Submarine Aircraft Carrier.
This is the Tamiya 1/350th scale Japanese Navy Submarine I-400 with Tamiya Detail up etched parts set. Painted with Tamiya acrylics and white ensign enamels.
The I-400 was constructed as a submergible aircraft carrier able to launch 3 Aichi M6M1 Seiren aircraft. The intention was to attack the U.S. East Coast and the Panama Canal. Although never used in combat, the I-400 remains the largest conventional submarine ever built.
Nice lookin' build...don't ever recall seeing that concept before - they carried the aircraft inside the sub, huh? Guess ya learn sumthin' new every day!
Thanks Craig. Yes, the floats came off and were stored separately.
Nice work. It's amazing still how they get those aircraft out of that tiny hole!
Thanks Greg. I believe they could start the engine whilst the sub was still submerged.
At least one of the Japanese submarine aircraft carriers was enroute to bomb the Panama Canal late in the war, just before the surrender. That got cancelled, and then they were to attack the U. S. fleet at Ulithi. The surrender skotched that, and they deep sixed the Seirians before surrendering to the Allies.Reputedly, while underway, they's painted the aircraft silver and put bogus U. S. insignia on them, thus the desire to hide the evidence. Shades of the Bogart movie "Across the Pacific" (same target, anyway). The French had a sub that carried an aircraft, the Surcouf. The U. S navy experimented with collapsable aircraft on subs in the 20s, the TS-1.
I read that Bernard, I also read that the pilots wanted the aircraft left painted in Japanese colours. I guess we will never know the true story now.
Flying under a flag of convenience. Then, there was that Glen off the submarine that bombed California early in the war, the only time that's actually happened. Interesting idea.
I never knew that. I've just read about it, how very interesting. Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful work, Julian, as usual!
Thank you David.
Interesting concept, and the model is beautifully built and finished like David says above, as usual.
Many thanks George. It was a nice easy build.
Beautiful! Interesting sub, too.
Thank you Jeffry. It is an unusual submarine.
Beautifully done! You've inspired me to get to the I-19 I've got in my stash.
Hello Robert, thank you. I'll look forward to seeing your I-19.
I've since added the clear version to my stash. That comes with all the etched parts, and crew.
Mine's the Monogram reissue of Aurora's.
Just found it on Scalemates. Box art of both Monogram and Aurora are shown.
Hi Julian.
I love this build and think the presentation just shows it to perfection. Inspired work to capture this beautiful, almost futuristic, design.
Hi David, thank you very much. It was a nice model to build.
Nice work, Julian. I believe it was actually I-400 herself that was on the way to hit Panama at war's end.
Thank you Tom. Yes, I believe it was ordered to surrender before it reached the target. I think there were three in the class built.
Thank you Tom. Yes, I believe it was ordered to surrender before it reached the target. I think there were three in the class built.
Hello Julian,
Thanks for sharing this submarine model with us. The Japanese had some very interesting designs. I think personally, this one belongs in their top 3.
The American navy investigated a few in and out after the war.
Regards, Dirk / The Netherlands.
Thank you Dirk,
I agree, it is a very interesting design.
Regards, Julian.