aoshima (1186)

Aoshima's painstakingly researched 1/24 kit of the stunning Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 supercar is the result of extensive study of the real thing; includes a detailed 5.2-liter V10 engine and power train, opening and closing hood, and more! Specification Scale: 1/24 Item Size/Weight: 32.5 x 21.5 x 9.3 cm / 490g

Aoshima brings us a all new kit of the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) Observation Helicopter OH-1 Ninja in 1/72 scale! Parts come crisply molded in green and black plastic with tiny raised rivet detail and some scribed panel lines. Clear parts are included for the canopy that can be built open or closed. Decals are also included. This is an injection-plastic aircraft model kit.

Introducing the Aoshima 1/72 scale model kit of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) Observation Helicopter OH-1 NINJA, complete with a utility vehicle set. This meticulously detailed model captures the essence of the OH-1 NINJA, Japan's advanced reconnaissance and observation helicopter, renowned for its agility and surveillance capabilities. The kit includes a precisely scaled utility vehicle, enhancing the realism and display possibilities. Perfect for model enthusiasts and collectors, this set offers a glimpse into the modern machinery of the JGSDF, providing hours of building enjoyment and a stunning addition to any collection.

The Akizuki class of destroyers of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is intended to escort the Hyūga-class and Izumo-class helicopter destroyers, and safeguard the other Aegis-capable warships such as the Kongō class and Atago class. The destroyer provides defense against surface, airborne and undersea threats. This is a plastic model kit, which comes unassembled and unpainted. So glue, model paints and other basic modelling tools are additionally required. Specification Scale: 1/700 Dimensions: 222x98x28 mm (8.7x3.9x1.1 inch) Weight: 86 g (0.19 lbs)

Teruzuki, the second of the Akizuki-class destroyers, was sent to South Pacific waters to form the 61st destroyer squadron after its completion on 31 August 1942. She participated in the Battle of the South Pacific, which was a battle between carrier task forces, as the direct guard of the carrier. She also participated twice in the third Battle of Solomon, where she rescued the crews of the battleships Hiei and Kirishima, but on 12 December 1942, she was disabled by a US submarine and sank herself, ending her short history.  This is a plastic model kit, which comes unassembled and unpainted. So glue, model paints and other basic modelling tools are additionally required. Specification Scale: 1/700 Item Size/Weight: 22 x 9.5 x 2.7 cm / 80g

Fuyutsuki was built as the sixth of the Akizuki -class destroyers, but was strictly a quasi-identical ship with simplified construction. After its completion, it was struck by lightning while sailing as a fleet escort and suffered a severed bow. After repairs, she participated in a suicide attack on the battleship Yamato and returned to Kure. Then she participated in air defense against air raids by U.S. ships, and after the war, she was engaged in minesweeping operations as a craft ship and was used as a breakwater. This is a plastic model kit, which comes unassembled and unpainted. So glue, model paints and other basic modelling tools are additionally required. Specification Scale: 1/700 Item Size/Weight: 22.2 x 9.6 x 2.7 cm / 90g

Yoizuki was a Japanese destroyer whose keel was laid in 1943, launched in September 1944, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in January 1945. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 134.2 m, width 11.6 m, and the actual full displacement - 3,700 tons. Destroyer Yoizuki's top speed was up to 33 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was 8 100 mm guns in four twin turrets, and the secondary armament was 15 25 mm cannons, depth charge launchers and four 610 mm torpedo tubes. Yoizuki was the tenth Akizuki class destroyer. Destroyers of this type were designed as anti-aircraft destroyers, intended to protect high-speed Japanese aircraft carriers, which resulted in the arming with 100 mm universal artillery and weak - by Japanese standards - torpedo armament. Initially, 55 ships of this type were planned to be launched, but due to problems with the supply of raw materials, only 12 Akizuki-class destroyers entered service. However, they received very positive reviews due to their long range, high speed, good stability and sea prowess. They were considered to be one of the best destroyers of World War II. Yoizuki (side number 363) initially served in the home waters and in February 1945 supported the air defense of Yokosuka against a B-29 bomber raid. In June of the same year, he climbed a mine, but suffered no serious damage. Until the end of the war, it was not used in combat. After its completion, it was used to transport Japanese soldiers from bases in the Pacific, and in 1947 it was handed over to China - as war reparations - and renamed Fen Yang. From 1949 in service with the Taiwanese navy, but soon placed in reserve. By 1963, it was scrapped. A modification of the "Akizuki," with more guns. Was sold to China after the war. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

A sharp, nicely detailed 1/32-scale injection-plastic kit of a Kodaira Anchiko Type SP Dump Trailer with tons of chrome parts and wheels, clear plastic lights, and rubber tires. Other parts come molded in white and black. Includes decals. High-quality, precision plastic model kit. Paint and glue are not included. Requires assembly and painting. For intermediate to advanced skill modelers.

Hiryu (Japanese Flying Dragon) was a Japanese aircraft carrier, the keel of which was laid in 1936, launched in November 1937, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in July 1939. The ship was 227.4 meters long, 22.3 meters wide, and had a full displacement of 21,900 tons. The maximum speed of the aircraft carrier Hiryu oscillated around 33-34 knots, and its main armament consisted of 73 on-board planes. Numerous design solutions on Hiryu were the result of the experience gained by the Japanese during the operation of other aircraft carriers - primarily Hosho, Kaga and Akagi. As a result, already in the course of design, a lot of emphasis was placed on the maximum speed of the new aircraft carrier and its greatest possible impact force, expressed in a large number of on-board aircraft. On the other hand, the ship's armor was treated as secondary, as it was completely inadequate to protect the ship from an air attack. In parallel with Hiryu, his sister unit - Soryu - was being built - but the two ships differed quite significantly, e.g. in the location of the superstructure. During World War II, Hiryu participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, and in early 1942, his on-board planes took part in a raid on Port Darwin in Australia. In April this year, Hiryu also took part in the famous rally of the Japanese fleet to the Indian Ocean. He also took part in the Battle of Midway (June 1942) where he was sunk by American on-board planes, along with his commander - Rear Admiral Yamaguchi. Newly-tooled kit of the Japanese CV which was the only one of the four sunk at Midway to survive the initial US strike and launch a counterattack. Planes from Hiryu went on to cripple Yorktown, but Hiryu was eventually located and sunk. This version of the kit includes aircraft from 1942 for the deck compliment. Pretty good detail all around. Entire lower hull is molded as one piece. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

30 years have passed since the first release in the now-famous 1/700 Water Line Series. The manufacturers involved in this endeavour have now begun to replace their old kits with newly-tooled models. Kagerou is the main ship of the Kagerou-class DD, and fought several battles, most notably the battle of Tassafuronga. The Kagerou-class DD was the latest design of the IJN fleet destroyer, with improved speed, longer cruise range, and powerful armament. Aoshima's new kit meets today's molding standards and the design itself reflects recent research, depicting the ship's early form (from 1941). The kit on the whole blows away the quality of older versions of the same kit! This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

The Yukikaze was a Japanese destroyer whose keel was laid in 1938, launched in March 1939, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in January 1940. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 118.4 m, width 10.8 m, and the actual full displacement - 2,600 tons. Destroyer Yukikaze had a maximum speed of 34.5 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was 6 127 mm guns in three twin turrets, and the secondary armament was 4 25 mm cannons, depth charge launchers and eight 610 mm torpedo tubes with eight spare torpedoes. The Yukikaze was the eighth Kagero-class destroyer and the only one to survive World War II. Units of this type were created as part of the Japanese fleet expansion program of 1937 and 1939. They returned to the use of strong artillery (6 127 mm guns), which had already appeared on the Fubuki-class destroyers in the 1920s. The provisions of the disarmament treaties were also not respected, thanks to the czum the Japanese designers had complete freedom in designing. As a result, ships with strong artillery and torpedo armaments, good sea performance, and especially - unlike the previous Japanese destroyers - had no problems with stability and overall durability of the structure. The only drawback was the weak anti-aircraft armament, which, however, was systematically strengthened during the war in the Pacific. Destroyer Yukikaze's combat career was very rich and began in World War II with supporting Japanese landing operations in the Philippines in December 1941. Then, at the beginning of 1942, he supported further Japanese actions in the region of the Dutch East Indies. In June he took part in the Battle of Midway, and from August 1942 he served in the area of the islands of the Solomon Islands archipelago, fighting in the struggle for Guadalcanal. He was an important element there, the so-called Tokyo Express, i.e. the use of Japanese fast destroyers and light cruisers to transfer supplies to soldiers fighting in the Gudalcanal. In the course of the fighting, he took part in the battle near the Santa Cruz Islands (October 1942). In 1944 he also fought in the Battle of the Philippine Sea and in Leyte Bay - he survived both of those battles! Moreover, in April 1945 it was used as a cover for the battleship Yamato during Operation Ten-Go. After this operation, it served in its home waters and, despite numerous Allied air attacks and damage after landing on a mine, it remained until the end of the war. In July 1947 it was handed over as war reparations to the Chinese fleet, where it served under the name Tan Yang until 1956. Destroyer Yukikaze aka. Tan Yang was scrapped in 1970. 30 years have passed since the first release in the now-famous 1/700 Water Line Series. The manufacturers involved in this endeavour have now begun to replace their old kits with newly-tooled models. The Yukikaze is the 8th ship of the Kagerou-class DD and was the only ship out of its nineteen sister ships to survive the war through several battles. The Kagerou-class DD was the latest design of the IJN fleet destroyer, with improved speed, longer cruise range, and powerful armament. Aoshima's new kit meets today's molding standards and the design itself reflects recent research, depicting the ship's final form, looking like a hedgehog, with many AA guns installed. The kit on the whole blows away the quality of older versions of the same kit! This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

Akigumo was a Japanese destroyer whose keel was laid in 1940, launched in April 1941, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in September 1941. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 118.5 m, width 10.8 m, and the actual full displacement - 2,490 tons. The maximum speed of destroyer Akigumo was up to 35 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was 6 127 mm guns in three twin turrets, and the secondary armament was 4 25 mm cannons, depth charge launchers and eight 610 mm torpedo tubes with eight spare torpedoes. Akigumo was the nineteenth and last Kagero-class destroyer. Units of this type were created as part of the Japanese fleet expansion program of 1937 and 1939. They returned to the use of strong artillery (6 127 mm guns), which had already appeared on the Fubuki-class destroyers in the 1920s. The provisions of the disarmament treaties were also not respected, thanks to the czum the Japanese designers had complete freedom in designing. As a result, ships with strong artillery and torpedo armaments, good sea performance, and especially - unlike the previous Japanese destroyers - had no problems with stability and overall durability of the structure. The only drawback was the weak anti-aircraft armament, which, however, was systematically strengthened during the war in the Pacific. Destroyer Akigumo's combat career began in World War II with the cover of Japanese carriers attacking the Pearl Harbor base in December 1941. From the second half of 1942, Akigumo served in the area of the islands of the Solomon Islands archipelago, fighting in the struggle for Guadalcanal. He became famous there with the serious damage to the USS Hornet aircraft carrier on October 27, 1942. At the turn of 1943-1944, Akigumo was modernized: it received new radars and its anti-aircraft armament was significantly strengthened. After the modernization, the ship returned to service, but on April 11, 1944, she was sunk by the USS Redfin submarine. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

Maikaze was a Japanese destroyer whose keel was laid in 1940, launched in March 1941, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in July 1941. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 118.5 m, width 10.8 m, and the actual full displacement - 2,490 tons. The maximum speed of the destroyer Maikaze was up to 35 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was 6 127 mm guns in three twin turrets, and the secondary armament was 4 25 mm cannons, depth charge launchers and eight 610 mm torpedo tubes with eight spare torpedoes. Maikaze was the eighteenth Kagero-class destroyer. Units of this type were created as part of the Japanese fleet expansion program of 1937 and 1939. They returned to the use of strong artillery (6 127 mm guns), which had already appeared on the Fubuki-class destroyers in the 1920s. The provisions of the disarmament treaties were also not respected, thanks to the czum the Japanese designers had complete freedom in designing. As a result, ships with strong artillery and torpedo armaments, good sea performance, and especially - unlike the previous Japanese destroyers - had no problems with stability and overall durability of the structure. The only drawback was the weak anti-aircraft armament, which, however, was systematically strengthened during the war in the Pacific. The combat career of destroyer Maikaze was rich and began in World War II with the cover of Japanese landings in the Malaya and Philippine regions. In March and April 1942, he escorted supply units for ships participating in the Indian Ocean raid. In June, it took part in the Battle of Midway as a cover unit for the Japanese carrier team. From August 1942 to February 1943, Maikaze served in the Solomon Islands archipelago, fighting for Guadalcanal. In the course of these struggles, he took part in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. From July 1943 to the end of that year, he served as convoy in the square: Truk, Yokosuka, Shanghai and Rabaul. The destroyer Maikaze was sunk by the American on-board aviation and as a result of artillery fire on February 7, 1944. A 1/700 waterline model of the IJN destroyer Maikaze. About 17 cm in length, this model features well-molded parts specific to the Maikaze as well as a generic sprue of guns, torpedo launchers and small boats for IJN vessels. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

The Hamakaze was a Japanese destroyer whose keel was laid in 1939, launched in November 1940, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in June 1941. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 118.5 m, width 10.8 m, and the actual full displacement - 2,490 tons. Destroyer Hamakaze had a maximum speed of 35 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was 6 127 mm guns in three twin turrets, and the secondary armament was 4 25 mm cannons, depth charge launchers and eight 610 mm torpedo tubes with eight spare torpedoes. The Hamakaze was the thirteenth Kagero-class destroyer. Units of this type were created as part of the Japanese fleet expansion program of 1937 and 1939. They returned to the use of strong artillery (6 127 mm guns), which had already appeared on the Fubuki-class destroyers in the 1920s. The provisions of the disarmament treaties were also not respected, thanks to the czum the Japanese designers had complete freedom in designing. As a result, ships with strong artillery and torpedo armaments, good sea performance, and especially - unlike the previous Japanese destroyers - had no problems with stability and overall durability of the structure. The only drawback was the weak anti-aircraft armament, which, however, was systematically strengthened during the war in the Pacific. Destroyer Hamakaze's combat career was rich and began in World War II with the cover of Japanese aircraft carriers attacking Pearl Harbor in December 1941. In February 1942, the ship supported the attack on Port Darwin in Australia, and in April of that year, she took part in the famous Japanese rally in the Indian Ocean. In June, he took part in the Battle of Midway, and from August 1942 to February 1943, he served in the Solomon Islands archipelago, fighting in the struggle for Guadalcanal. In the course of this struggle, she took part in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands as a shield ship for Japanese aircraft carriers. In July 1943, he took part in the battle near the island of Kolombangary with successes. In June 1944, however, he fought in the Battle of the Philippine Sea - again as cover for Japanese aircraft carriers, and in October of the same year - in Leyte Bay. Destroyer Hamakaze was sunk on April 7, 1945 by US cabin air forces during Operation Ten-Go. A 1/700 waterline model of the Hamakaze as she apppeared in 1942. About 17 cm in length, this model features well-molded parts specific to the Hamakaze as well as a sprue of generic guns, torpedo launchers, small boats and planes applicable to IJN warships. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

The Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu (Japanese dragon slayer) is a Japanese, heavy, two-engine, metal low-wing fighter from the Second World War. The flight of the prototype took place in May 1941, and entry into service took place at the end of the same year. Four main versions of the Ki-45 were created: Ki-45 KAI-a (day fighter aircraft), Ki-45 KAI-b and Ki-45 KAI-d (attack aircraft), Ki-45 KAI-c (night fighter aircraft). In 1941-1943, the planes served primarily in New Guinea and Indochina, while in 1944-1945 they were used extensively as interceptors based on the Japanese islands. A certain portion of the Ki-45 was used as kamikaze planes. Technical data (Ki-45 KAI-c version): length: 11m, wingspan: 15.02m, height: 3.7m, maximum speed: 540km / h, rate of climb: 11.7m / s, maximum range: 2000km, ceiling of 10,000m, armament: fixed - 1 Ho-203 37mm cannon, 1 20mm Ho-3 cannon and 1 7.92mm machine gun Reissue of an older kit. Features recessed panel lines and nice clear canopy glazings. No interior detail, however. A blast revetment is included with each kit (two kits in a box) for diorama purposes. Markings for two aircraft are included. This is an injection-plastic aircraft model kit.

The I-401 was a Japanese WWII submarine that entered service with the Imperial Japanese Navy in January 1945. At the time of launching, the ship was 122 m long, 12 m wide, and her displacement in draft was 6,560 tons. The maximum surface speed of the I-401 reached 18.75 knots on the surface. The main armament at the time of the launch was 8 533 mm torpedo tubes, 1 140 mm gun, 3 35 mm cannons and a single 25 mm cannon. The ship also had aviation equipment in the form of 3 M6A1 Seiran planes. The I-401 was of the I-400 type. This type included one of the largest submarines built during World War II, which belonged to the so-called submarine cruisers. On the I-401, rubber plates were used to silence its operation and activities, and to make it difficult to detect by sonar. It was also equipped with grills, which made it possible to use internal combustion engines while submerged. Due to the late entry into service, the I-401 did not take part in any major combat operations. The vessel disposed of all weapons and code books on August 26, 1945, and three days later surrendered to the high seas to the USS Segundo. The I-401 was then used by the US Navy as a target ship and was finally sunk in May 1946 near Pearl Harbor. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

The I-400 was a Japanese submarine whose keel was laid in 1943, launched in January 1944, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in December 1944. At the time of launching, the ship was 122 m long, 12 m wide, and her displacement in draft was 6,560 tons. The maximum surface speed of the I-400 was 18.7 knots on the surface. The main armament at the time of the launch was 8 533 mm torpedo tubes, 1 140 mm gun and 4 25 mm cannons. The ship also had aviation equipment in the form of 3 M6A1 Seiran planes. I-400 was one of the largest submarines built during World War II and was one of the so-called submarine cruisers. It uses rubber plates to silence its operation and operation, and to make it difficult to detect by sonar. It was also equipped with grills, which made it possible to use internal combustion engines while submerged. The combat career of the I-400 was very short. In May 1945 it was decided to attack the Panama Canal locks, but in June the target was changed to the great US Navy anchorage on Ulithi Island, which was to be attacked on a suicide mission by I-400 planes. The ship set sail for this mission on July 26, but on August 16 she received the news of the ceasefire and her return to the nearest Japanese port. After the end of the war, the I-400 was seized by the Americans and carefully examined. After their conduct, it was sunk in the Hawaii area on June 4, 1946. This is an Aoshima 1/700 scale (Approximate length: 174mm, beam: 17mm) assembly and painting required plastic model kit of the Imperial Japanese Navy Sen Toku I-400-class submarine, the largest submarines of World War II. Model kit features: Waterline hull model. 2x onboard Aichi M6A Seiran seaplane included. Realistic onboard weapons and accessories. Illustrated instruction sheet and decals included.

The I-401 was a Japanese WWII submarine that entered service with the Imperial Japanese Navy in January 1945. At the time of launching, the ship was 122 m long, 12 m wide, and her displacement in draft was 6,560 tons. The maximum surface speed of the I-401 reached 18.75 knots on the surface. The main armament at the time of the launch was 8 533 mm torpedo tubes, 1 140 mm gun, 3 35 mm cannons and a single 25 mm cannon. The ship also had aviation equipment in the form of 3 M6A1 Seiran planes. The I-401 was of the I-400 type. This type included one of the largest submarines built during World War II, which belonged to the so-called submarine cruisers. On the I-401, rubber plates were used to silence its operation and activities, and to make it difficult to detect by sonar. It was also equipped with grills, which made it possible to use internal combustion engines while submerged. Due to the late entry into service, the I-401 did not take part in any major combat operations. The vessel disposed of all weapons and code books on August 26, 1945, and three days later surrendered to the high seas to the USS Segundo. The I-401 was then used by the US Navy as a target ship and was finally sunk in May 1946 near Pearl Harbor. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

Unassembled 1/24 kit of the Suzuki Cappuccino as driven by a guy known only as "Sakamoto" in "Initial D." Body is molded in red, with chassis, interior, and details molded in black. Matte chrome-finished rims. No engine detail. Decals are included for markings. Specification Scale: 1/24 Item Size/Weight: 32 x 20.5 x 6.8 cm / 290g

Sendai was a Japanese light cruiser the keel of which was laid in 1922, launched in October 1923, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in April 1924. The ship was 152.4 m long, 14.2 m wide, and her displacement was 5,200 tons. The maximum speed of the Sendai cruiser was 34-35 knots. At the time of launching, the main armament was 7 140 mm guns in single positions, and the additional armament was, among others: 2 80 mm anti-aircraft guns and 8 610 mm torpedo tubes. Sendai was the first cruiser of the type to bear the same name - ie Sendai. Cruisers of this type were designed from the beginning as the so-called "Leaders" or guides of a destroyer flotilla. Therefore, when designing them, the emphasis was on high speed at the expense of armor. They also very often acted as flagships of such teams. The combat career of cruiser Sendai in World War II began in December 19141, when she shielded the Japanese landing in Malaya. At the turn of 1941/1942, he served as an escort for convoys in the region of Malaya and Indonesia, and in February 1942 he took part in the operation of the capture of Sumatra. Sendai took part only indirectly in the Battle of Midway in June 1942, without sustaining any damage during it. From the summer of 1942, he was involved in fighting in the Guadalcanal area. Cruiser Sendai was sunk on November 3, 1943 in the course of the Battle of Empress Augusta's Bay. This is the first appearance of a four-stacked Sendai-class light cruiser in the Waterline Series. In order to accurately replicate the distinctive spoon-shaped bow of the Sendai, a separate mold was created. The latest data was also used in creating this model, for the utmost in authenticity. Depicts the Sendai as she appeared in 1943 (she was sunk by Allied destroyers in November 1943). As the series name indicates, this is a waterline kit. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

Jintsu was a Japanese light cruiser the keel of which was laid in 1922, launched in December 1923, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in July 1925. The ship was 152.4 m long, 14.2 m wide, and her displacement was 5,200 tons. Cruiser Jintsu's top speed was 35.3 knots. At the time of launching, the main armament was 7 140 mm guns in single positions, and the additional armament was, among others: 2 80 mm anti-aircraft guns and 8 610 mm torpedo tubes. Jintsu was the second Sendai-class cruiser. Cruisers of this type were designed from the beginning as the so-called "Leaders" or guides of a destroyer flotilla. Therefore, when designing them, the emphasis was on high speed at the expense of armor. They were also very often the flagships of the light ships of the Japanese fleet. The combat career of cruiser Jintsu in World War II began in December 1941 with support for the Japanese landing in the Philippines. In February 1942, he took an active part in the Battle of the Java Sea, which ended with the full success of the Japanese forces. From the summer of 1942, he was involved in the fighting in the Guadalcanal area - most often as a ship protecting the convoys going to the island. In the course of the fighting, the Jintsu was badly damaged and was repaired until January 1943. In July of that year, he took part in the Battle of Colombangara in the Solomon Islands archipelago, where he was sunk on July 13, 1943. This is the first appearance of the four-stacked Sendai-class light cruiser Jintsu in the Waterline Series. In order to accurately replicate the distinctive spoon-shaped bow of the Sendai-class cruisers, a separate hull mold was created. The latest data was also used in creating this model, for the utmost in authenticity. Depicts the Jintsu, the second of the Sendai-class cruisers, as she appeared in 1942 during the Solomon Islands Campaign (she was later sunk by Allied destroyers in July 1943 at the Battle of Kolombangara). As the series name indicates, this is a waterline kit. This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.

Complete in 1930, the Nippon Maru participated in the famous parade of tall ships on New York's Hudson River in 1976. The Nippon Maru now serves as a floating museum in Yokohama, Japan. Aoshima's kit of the Nippon Maru features authentic detail throughout, including a detailed hull, vacu-formed plastic sails (you have to cut them out), thread for rigging, and a display stand. The split hull allows completion as either a full-hull or waterline model. Measures 27.6cm long when assembled. This is an injection-plastic sailing ship model kit.

The clippers, especially those built in the second half of the nineteenth century, were perhaps the most beautiful ships ever built and represented the pinnacle of maritime engineering in the "golden age of sails". The best known of them is undoubtedly "Cutty Sark". This sailing ship was built in 1869 at the special request of the famous Scottish shipowner, Captain John Willis at the Clyde shipyard. The assumption of the project was to build a ship capable of defeating the then fastest clipper "Thermopylae", launched just a year earlier. To achieve the intended goal, the latest technologies and the highest quality materials were used. Paradoxically, it was the costs of materials and highly skilled labor that caused the original contractor to go bankrupt and the construction had to be completed by another, neighboring shipyard. When the operation was finally successfully completed, the fastest ship of that time was obtained, which, thanks to the enormous sail area, achieved a speed of over 17 knots. Of course, such an exaggerated performance was not only intended to serve propaganda purposes, but also to be used in practice. Cutty Sark's job was to transport tea from China to Great Britain. Time played a big role here because the faster the fresh harvest was delivered to the London market, the more they got the price. Each year, the journey from China was a real race and at the same time a torment for the crew, mercilessly urged by the captain, who, in the hope of rewarding money and prestige, was once again trying to break the speed record. The good times for clippers ended at the end of the 19th century, when they were no longer able to cope with the competition from modern steam ships. The Cutty Sark met the fate of many other tall ships. In 1895, it was sold to a Portuguese company, where it served as a tramp for many years, and then a barge with no sails. In June 1922, a retired sea wolf, Captain Dowman, bought the dilapidated ship and towed it to England. There, after many years of work, the Cutty Sark was restored to its former glory, primarily by installing new, although in accordance with the original sails, and in 1938 the Thames Nautical Training College in Greenhithe was presented as a training ship. In 1952, an association working for the Cutty Sark was established and it was on his initiative that five years later the legendary sailing ship finally ended its colorful career and permanently anchored at the Greenwich quay. Technical data: Displacement: 2,100 t, length: 85.1 m, width: 10.9 m, draft: 6 m, speed: up to 17.5 knots, crew: 28-35 people. One of the fastest sailing vessels ever built, the clipper Cutty Sark represents one of the most romantic ages in the history of ocean travel. Launched in 1869, the Cutty Sark spent most of her time transporting goods around the world. She nows rests in Greenwich, England. Aoshima's kit of the Cutty Sark features authentic detail throughout, including a detailed hull, vacu-formed plastic sails (you have to cut them out), thread for rigging, and a nice display stand. The split hull allows completion as either a full-hull or waterline model. Measures 22.9cm long when complete. This is an injection-plastic sailing ship model kit.

Here's everybody's favorite sentient automobile, K.I.T.T.! That's right, it's Knight Industries' highly modified Pontiac Firebird, Knight Industries Two Thousand (K.I.T.T.), Michael Knight's four-wheeled partner in crime-fighting in the seminal series "Knight Rider" (the version from season one, to be specific). And he's never looked better! Aoshima's newly tooled K.I.T.T. kit features excellent detail and accuracy throughout. The body is molded in black, with tan interior pieces and a black chassis and suspension. The pop-up headlights are movable. The wheels are clever two-part matte chrome and black plastic assemblies, and darkly tinted clear windows are provided. The interior is accurately detailed with all the whiz-bang computers and gizmology seen in the show, and includes decals to render monitor screen images and panel faces as seen in season one. Nice! This version of K.I.T.T. does not include the front scanner unit. (The scanner unit is sold separately, linked below.) A great kit of K.I.T.T.! Specification Scale: 1/24 Item Size/Weight: 32.4 x 21.3 x 7 cm / 370g