Box art for Hasegawa’s 1/700 Waterline Series destroyer Hayanami showing a dramatic painting of the ship at sea under stormy skies with the kit’s name and Water Line Series branding.

Hasegawa reissues 1/700 destroyer Hayanami; ships Aug. 19

By Juan Carlos Orellana | Artrovo Gundam | Aug. 18, 2025
Assembled 1/700 Waterline Series IJN destroyer Hayanami model showing starboard profile, grey hull and wood‑toned deck, Japanese naval flag at stern, set on a textured base.
Finished model from Hasegawa’s reissued 1/700 destroyer Hayanami kit, capturing the grey hull, wood deck and wartime details.

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — Hasegawa will resume shipments of its Waterline Series 1/700 destroyer Hayanami on Tuesday, Aug. 19 in Japan at a list price of ¥1,650. Retail availability typically follows a few days later based on distributor timing.

The reissue matters for naval builders because it restores a staple destroyer to shelves at an entry-level price, with options to depict the ship as built in 1943 or after its 1944 modifications. Those selectable parts make the kit useful for dioramas covering different campaigns.

Assembled 1/700 IJN destroyer Hayanami plastic model from Hasegawa, port‑side view on a mottled surface showing gun turrets, bridge and deck fittings.
Alternate angle of the finished Hayanami kit highlighting deck details and port‑side features, demonstrating build options and surface textures.

Documents reviewed by Artrovo Gundam indicate the model measures 170.5 millimeters and uses the line’s waterline hull format suited to seascape displays. The reissue does not note new tooling.

Line drawing of the IJN destroyer Hayanami with both side and top views and red Japanese annotations detailing armament and mast changes between the 1943 “as built” and 1944 refit configurations.
Official diagram illustrating the Hayanami’s 1943 configuration and 1944 refit, clarifying the kit’s selectable parts for different historical fits.

“In stock shipments begin Aug. 19,” the company’s product listing states, which also confirms the ¥1,650 tax-in price and Waterline designation.

Hasegawa did not issue a separate statement beyond the product page.

The move comes amid steady reissues across 1/700 naval lines as manufacturers fill gaps in core fleets. Waterline kits remain attractive to hobbyists who want compact footprints and easier ocean-base presentations compared with full-hull subjects.

What’s next: watch major Japanese retailers for restocks around the listed ship date; English-language listings typically follow as distributors update pages. U.S. import prices will vary with exchange rates and freight.

For builders, the headline is straightforward: a budget-friendly destroyer is back, with in-box parts to model either the as-built or refit configuration without aftermarket sets.

Unassembled runners and hull parts from the Hasegawa 1/700 destroyer Hayanami kit, showing grey plastic sprues sealed in a bag with the waterline hull piece visible.
In‑box view of the Hayanami kit’s parts, demonstrating the waterline hull format and plastic sprues awaiting assembly.

Fact box:

  • Scale/line: 1/700 Waterline Series

  • Subject: IJN destroyer Hayanami (reissue)

  • Options: 1943 “as built” and 1944 “after refit” configurations

  • Model length: 170.5 mm

  • Price (JP): ¥1,650 (about $11)

  • Shipments begin: Aug. 19, 2025 (JP)

  • Item code/JAN: WL462 / 4967834494626

  • Region/distribution: Japan; standard retail (reissue)

Sources (accessed Aug. 18, 2025):

  • HOBBY Watch — “Hasegawa to begin shipping reissued ‘Japanese destroyer Hayanami’ on Aug. 19; selectable 1943/1944 fits; model length 170.5 mm; price ¥1,650.” HOBBY Watch

  • Hasegawa official product page — “Japanese Navy Destroyer Hayanami (1/700), item 462; company shipment Aug. 19; release around Aug. 22; price ¥1,650 (tax in); JAN 4967834494626.” hasegawa-model.co.jp

  • Yodobashi (authorized retailer) — WL462 listing with specs (parts count, model length 170.5 mm) and August 2025 reissue note. Yodobashi

  • Hasegawa 1/700 Waterline Series index (line overview). hasegawa-model.co.jp

  • Tamiya Waterline overview (context on waterline hull format and diorama suitability). tamiya.com

  • XE currency table — indicative rate near 1 USD ≈ ¥147 on Aug. 18, 2025 (for “about $11” conversion). Xe

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