Okay I finally finished something. Amusing’s 1/35th Ho-Ri Type 5 tank destroyer. This was a prototype where the Imperial Army mated a 105mm anti-aircraft gun to a limited tranverse assault gun mounting on a experimental Type 5 medium tank.
I wasn’t able to find much information on the vehicle. At least one plywood mock-up was built. One website claimed the Japanese started work on five vehicles which reached about 50% completion before the war ended. In any case none were finished and none saw action.
The plywood mock-up. As close as we got to the real thing:
Very nice work Gamera. I was going to ask if you were working on a project and now I know. Your diorama is the way I hope to display my ONTOS. Again very nice!
Harold: Thanks! I wish I could work on one project- I might get something done instead of scattering myself with a dozen things at one time! You’re better off concentrating on the ONTOS.
The base is pretty simple, just a wooden plaque from the craft store. I put some Durham’s water putty on the top, made some ruts with a model wagon wheel, and then pressed the tank down in it to make track marks. Then I painted it when dry with cheap 99 cent craft store paints and added some static grass. The trees were a bit more work.
Bill: Thanks! Not sure I want to tackle building something that elaborate! Plus being over forty tons trying to cross it might not go so well for the vehicle… [:(]
You did a magnificent job on this kit. The vehicle’s camouflage looks great. I like the dusty weathered look of the lower hull. The figures came out very good and I like the Cherry Blossom tree. It looks like its heading to where the Japanese thought the invasion beaches might be in 1945.
Gams, I looked at the few drawings I could find of the thing. One shows a 37mm gun mounted in the glacis plate, which has a slightly steeper angle as a result. That would be a good kit mod.
Bill: This version seems to be what some people have termed the Ho-Ri III even though Amusing labels it a Ho-Ri I. The III seems to be a simplified version of the I omitting some features like the 37mm gun to get it in production faster.
I agree it would be interesting to try to kit-bash the I. Amusing just came out with a model of the Ho-Ri II, I’ve ordered one from HLJ and it’s on it’s way now.
