This is a Plastic 1/48 WWII Aichi M6A1 Seiran Airplane from Tamiya. The Aichi M6A1 Seiran was a unique airplane in WWII in that it was developed by the Japanese Navy to fly off specially designed submarines. The aircraft had floats to enable it to land near the sub for recovery at the end of each mission and the wings folded to allow for storage in a watertight hanger on the sub"s deck. Several Seirans were completed by the end of the war, but their first operational mission was ended by the Japanese surrender. This 1/48th scale kit of the M6A1 Seiran was scaled directly from a full size aircraft under restoration at the Smithsonian"s National Air and Space Museum. The kit is molded in light grey and clear and decals for several aircraft of the 631st Kaigun Kokutai, the only operational Seiran unit, are included. FEATURES: Highly detailed 1/48th scale plastic kit for static display. Approximately 75 parts in medium grey and clear with fine recessed panel lines. Beaching dolly is included for displaying the aircraft. Canopy is one piece with separate windshield - not designed to be displayed open. Highly detailed, multi-part cockpit with accurate consoles, instrument panel, seats, rear machine gun and mount. Separate exhaust stubs and optional spinners. Nose weight included and required so kit sits correctly on its dolly. MARKING OPTIONS: Single 6 1/2"x3 1/2" decal sheet with markings for one of 6 aircraft from the 631st Kaigun Kokuta - aircraft numbers "01,"02,"03"15," "16," and "17." Decals are printed by SuperScale using the InvisaClear system which leaves a minimum of excess decal film around the decal outline. The color scheme for all aircraft is: -Top Surfaces: IJN Dark Green. -Bottom Surfaces: IJN Light Grey. Additional paints Required: Colors are all flat except where indicated. Detail colors: Gloss green, Gloss red, Gunmetal, Semi-gloss Black, Black, Red, Hull red, Aluminium, RLM Grey, Earth, Metallic Gray. INCLUDES: One 1/48 WWII Aichi M6A1 Seiran Airplane Kit REQUIRES: Assembly Hobby Knife Paint: (see MARKING OPTIONS) Brushes Sandpaper Liquid Plastic Cement White Glue CA or Tube Type (thick) Plastic Cement Nice-to-have tools: Needle File Set, Sprue Cutter, Airbrush and Accessories SPECS: Scale: 1/48 Wingspan: 10" (25.4cm) Fuselage Length: 8-3/4" (22.1cm) COMMENTS: Tamiya also produces a 1/72nd scale version of this aircraft - TAMS0737 (Tamiya #60737). san 10/23/00 ir/jl