The latest ships to be rendered in Takara's transverse cross-sectional format are these plastic, 1:700 scale IJN Agano-Class Cruisers, to be released this January. Intended to be sold in Japanese convenience stores, these Candy Toys are shipped in 9-piece Display Case Boxes. Since it takes three Unit Boxes to assemble a complete ship, the purchaser of a single case box will receive a total of three cruisers. Although each sealed unit box has cover art indicating the type of section that is inside, the collector CANNOT know which particular ship that section belongs to until the container is actually opened. Therefore, assembling a ship by randomly selecting unit boxes could result in mismatched sections.
There are four ships in this collection (three regular releases and one rare, limited-edition Chase Piece), which would match the total number of ships built in this class: 1) The Yahagi; 2) The Noshiro; 3) The Agano; and 4) The Sakawa (presumably the chase piece). Since a display case box contains three ships, it would be impossible to compile a complete set through the purchase of a single case.
Although these ships are ready-made, they are unfinished, and will require minor assembly of pre-painted detail parts that will need to be cut loose from a runner. Rising Sun Flags and placards for the display stands can also be cut out of the full-color assembly/information sheets included in each unit box.
Takara's cross-sectional models normally have cutaway features, but no promotional photos depicting this have been released yet.
Yahagi
Noshiro
Agano
