Tamiya 31215 - 1/700 Scale Shinano Aircraft Carrier Build Kit  [31215]

Overview of the Tamiya 31215 Shinano carrier kit

This Tamiya 1/700 Japanese Aircraft Carrier Shinano kit gives modellers a chance to reconstruct a short-lived but significant WWII ship. Converted from a Yamato-class hull into an aircraft carrier, Shinano is notable for its size and the wartime decisions that shaped its design.

Brief wartime background

Launched into service in November 1944, Shinano measured about 266 metres and displaced roughly 62,000 tons. She featured enhanced armour and a reinforced flight deck intended to withstand heavy bomb strikes, yet she was sunk by an American submarine only days after commissioning.

Scale modelling features

The kit reproduces the distinctive lines shared with Yamato and Musashi and shows internal hangar detail beneath the flight deck. Model makers can choose to display the fore and aft aircraft elevators either up or down, creating different presentation styles.

Collector and display notes

The set includes 32 aircraft, including Ryusei types, formed in clear plastic to allow for detailed cockpit painting. The model also includes a detailed bridge, sloping funnel and several weapon mounts, making it a strong candidate for a fleet display or a standalone historical model.