Dragon Models USA

Packaging: 12 pieces per master carton
Category: Japanese Antartica Observation Ship
# of Parts: 294

1/350 Antarctica Observation Ship SOYA "Antarctica Observation 1st Corps" (Bonus Special Guide Book "SOYA" and 1/350 Soft Metal Snow Car) ~ NEW TOOLING ~ Limited Edition

Brand new limited edition 1/350 ship with additional bonus items: Special guide book "SOYA" and a 1/350 scale soft metal snow car.

Features:

- 1/350 seaplane Cessna Type 180 [ 1 set ]
- 1/350 helicopter Bell 47G [ 2 sets ]
- Markings: Japan Coast Guard Antarctica Observation 1st Corps Departured November 8th, 1956
- Bonus guide book
- Bonus 1/350 soft metal snow car

About the SOYA Antarctica Observation Ship :
The vessel that eventually became the Japanese icebreaker ‘Soya’ was originally given the Russian name ‘Borochavets’, and it began its life built as part of an order for three such ships from the Soviet government to a Japanese shipyard in 1936.

Launched in February 1938, the ‘Borochavets’ was never delivered to her Soviet owners -- growing enmity between the Soviet Union and Japan prevented her from being handed over, and she was instead christened the ‘Chiryomaru’ in June 1938 and put into Japanese service. In 1940, the ship was rechristened ‘Soya’ when it was commissioned for special service by the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Miraculously surviving the World War II, the ship underwent substantial overhaul in 1956 to ready it for duties as a South Pole research vessel. It made six roundtrip voyages to the South Pole between 1956 and 1962. From 1962 until her decommissioning in 1978, the Soya saw service in Hokkaido as an icebreaker rescue ship.

Since May of 1979, it has been moored at the Museum of Maritime Science as part of its permanent exhibit.