in the 1/700 scale, but I was pleasantly surprised, and I'm quickly falling in love with 1/700. I would definitely recommend this model to anyone interested in Japanese naval history, or anyone who appreciates the beauty of light cruisers. Well done Tamiya.
