Propulsion was from a mix of oil and coal fired boilers feeding four geared steam turbines, each driving a propeller. Hull design and power was such that she achieved a top speed 26.7 knots on trials, easily six knots faster than the corresponding battle line of the USN. Her forward bridge superstructure was an enhanced version of the heavy tripod of earlier classes. It was constructed of seven legs for additional stiffness and stability, in order to support the 10m heavy main battery director mounted on top with a minimum of vibration.

After the devastation caused by the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, BatDiv One was used to transport large amounts of supplies to survivors. She also hosted several domestic and foreign dignitaries during her initial decade of service.

She was given several modest refits over the next few years in order to improve aspects of her performance. In 1922, a smoke deflector was installed on # 1 funnel in order to keep the bridge clear of smoke, particularly at high speeds. Unfortunately, the arrangement was found unsatisfactory and from late 1924 into early 1925, the entire fore funnel was rebuilt as an S curve, with the top of the funnel now placed further aft. This arrangement was considered satisfactory, and kept until Nagato underwent a complete modernization and rebuild a decade later. 

Her AA suite was originally comprised of four Type 3 3inch/76mm High Angle guns, later increased to seven mounts in 1926. These were replaced by four twin mount Type 89 12.7cm AA in 1932.  She was also fitted with eight 21inch/53cm torpedo tubes, four per side, two of which were fixed and below the waterline.  The above waterline tubes were removed in 1926 as well.  The underwater tubes remained until her modernization of 1934-36.

Nagato gained a floatplane and flying off platform in 1925, but the platform was considered unsatisfactory and removed the following year. Instead, a large handling boom was installed attached to the mainmast. The floatplane was lifted on and off the ship for operations. This arrangement was discontinued in 1933 when a catapult was installed. 

She underwent a complete modernization in the mid 1930s that changed her appearance with a clipper bow, a reduction to one funnel (due to the changeover to all oil fired boilers), greater length, and a built-up bridge tower, among other changes. Armor was improved, as was her main battery, her AA suite, fire controls and a host of other details. The onset of war eventually brought upon more changes in AA and electronic detection devices. Despite numerous combat sorties, her only real actions occurred during the Battle of the Philippine Sea and at Leyte Gulf in 1944. Ultimately, she was the only Japanese battleship to survive the war afloat, and was eventually expended as part of US  postwar nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll in 1946. 
 

Since then, Aoshima has released several versions in different fits, often with improved and revised parts, in part to combat the several new releases from Fujimi. As of this writing, I count no less than ten versions from Fujimi, and eight from Aoshima, in various fits from 1941 through 1945, in both waterline and full hull configurations.

There is also the now rare, but well regarded, resin version of Nagato from Waveline, in mid 1920’s fit. Nor does the kit count from Aoshima include two kits that present Nagato in earlier configurations, that of 1927, and 1933. 

Released in 2012, this particular kit depicts Nagato in 1927, in perhaps the most prominent of her early configurations.  This is not her as-completed configuration, but her appearance after her first extensive refit in 1924, in which she featured an unusual, swept back S-curve modification to the upper portion of her #1 funnel in an effort to keep stack gases away from the bridge structure.  It was a unique and distinctive change for both her and her sister that remained in place until her modernization in 1934-36. (Note:  the only substantial difference in fit between the 1927 and 1933 kit versions is the addition of a catapult and a change to her AA battery, from four single mount 76mm/3” guns to four of the new twin Type 89 12.7cm dual purpose mounts.) 

This kit is very sharply molded in light gray styrene with a clean finish and no soft edges or details.  The kit details seem scaled particularly well.
 

Something that I believe unique to this kit (and the 1933 version kit, which shares the same hull), is the molding of the numbers one and four main barbettes as a raised extension of the hull stiffeners, and not as part of the main deck. The main decking fits over and around the barbettes. I like this feature, as it allows for a cleaner deck should one want to paint it separately. 

The hull scales out incredibly well. Overall length and width were close enough to be spot-on, despite my listing them slightly over. Only the waterline length was discernibly under, but by a bare .5mm. Nagato’s (1927) particulars versus the scale and kit:
 

Overall Length:	215.8m/708’	1/700 OA length:	308.29mm	Kit OA length:	308.5mm
Waterline Length:	213.6m/700’9”	1/700 WL length:	305.14mm	Kit WL length:	304.5mm
Beam:	28.96m/95’3”	1/700 Beam:	41.37mm	Kit Beam:	41.5mm

The main deck shows raised seams for the wood planking that run for its entire length, save for some anchor chafing plates forward. It has molded-on anchor chain, some prominent mooring bits, and some deck equipment. There’s also a large hole for the number one barbette to pass through. The details are very crisply rendered, and the relative lack of deck equipment will make for easier than usual masking and painting of the deck, should one choose to do so.

The 01 deck has four access ladders, and they are an improvement of the usual Aztec stair approach, though many will want to replace these with PE versions. Still, these are better than what one usually finds as a molded-on detail.

My photos do not do proper justice to the barrels.  They appear leaner when actually in hand.

The turrets are very nicely detailed, the 14cm mounts are one piece with molded blast bags, and the funnel grill is open (as opposed to solid) and surprisingly fine for injection plastic. Anyone who doesn’t use PE funnel grills will be very pleased to use the kit part. 

Each holds another two of the main turret based rangefinders, four (4) single mount, 76mm Type 3 AA guns, the components of one of the Yokosuka EY1Y floatplane assigned to the ship, and a navigation rangefinder platform.  I think the AA mounts superbly detailed for injection plastic, and the aircraft shows fabric covered ribbing on the wings.

Also included is the ubiquitous paper Japanese flag sheet. This is a hopelessly outdated notion; better to be replaced with more realistic aftermarket flag decals. 

My sense is that Aoshima meant to aim true with a unique version of Japan’s venerable flagship and, in my opinion, they have done exactly that. 

Thanks to Aoshima for the review sample. Suggested MSRP in the US appears to be $39.95