Tamiya 60737 - 1:72 Aichi M6A1 Seiran

Plastic model kit of the Aichi M6A1 Seiran floatplane in 1:72 scale

Tamiya 60737 depicts one of the most unusual aircraft of the Second World War – the Aichi M6A1 Seiran, a Japanese carrier floatplane designed specifically to be launched by catapult from the enormous I-400 class submarines. The machine was intended to penetrate deep into enemy territory and carry out surprise bombing attacks.

This new-tool Tamiya model faithfully captures the aircraft's slim shape, with its liquid-cooled inverted-vee engine, two floats and underside bomb. The box includes two windscreen options, a beaching trolley and decals to mark the aircraft as one of six tactical numbers of the 631st Kokutai of 1944.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with fuselage, wing and tail parts
• Two floats with a metal weight (fitted inside one float)
• 800 kg underside bomb with detailed fins
• Beaching trolley for displaying the model on a base
• Two windscreen options (with telescopic sight or standard)
• Clear parts for the long canopy and a polycap for the propeller
• Boarding ladder and pitot tube
• Waterslide decal sheet for 6 tactical numbers of the 631st Kokutai (1944)
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Item number: 60737
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: approx. 162 mm, wingspan: approx. 170 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate

Note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

As a Tamiya-tooled kit it features good parts fit, making it approachable even for less experienced modellers. Remember to fit the metal weight inside the indicated float and to install the polycap that lets the propeller rotate. The beaching trolley is made up of a number of small parts, so precision tweezers and patience will help during its assembly. The elaborate, multi-framed canopy is easier to paint with self-adhesive masks.

The typical 631st Kokutai scheme is Imperial Japanese Navy dark green on the upper surfaces (e.g. Tamiya XF-11 J.N. Green) over a light grey underside (e.g. Tamiya XF-12 J.N. Grey), with yellow wing leading edges. Lay the decals over a gloss coat to avoid silvering, then finish with a satin varnish. The instructions provide Tamiya paint references.

Tools you'll need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for cleaning up sprue-gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Brushes of various sizes and modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Panel-line wash to emphasise detail and recesses
• Gloss varnish for the decals and a satin coat to finish
• Optional: self-adhesive canopy masks

About the aircraft – Aichi M6A1 Seiran:

The Seiran (Japanese for 'clear sky storm' / mountain haze) was the fruit of an unusual Japanese Navy concept: a fleet of giant I-400 class submarines, each able to carry several folded floatplanes in a watertight hangar. After surfacing the aircraft were unfolded, launched from a catapult and recovered from the sea after the mission.

The machine was meant to carry out a surprise bombing strike against strategically important targets, with an attack on the Panama Canal among the options considered. The war ended, however, before the Seirans saw action – most of the few built were scuttled by their own crews. A single example survives today, preserved in the Smithsonian collection.

Original aircraft specifications (Aichi M6A1 Seiran):

• Length: 11.64 m
• Wingspan: 12.26 m
• Height: 4.58 m
• Empty weight: approx. 3,300 kg
• Powerplant: Aichi Atsuta 32 inverted-vee engine (liquid-cooled), approx. 1,400 hp
• Max speed: approx. 475 km/h
• Armament: one bomb or torpedo up to 800 kg; one 13 mm machine gun (rear gunner)
• Crew: 2
• Production: approx. 28 aircraft (incl. prototypes)

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 in Shizuoka, regarded as the heart of Japan's model-making industry. It launched its first injection-moulded plastic kit in 1960 and soon set a global benchmark for quality thanks to precise tooling and excellent parts fit. Tamiya's own-tooled kits are popular with beginners and experienced modellers alike, combining accurate detail with thoughtfully engineered, enjoyable assembly. Beyond plastic kits in many scales, the company offers a full range of accessories: paints, glues, tools and brushes. Tamiya operates in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable brands in the hobby.