Sponsored Kit Reviews: Taiho
Part Three (in box review):

Hobbylink Japan has supplied J-Ships.com with this kit.	Tom's Modelworks has supplied J-Ships.com withthe photo-etched parts for this kit.

Manufacturer: Tamiya
Scale: 1/700
Medium: Plastic Injection
Reviewer: Jason Abraham
Model rating: 9/10

Spec Sheet on the Taiho class

Coming soon:

Model of the Taiho

A Brief History: Probably the best designed aircraft carrier the Japanese ever put to sea. The Taiho was in essence an improved Shokaku class ship. She was the first Japanese carrier to incorporate an enclosed "hurricane" bow and an armored flight deck. She was large and fast, although the limited hangar space inherent with an armored flight deck meant that she could carry fewer aircraft than other conventional fleet carriers. Although she incorporated many lessons learnt one of the most important one was neglected: an open hangar configuration. She was destroyed by a single torpedo just before she was to see her baptism of fire. The torpedo ruptured the avgas lines and the fume filled her armored box hangars. They ignighted and the ship blew up. Mind you, hindsight is 20-20!

An interesting story: Apparently an aviator who had just cleared the deck of the Taiho saw the torpedo wake and attempted to crash his plane into the torpedo to save the ship! We all know how that turned out.

Still a very good kit despite it's age. Tamiya has produced quality for as long as I can remember and this is proven again with this mold. No flash, the parts dry fit together very well and the detail is top notch. The only vise I have with this kit is the main AA weapon detailing. The Taiho was the only fleet carrier to carry the superb 3.9" gun. The first thing I did upon opening the kit was inspect these mounts. They are pretty dismal in the detail department. Maybe I can cannibalize a Skywave detail set for the main AA suite...