Product Introduction
The aircraft carrier Soryu was a vital part of the Japanese Navy's task force during the early stages of the Pacific War.
Building on the prewar construction of the Hōshō, followed by the Ryūjō, Akagi, and Kaga, the Soryu was a well-balanced vessel, leveraging accumulated technology and experience.
Completed at the Kure Naval Arsenal in 1937, as the situation began to darken, the Soryu was a swift vessel with a displacement of 15,900 tons, a 34-knot sprint, and an armament of 57 aircraft.
At the start of the war, the Soryu participated in the Pearl Harbor operation as part of Nagumo's task force, and performed adeptly in the mopping-up of British forces in the Indian Ocean. However, in June 1942, the Soryu was attacked by a US task force during the Battle of Midway, and was destroyed along with the Akagi and Kaga, less than five years after its completion.
During the Midway operation, the Soryu was test-equipped with the Type 2 Carrier Reconnaissance Aircraft, which would later become the Suisei (Comet) carrier-based bomber. A distinctive exterior feature was the Hinomaru (Japanese flag) painted on the forward edge of the flight deck for friendly identification.
The product is modeled after the ship's appearance from the start of the war, the Indian Ocean Campaign, the initial stages of the Pacific War, and the Battle of Midway, its final operation, and features a style that condenses its distinctive features into a scaled-down, deformed form.
- Molded components are composed of pre-painted parts in naval and hull colors.
- The design is divided into hull and hull, so it can be made into either an ocean-going or full-hull type.
The distinctive features found on the actual ship are faithfully recreated in three dimensions.
- The main ship parts are composed of gray molded parts that mimic naval colors.
- The hull has a one-piece structure, with the left and right sides joined together using a slide mold, recreating the sleek shape characteristic of medium-sized aircraft carriers.
- Three rows of portholes are molded into the sides, with the eaves reproduced in a row, and the uneven shapes of the air intakes and other features are also reproduced as one-piece parts.
- Reinforcements are reproduced on the back of the anti-aircraft gun mounts, and guide plates are reproduced inside the funnels, giving it the feel of a scale model.
- The anchors are sculpted into three separate parts, including one at the stern, for a three-dimensional effect. A spare part is also included in case of damage.
- The anchor deck at the bow and the floor of the short boat deck at the stern are intricately sculpted with anti-slip strip patterns, adding a sense of detail.
- Two boats are included: a 12-meter internal combustion boat and a 12-meter internal combustion launch, with the launch hoods recreated with canvas-colored stickers.
- The gun turret is a U-shaped, one-piece part that combines the three sides at the left, right, and rear, reducing assembly work.
- The gun turret features an anti-slip strip pattern, and the separate gun is attached with a snap fit (press-fit).
- The ship is equipped with 11 twin 25mm machine guns, two of which are equipped with shields behind the funnels, recreating its distinctive feature.
- The base of the 12.7cm anti-aircraft gun is sculpted as a single piece into the turret, while the barrel is a separate part made using a slide mold to recreate the muzzle.
- The radio antenna support is movable and can be tilted down for takeoff.
- The flight deck is meticulously sculpted, while its distinctive shape is reproduced in a deformed style.
- The deck is recreated with 1/700 scale wooden deck sculpted, with enough depth to allow for inking during paint application.
- The elevator features an eye ring, and the surrounding recesses are larger and deeper than the carving on the wooden deck, creating a more defined look.
- A gutter runs around the entire perimeter of the flight deck, and deck fittings such as searchlight covers and crane covers are also reproduced in full.
- The flight deck support struts are prepared as separate parts, recreating the different cross-sectional shapes at the front and rear.
- Painting is achieved using the included pre-cut stickers. The fittings and deck patterns have been reproduced and can be painted.
- The left and right sides of the hull are one piece, bowl-shaped, and molded in red to mimic the color of the hull.
- The screw bracket and propeller are separate parts, faithfully replicating their shapes.
- It features two rudders, different from the Hiryu.
- Like the ship, deformed aircraft are included.
- Three aircraft models are included: the Zero Fighter Type 21, the Type 99 Carrier Bomber, and the Type 97 Carrier Attack Plane, with markings such as the Japanese flag recreated using included stickers.
- The Zero Fighter and Type 99 Carrier Bomber are molded in gray, while the Type 97 Carrier Attack Plane is dark green, and three of each are included.
- Two types of decals are included: stickers to assist with painting, and decals that are convenient when painting.
- The stickers include pre-cut out steel/wooden decks, white lines, and the black painted tips of the funnels.
- Even the fine details such as the bridge windows and the chrysanthemum crest on the bow are painted.
- The decals include details that are difficult to recreate with paint, such as the white lines on the flight deck, the red and white landing markings, and the Japanese flag on aircraft carriers.
- The included ship name stickers are sized to fit the separately sold display stand.
- Special stickers are included to recreate the Japanese flag markings that were painted on the flight deck during the Battle of Midway. (Must be cut out with scissors.)
- Special decals with white circles and red filled marks are included for recreating the same effect with paint.
- Three Type 2 Carrier Reconnaissance Aircraft (later known as Suisei Bombers) that were test-loaded during the Battle of Midway are included.
Molded parts come in four colors.
Number of assembly parts: 90
Size when completed: Approximately 11 x 6 x 5 cm
Included Contents
- 11 runners
- 3 stickers
- 2 decals
- 2 assembly instructions
This product is made in Japan.
This is a plastic model kit that requires assembly.
Safety Warnings
None
This product is a kit that requires assembly.
Not to scale.
No painting required: Each part is pre-painted in its molded color, with detailed coloring added using stickers.
No gluing required: The parts snap together for easy assembly.
