T 06.00 hours on Saturday 24th May 1941, the Royal Navy was dealt one of its most shattering blows. The 42,000 ton battle-cruiser Hood was destroyed after an action lasting barely eight minutes with Bismarch, the largest and most modern battleship in service with the German Navy. Three days later, after the most celebrated sea chase of the Second World War, which involved no fewer than three British battleships, two battle cruisers, two aircraft carriers and nine cruisers, plus numerous destroyers, Bismarck was brought to bay, reduced to a blazing hulk and finally sunk. The career of the most feared German warship was terminated a mere nine months after she was commissioned.

In 1939, the Naval Aviation Headquarters conceived a plan of trial manufacturing a floatplane fighter, a new type beyond all precedents in the world. On the assumption of landing and invading the Southern regions, the Japanese Navy intended in those days to station float planes in waterways and bays near the landing places until the completion of land air bases for the purpose of defending those under construction and occupied territories. Since the floatplanes might have to fight with enemy fighters in the air, they were required to be pure fighters comparing favorably with enemy fighters in performance. The Navy firmly believed that sufficiently armed floatplanes would be able to fight on equal terms with fighters considering that Type 95 Scout Seaplanes shot down Chinese fighters as successfully as did land based fighters at the early stage of the sino-Japanese incident. In 1940, the Naval Aviation Headquarters decided to trial manufacture floatplane fighters and ordered Kawanishi Aircraft, which was well experienced in manufacturing floatplanes, to trial manufacture them under the name of 15- Shi Floatplane fighter (later called Floatplane Fighter ‘Kyofu’).

British Aerospace naval VTOL/STOVL jet fighter, initial Fighter-Reconnaissance-Strike Mark 1. Kit has raised surface detail, basic cockpit with seated pilot, full Pegasus turbofan engine with adjustable exhaust nozzles (all 4 nozzles are linked to move in unison), separate speed brake, removable engine access panel, multi-part canopy and external stores (Aden gun pods (x2), 1000 lb. bombs (x6), AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles (x2) and 100 gallon drop tanks).

US Navy aircraft carrier CV-5; the most advanced USN pre-war carrier design. Kit features waterline hull with recessed portholes, flight deck with raised and engraved details, island superstructure with multiple platforms and tripod mast, anti-aircraft battery, aft hangar deck, optional position aft deck elevator, ship’s boats, life rafts, cranes, brass wire (for optional detailing) and metal ballast plate. Also includes aircraft – TBD Devastator (x4), SBD Dauntless (x12) and F4F Wildcat (x8). Completed model is approximately 13.9′ long. Color painting guide depicts Battle of Midway starboard profile and overhead plan view; decals represent aircraft insignia.

1/35 scale. U.S. 2?-Ton 6×6 Cargo Truck. Tamiya. Soft Top with detailed engine, undercarriage, winch, and one seated figure, WWII.

Tamiya America, Inc 1/350 US Navy Aircraft #2, TAM78009