Back in Stock: Neptun 1210 Japanese Aircraft Carrier Shinano (1944) — 1/1250 Scale

The Neptun 1210 Japanese Aircraft Carrier Shinano is back in stock at Historia Emporium. This 1/1250 scale metal alloy model from Navis-Neptun features a historically accurate paint scheme and surface details.

Price: $142.95
SKU: NN1210
Scale: 1:1250
Manufacturer: Navis-Neptun
Material: Metal alloy

About the Model

This is a ready-made display model — no assembly or painting required. The Shinano is rendered with historically accurate surface details including armament, stacks, and masts. At 1:1250 scale, aircraft carriers of this era measure approximately 8–10 inches in length, making them well-suited for display shelves and collection cases.

As with all Navis-Neptun metal models, masts and other fine details are fragile and may require minor adjustment upon arrival. Each model is carefully packed for shipment.

Historical Context

Shinano holds a unique and somber place in naval history. Originally laid down as the third Yamato-class battleship in May 1940 at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, her construction was suspended after the Japanese defeat at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. With four fleet carriers lost at Midway, the Imperial Japanese Navy made the decision to convert Shinano's hull into an aircraft carrier.

Design and Conversion

The conversion produced the largest aircraft carrier in the world at the time of her completion. Displacing over 65,000 tons at full load, Shinano was built on the massive Yamato-class hull and retained heavy armor protection — an unusual feature for a carrier. She was not designed as a traditional fleet carrier with a large air group, but rather as a support carrier intended to serve as a floating base for other carriers' aircraft, carrying fuel, ammunition, and replacement planes.

Loss

Shinano was commissioned on November 19, 1944. Just ten days later, on November 29, she was struck by four torpedoes from the American submarine USS Archerfish while transiting from Yokosuka to Kure for final fitting out. Damage control efforts failed — many of her watertight compartments had not been properly sealed, and her crew, largely inexperienced, was unable to contain the flooding. She capsized and sank approximately seven hours after being hit, taking an estimated 1,435 of her crew with her.

Shinano remains the largest warship ever sunk by a submarine. Her operational life of ten days makes her one of the shortest-serving capital ships in naval history.

Significance

The story of Shinano reflects the broader trajectory of the Imperial Japanese Navy in the final year of the Pacific War — desperate measures taken too late, with inadequately trained crews and unfinished equipment pressed into service against an increasingly dominant American submarine force. By late 1944, Japan's ability to project naval power had effectively collapsed, and Shinano's loss underscored the futility of the situation.

Who It's For

This model will be of particular interest to collectors of 1:1250 scale warships, Pacific War naval enthusiasts, and anyone building a collection around the Imperial Japanese Navy or the Yamato-class ships. Navis-Neptun models are well-regarded among small-scale ship collectors for their detail and accuracy.

Order Information

This model is available for immediate shipment. Orders of $100 or more qualify for free domestic shipping.

Contact:
Historia Emporium - The History Store
Phone: 603-926-4422
Email: help@greathistorygifts.com
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