Hi folks!
Just wondering if anybody else out there is interested in Japanese armor. I rarely see any examples in FSM, but there are a wealth of kits out there and quite an interesting range of vehicles to model.
Perhaps because they weren’t exactly the most powerfully armed and armored vehicles in WWII, they tend to get overlooked, but the Chi-ha, Chi-he, and Chi-nus, as well as the tiny minitanks, are all quite interesting subjects. And no less powerful than Italian armor, which seems to get more attention!
My personal favorites are the postwar JSDF tanks: the Type 61, Type 74, and Type 90. All heavily influenced by foreign designs, but all enjoying an interesting distinction: they’ve never fired a shot in anger! Perfect subjects for the pacifistic armor afficionado.
Then there are the American Chaffees, Shermans, M-41s, M-42s, and others that Japan used after the war.
Plus a host of recovery vehicles, personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles…the list goes on.
Available kits include those by Tamiya, Fine Molds, Hasegawa (Dragon), and Trumpeter.
So, if you’re looking for something a little different to model, try some Japanese armor!!
i love japanese armor! i just cant find any kits. what were the names of them? the chi ha is one that i want to build i just have too many others laying arount though.
Tamiya makes a good Type 97 Chi-ha and Chi-ha Kai (later turret). With the Modelkasten link tracks and a bit o’ PE, it makes a beautiful Chi-ha.
Actually, the kit tracks aren’t too bad, but the Chi-ha tracks had quite a bit of sag, so links produce the best results.
All the Fine Molds kits are brilliant.
I like Japanese armor a lot too…! I’m rather fond of the pre-WWII and WWII stuff, in particular armoured cars, amphibious trucks and other oddities…
Here’s one I designed, then built for fun: Type 2592 Armoured Car, a Japanese pattern of the Vickers-Crossley M25. 1/76.
[:)]
Info is hard to find, though…
Nice, djmodels1999! I’m diggin’ the camo.
Ya ever seen that funky WWII Japanese amphib tank? Can’t recall the name, but it’s way funky. Looks like a boat with a turret, but the front and rear sections are removable. “Armour Modelling” featured a resin kit of it a while back.
I believe they were working on some kinda nutty airborne (I mean, like, with wings!) tank. Reckon they got none too far with that design!
I did the Su-Ki amphibious truck for SMA (here’s a pic, though I did not paint that particular model) but I haven’t done the amphibious tank (yet!).
(the a/c is the Indian pattern of the one shown above, by the way!)
[:p]
And here’s another one I designed, then built and painted for display:
And here it is again, built and painted by Pascal Danjou of France
I’ll try to find a few other pics of Japanese stuff I’ve done. What about you J-Hulk, any Japanese armor under your belt???
Domi
And here’s the Kurogane staff car… It’s about 3cm long.
[:)]
what brand makes that armored car/ tank? on the track it is cool.
Hi Juniormodeler,
the company that produce that a/c is called SMA (Scale Model Accessories); here’s a link to their website…
In order to add a pic, you need to reply through the ‘Reply to Topic’ button, not through the Quick Reply field. There’s the ‘how to’ in the General Announcement Forum…
Go to Hobbylink Japan (www.hlj.com) and they have the Fine Molds Japanese tanks. Superb kits. I had a friend in Japan send me one.
I forgot to specify, they have WW2 Japanese tanks. The one I have is the Type 3 Chi-Nu.
I did a Chi-ha about 20 years ago (or more) don’t remember who made it but i do remember it was fun.
I built a Chi Ha Type 97 Tank in 1/48 scale around 30 years ago. It came in a square box and had a painting on the front. I cant remember the model company’s name…
This would have to be Aurora of Hempstead, NY. They made some very nice (for the time) 1/48 scale kits like the M46 Patton, Panther, King Tiger, MBT70 (only kit of this tank), M109, M4A3E8, M30 Cargo Tractor, Stalin, Long Tom, 8" Howitzer, Centurion and of course the Japanese tank you built. I probably forgot one or two. Great train wreck ruined a lot of their molds on their way to the Monogram plant. Monogram has reissued the M4A3E8 and Panther in 1984. I loved their kits and have many of them still.
For modern Japanese armors, I have Type 90 MBT (by a Chinese company, not
Trumpeter) and JGSDF Type 89 IFV (by Trumpeter) on show on my site. Please
refer to my contents menu:
I was just on ebay and they have a LOT of Japanese armour incl. Tamiya, Fine Molds and others.
I’ve got an old Aurora Chi-HA kit. Scared to build it, it probably is wortha penny or two. Picked it up at a model show a long time ago. If I remember, it wasn’t too cheap nor too expensive
I’ll try to find a few other pics of Japanese stuff I’ve done. What about you J-Hulk, any Japanese armor under your belt???
Domi
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In 1/76 I’ve built the fantastic Fujimi 1/76 Type 61, 74, and 90 MBT.
In 1/35 i’ve built the Dragon M4A3E8 and MLRS (MRLS?), the Italeri M-24, Tamiya and AFV club M-41s, Tamiya Type 61, 74, and 90 MBT, and the Tamiya Type '97 Chi-ha.
I’ve also detailed up the Tokyo Marui R/C 1/24 Type 90 MBT .
And as soon as I take the time to figure out how, I’ll post some pix!
Did not know Fujimi had released the Type 61…! That’s the one that once had a ‘lozenge’ kind of camo, isnt’it !!! I have Tamiya’s Type 90 in my list of near future projects. Can’t wait for your pics
sweet site model maniac! do u know the guy who made that russian Katyusha i think… its awsome the rust on it is good to.
Yup, djmodels1999, Fujimi released a 1/76 Type 61 a couple of years ago. Like all their newer kits, it has great detail and link-and-length tracks.
There was an interesting lozenge type camo that was experimented with in the 70’s or maybe early 80’s, I think. There’s a good article on that in an issue of Armour Modeling about a year ago.