[Chibimaru Kantai] It's Small, but It's Very Rewarding to Assemble! Shinano is Here in the Popular Chibimaru Kantai Series, with Delicate Expressions and Attention to Detail Visible Everywhere!

If you hear “Shinano,” many may know its name as a unique ship that was changed from a battleship to an aircraft carrier. Now, that “phantom aircraft carrier” has appeared in the “Chibimaru” series. Contrary to its cute form, this kit, packed with historical background and structural detail, is not just a simple deformed model. The bottom of the hull is shared with the Yamato-class, but the parts for the sides, flight deck, and bridge are all exclusive to Shinano, showing a serious commitment. It's a palm-sized romance that can be enjoyed by a wide range of people, from those interested in history to model-building beginners.

One of the charms of this kit is that it balances ease of assembly with a beautiful finished look. Parts such as the high-angle guns, smokestack, and base are integrated, and there are clever features throughout that minimize complex work while not compromising the visual completeness. The smokestack part, in particular, has the side and top as a single piece, which reduces the effort of assembly and also results in an excellent balance after completion. This makes it possible to enjoy in a short amount of time, and the sense of satisfaction upon finishing is exceptional.

The molded color of the hull is a deep green, designed to look good even without painting. Furthermore, some of the finer details on the sides and flight deck are faithfully reproduced with the included stickers. Attention has been paid not only to the markings but also to minute details like the mesh pattern of the Type 21 radar and the chrysanthemum crest on the bow. This thoughtful approach strikes a perfect balance, allowing beginners to easily take on the challenge while not taking away the fun of a meticulous finish for advanced builders.

The content of the genuine photo-etched parts is particularly noteworthy. Despite being a deformed model, it comes with realism-oriented parts like handrails, ladders, sights, and gun shields, offering a level of detail that is on par with standard ship models. At the same time, the design doesn't ruin the cute atmosphere of the overall kit, making it a rare item that lets you enjoy both the fun of a character model and the depth of a scale model. This wealth of detail multiplies the true pleasure of model building many times over.

The Shinano comes with three each of the Reppu and Ryusei, a sufficient configuration to recreate its stature as a carrier. The aircraft shapes have a cute deformation unique to the Chibimaru series, while still capturing the characteristics of each model, so you can enjoy displaying them on their own. The sight of the small carrier-based aircraft lined up on the deck is like watching a single play, and you're sure to be captivated.