1:700 IJN Reconnaissance Airplane & Search Light Set

Reconnaissance aircraft and searchlights for 1:700 ships

This add-on set from Fujimi combines miniature Japanese shipboard reconnaissance aircraft and ship searchlights in 1:700 scale. It lets you populate the catapults of battleships and cruisers with aircraft and add or replace the searchlights, which are among the prominent details of the superstructures. This is not a standalone model — it is an add-on to a ship kit.

The real subject

Japanese battleships and cruisers carried reconnaissance floatplanes on their catapults, which handled observation, gunfire spotting and patrol work far beyond the horizon. Large combat searchlights then served to find targets at night and to signal — the Imperial Japanese Navy placed exceptional weight on night action.

Building and painting tips

In 1:700 scale the parts are very small — work with tweezers and a minimum of glue. Paint the aircraft before fitting them to the catapult; the searchlight mirrors come to life with a drop of gloss silver or a polished foil. The set also works as a stock of details for several models.

Who the set is for

• Builders of Japanese battleships and cruisers in 1:700 scale
• Modelers adding detail to superstructures and catapults
• Collectors who build several Japanese ships and will use a stock of parts

This is an add-on set — the ship model, glue and paints are not included in the package.