This is a great aircraft carrier from Tamiya. The ship has a lot of detail for having small pieces. There was very little clean up on the parts. Some pieces were tricky to get in the right spot, but with enough patience it is possible. At some times, the directions were a little unclear, but it is nothing to worry about. The ship comes with the B-25 bomber in order to recreate the Doolittle Raid. I would recommend this to a more experienced modeler due to the size of the pieces.

The U.S.S. Hornet is out of in amazing shape. For a pro modeler she isn't to hard ( not the best for beginnings but possibly to build ) She comes with a few aircraft B-25 Micthell bombers to be exact. This remembers my of the Doolittle Raid , which to Summarize was when we out bombers in aircraft carriers because our normal planes ( TBD , F4F , ect. ) didn't have even fuel storage to make a bombing run to Japan and back to the Carriers about 400 miles away. The reason they were so far was because the Japanese guns would desstory any ships that got within a 400 mile range. Overall this carrier is amazing. The only thing I see wrong is that paint job can be chanllgeing but is possbily with extreme patients and a good steady hand . She is displayed beautiful at on my table with over ships at a WW2 model exhibit at the American Legion Hall in Rockville Center on Long Island. If your interesting in seeing her and others please call the director George at 516 - 668 - 3140 or the assistant Spencer at 516 - 632 - 0951 . *Note we are non profitable nor do we sell models and we love Hobbylinc and would never take business away *

In general I like Tamiya kits. This one lacks appeal. This waterline version is nice in that the black colored hull base eliminates having to paint a waterline. Maybe I'm not supposed to work on 1/700 scale! Just didn't enjoy this one.