Reviewed August 2022
by Martin J Quinn

Here's a snapshot of what Wikipedia has to say about the behemoth:  

"Yamato (大和) was the lead ship of her class of battleships built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) shortly before World War II. She and her sister ship, Musashi, were the heaviest and most powerfully armed battleships ever constructed, displacing 72,800 tonnes at full load and armed with nine 46 cm (18.1 in) Type 94 main guns, which were the largest guns ever mounted on a warship.

Named after the ancient Japanese Yamato Province, Yamato was designed to counter the numerically superior battleship fleet of the United States, Japan's main rival in the Pacific. She was laid down in 1937 and formally commissioned a week after the Pearl Harbor attack in late 1941. Throughout 1942, she served as the flagship of the Combined Fleet, and in June 1942 Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto directed the fleet from her bridge during the Battle of Midway, a disastrous defeat for Japan. Musashi took over as the Combined Fleet flagship in early 1943, and Yamato spent the rest of the year moving between the major Japanese naval bases of Truk and Kure in response to American threats. In December 1943, Yamato was torpedoed by an American submarine which necessitated repairs at Kure, where she would also be refitted with additional anti-aircraft guns and radar in early 1944. Although present at the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944, she played no part in the battle.

The only time Yamato fired her main guns at enemy surface targets was in October 1944, when she was sent to engage American forces invading the Philippines during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. While threatening to sink American troop transports, they encountered a light escort carrier group of the U.S. Navy's Task Force 77, "Taffy 3", in the Battle off Samar. The Japanese turned back after American air attacks convinced them they were engaging a powerful US carrier fleet.

During 1944, the balance of naval power in the Pacific decisively turned against Japan, and by early 1945, its fleet was much depleted and badly hobbled by critical fuel shortages in the home islands. In a desperate attempt to slow the Allied advance, Yamato was dispatched on a one-way mission to Okinawa in April 1945, with orders to beach herself and fight until destroyed, thus protecting the island. The task force was spotted south of Kyushu by US submarines and aircraft, and on 7 April 1945 she was sunk by American carrier-based bombers and torpedo bombers with the loss of most of her crew."

For more details on the design and history of Yamato, see her Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_battleship_Yamato.

The Gallery/MRC Yamato

As can be expected, due to her elevated status, Yamato has been offered many times in kit form, most recently with a 1/700 offering from Pontos.   The most popular scale for Yamato kits seems to be 1/700, but the kits have also been released in 1/500, 1/450, 1/350 and 1/200 scale.  

The Gallery/MRC 1/200 rendition of Yamato comes in a large (and I mean large) box.   On the cover there is a painting of Yamato at either sunset or sunrise, presumably preparing for her final mission.  Upon opening the lid, you'll find smaller boxes nested inside, with the instruction booklet and decals laid on top.   The largest of these boxes holds the hull, which is padded with foam at the bow and stern, and wrapped in clear plastic for protection.   The rest of the parts are apportioned off to different boxes, depending on shape and size.   All of the sprues are either in clear plastic bags or bubble wrap.  Many of the more delicate parts are wrapped again with thin white plastic for added protection. 

As you might expect with a 1/200 scale model, the hull is massive!  It's a two piece affair, almost 52 inches long and over 7 1/2 inches wide, which scales out pretty close to the real thing.   While the hull is split in two, it's already held together by large "U" shaped metal braces, which are, in turn, screwed into the sides of the hull.  The hull isn't exactly put together though - it's up to you to glue it together and clean up any seams. Which "seams" like it's going to be a chore.  

There is some fine detail molded into the hull, like the degaussing cable.  There is also hull plating present.  I don't find it to be too overstated, especially for this scale, but I've seen some complaints about this on the internet.  I think once paint is on, it will look fine.  

• ZA - Main Deck
• ZB - Aircraft handling deck
• ZC - Fo'c'sle
• ZD - Hangar deck/Boat Stowage

The rudders, struts (the shafts are metal, and in a separate bag), the scrollwork at the bow and stern and some parts for the boat stowage area (like the doors) are included on this sprue. 

 There are four aircraft included in the kit - two Mitsubishi F1M "Petes" and two Aichi E13A "Jakes" - both in clear plastic.  These are some of the nicest clear plastic aircraft I've seen, with nice panel lines.  

There are a whopping 14 photo-etch frets included in the model!   There are railings (galore), vertical ladders, inclined ladders, funnel cap, aircraft handling crane, radars, cable reels, braces, lattice support columns, boat props, aircraft trolley rails and bridge windows (and more).   It all looks nicely done and is quite extensive. While there are after market upgrade sets in the pipeline, I think most modelers will be happy with what comes in the kit.  

There are two small decal sheets included.  One is for the aircraft, the other for the ship.  The latter includes the markings for the funnels and the banners Yamato carried on her last mission.  They'll do the job, but the do appear to be a little on the thick side. 

The kit includes a 92 page instruction booklet, in which the model, interestingly enough, is never called by it's name.  It's referred to as "Battleship [No.1]".  The instructions are similar to what we've seen from Gallery/HobbyBoss/Merit/Trumpeter in the past, with exploded view diagrams showing you where everything goes, over 117 different steps.   There are two painting and marking guides included in the kit - a large one that comes folded, and a smaller 8 1/2 by 11 sized version, that is printed on a heavier paper stock.   These refer the modeler to paints from Mr. Hobby, Vallejo, Model Master and others in the instructions.  

I have seen some comments on the internet, knocking the kit over its accuracy.  I can't speak to that, as, comparing it to photos and line drawings, it looks like the Yamato.  I think most modelers will be satisfied with what's in the box.  The only real drawback is the price point:  the kit retails for $829.99.  That's a big chunk of someone's modeling budget. I think that this kit, due to the size and especially the price, will mostly appeal to hardcore IJN fans and Yamato-aholics.  

Overall, I am impressed with what I've seen, and would definitely recommend this kit to the aforementioned IJN/Yamato fans, battleship fans, or anyone who's looking for big project to keep them busy for a few months.  This is Gallery Models/MRC's 1:200 Battleship Yamato, kit number 64010.  As mentioned above, it retails for $829.99. The model is available directly from Model Rectifier Corporation, or from many of our fine sponsors.   Many thanks to MRC for the review sample! 

This is an review of the box contents only.  Your mileage may vary, once you start construction.