Taiho
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The Taiho (大鵬 Taihō, lit. Dapeng) is a fictional mobile missile launcher operated by the Japan Defense Force in the 2001 Toho Godzilla film Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack.
Development
The Taiho was designed by special effects assistant Isao Takahashi. One 1/10 scale and two 1/25 scale models were built by Japanese special effects modeling studio Beagle based on artwork by Takahashi.[1][4] The Taiho's design is based on the BM-30 Smerch, a Soviet-built self-propelled multiple rocket launcher.[5][6] Beagle's founder, Atsushi Hagiwara, handled the miniature production, commenting, "The primary material consists of laser-cut MDF — a type of engineered wood board. Since the prop was destined to be blown up during filming, we deliberately avoided materials like acrylic to ensure it would shatter easily. The most challenging part was the large-scale tires. As no suitable off-the-shelf products were available, we fabricated them by laminating laser-cut parts; we then created silicone molds and mass-produced the tires by casting them in a rubber-based urethane resin." Both 1/10 and 1/25 scale models had built-in lights, turrets that could rotate and maneuver vertically, and a Defense Force soldier seated in the driver's seat.[1].The 1/25 scale miniatures were destroyed during filming of the scene where Godzilla decimated the Defense Force in Yokohama.[4]
Years later, sometime before 2022, art assistant Kohei Sugiyama, who worked on GMK, rebuilt a Taiho using broken parts from the 1/25 scale models. Parts that weren't available, such as the driver's cab, were newly constructed. The turret of Sugiyama's Taiho can rotate and lift up and down just like the original props. Sugiyama's Taiho measures 42.5 cm long, 16 cm tall (25 cm with turret raised), and 16.5 cm wide. The only remaining original Taiho prop is the turret of the 1/10 scale miniature, which measures approximately 117 cm long, 30 cm wide, and 13.5 cm thick.[4]
History
Millennium era
Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack
The morning after an earthquake 10 miles south of Mount Myoko caused a massive landslide, D-03 Missiles were fired into rubble blocking a collapsed roadway tunnel by a Taiho missile launcher in an effort to facilitate the search for survivors.
Much later, as the battle between Godzilla and the two Guardian Monsters Mothra and Ghidorah raged in Yokohama, the Japan Defense Force assisted the two guardians in their fight, deploying multiple Taiho along with several ground and infantry units. After Mothra and Ghidorah were subdued by Godzilla, Rear Admiral Taizo Tachibana gave the order to counterattack. The Taiho, along with the cruisers Aizu and Ako, fired their D-03s at the demonic beast; however, the warheads failed to penetrate Godzilla's thick hide. The monster retaliated with atomic breath, destroying most of the ground forces and Ako in response.
Capabilities
D-03 Missiles
The Taiho is designed to launch D-03 Missiles and can be armed with up to two of them.
Gallery
Screenshots
Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack
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A Taiho preparing to launch a D-03 Missile -
A Taiho in Yokohama
Post-production
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Art assistant Yosei Sugiyama's Taiho on display -
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Merchandise
Toys
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Cast Taiho + D-03 Missile
See also
References
This is a list of references for Taiho. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]
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Bibliography
- Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack Completion. Hobby Japan. 31 March 2022. ISBN 978-4798627793.
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