Tamiya 31215 - Shinano 1/700 WWII Aircraft Carrier Model Kit for Hobbyists  [31215]

Tamiya 31215 Shinano 1/700 kit overview

The Tamiya 1/700 Japanese Aircraft Carrier Shinano kit gives model builders a hands-on way to recreate a notable World War II warship. Designed originally as a Yamato-class battleship and later converted to an aircraft carrier, Shinano represents a unique chapter in naval engineering and wartime adaptation.

Service history in brief

Commissioned in November 1944, Shinano stretched roughly 266 meters and displaced around 62,000 tons. Although fitted with heavy armor and a strengthened flight deck intended to resist large bombs, the carrier was lost soon after entering service when an enemy submarine sank her just days later.

Key modelling highlights

This 1/700 scale kit captures the hull lines and internal hangar beneath the flight deck, reflecting the vessel's relationship to Yamato and Musashi. Builders can pose the forward and aft aircraft lifts either raised or lowered to add movement and realism to their display.

Presentation and kit contents

The package contains 32 aircraft, including Ryusei types, moulded in clear plastic to allow realistic cockpit finishing. Other model details include a defined bridge, sloped funnel and an array of defensive armaments such as rocket launchers and anti-aircraft guns. The kit is aimed at collectors and historical modellers who want an accurate shelf display.