IJN Aircraft Carrier Hiyo "Battle of the Philippine Sea" 1:350 Hasegawa 40121

Plastic model kit: IJN Aircraft Carrier Hiyo "Battle of the Philippine Sea" 1:350 Hasegawa 40121

The IJN Aircraft Carrier Hiyo "Battle of the Philippine Sea" model kit in 1:350 scale from Hasegawa is a detailed replica of the Japanese aircraft carrier from World War II. This model depicts Hiyo in the configuration from the Battle of the Philippine Sea, which took place in June 1944. The kit also includes miniatures of onboard aircraft: three Mitsubishi A6M Zero models in versions 52 and 21, and three Nakajima B6N Tenzan models.

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:350
• Manufacturer: Hasegawa
• Catalog number: 40121
• Includes aircraft models: Mitsubishi A6M Zero (versions 52 and 21), Nakajima B6N Tenzan
• Includes decals for aircraft from the 652nd Naval Air Group

History and background: Hiyo, which in Japanese means "Flying Hawk," was one of two Hiyo-class aircraft carriers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Initially planned as a luxury ocean liner Izumo Maru, it was purchased by the Ministry of the Navy in 1941 and converted into an aircraft carrier. Completed shortly after the Battle of Midway in June 1942, Hiyo was assigned to the Second Carrier Division of the 1st Air Fleet and became the flagship of Rear Admiral Kakuji Kakuta. It participated in operations against American forces in the Guadalcanal area as part of the 3rd Fleet, although it did not take part in the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands due to an electrical generator fire.

During its service, aircraft from Hiyo were used several times from land bases in battles in the southwestern Pacific. In mid-1943, Hiyo was torpedoed and spent three months undergoing repairs. After returning to combat, the aircraft carrier was sunk by a gasoline vapor explosion caused by a hit from an American torpedo during the Battle of the Philippine Sea on June 20, 1944, resulting in the deaths of 247 officers and sailors, about one-fifth of the crew.

Assembly and painting kit. Does not include paints or glue. Assembly requires separately sold modeling tools (including cutters, files, tweezers), paints, brushes, and plastic model glue (e.g., Tamiya Extra Thin Cement). The photo shows a professionally assembled and painted model.