Aotori Bunka

Aotori Bunka is one of the most exciting new names in 1/350 scale naval modeling, and its first releases go straight for subjects ship modelers have wanted for years. The brand is part of the Zimi Model family, the fast-growing manufacturer behind Zimi and DRAMi. Aotori Bunka focuses on large-scale WWII U.S. Navy warships made with modern tooling. The Atlanta-class designs were first announced by Very Fire, which is known for its 1/350 ships, and Zimi acquired the tooling to put them into production. You get modern, precise engineering backed by one of today's most active kit makers.

Its first releases are a pair of kits many had been waiting for: the Atlanta-class light cruisers USS Atlanta (CL-51) and USS San Diego (CL-53). For years these important ships had little coverage in 1/350. Aotori Bunka now offers a modern, highly detailed kit of each, ready to stand alongside the carriers and battleships in your Pacific fleet.

The Ships: Built to Defend the Fleet

The Atlanta class was a new kind of cruiser, built to protect other ships from air attack. Each carried sixteen 5-inch/38 dual-purpose guns in eight twin turrets, the heaviest anti-aircraft battery of any cruiser of its day. That made them ideal escorts for the carrier task forces fighting across the Pacific.

USS Atlanta (CL-51) was commissioned just weeks after Pearl Harbor and fought at Midway and the Eastern Solomons. In the confused night action of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942, she was hit by a torpedo and heavy gunfire and was lost the next day. She is remembered as one of the bravest ships of the Solomons campaign.

USS San Diego (CL-53) had a very different story. She served from the early carrier raids to the final strikes on Japan, earned 18 battle stars, and became one of the most decorated U.S. warships of the war. In August 1945 she was the first major Allied warship to enter Tokyo Bay after Japan's surrender. That's a showpiece subject for any naval collection.

What's in the Box

• 12 sprues of crisply molded plastic, plus separate hull, deck and superstructure parts
• Photo-etched brass detail parts
• Anchor chain for a realistic finish on the foredeck
• Ship-specific decals for each vessel
• Fine small parts, including handrails, Bofors mounts, radar and fire-control equipment

Why Modelers Choose Aotori Bunka

• Hard-to-find subjects: modern-tooled 1/350 Atlanta-class cruisers at last
• Modern CAD design with accurate hull lines and dense, convincing detail
• All eight 5-inch twin turrets, the Atlanta class's best-known feature
• Photo-etch included, so you can get a high-end look straight from the box
• Backed by Zimi Model's production and distribution
• A matched pair: build both sisters to show their very different war records

Ideal For

• Ship modelers building a 1/350 U.S. Navy Pacific task force
• Fans of Guadalcanal, the Solomons campaign and carrier warfare
• Experienced builders who enjoy photo-etch, rigging and fine detail
• Collectors and veterans' families who want a showpiece model of a famous ship
• Diorama builders making at-sea or harbor scenes

Shop Aotori Bunka at AFVHobbyHub.com

Add a 1/350 Aotori Bunka cruiser to your fleet today. AFVHobbyHub.com is your source for scale armor, aircraft, ships and the photo-etch, paints and accessories to finish them, shipped to all 50 states. Browse the full Aotori Bunka range below and start your next build.