Japanese Type 3 Medium Tank "Chi-Nu"

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

FineMolds’s Japanese Type 3 Medium Tank “Chi-Nu” - by “PJ”:

There are more images in my latest page:

http://falconbbs.com/model71b.htm

Have fun!

2

One of my favorite genres of armor modeling; WW2 Japanese Imperial Army tanks. Such primitive armor at the time the world armies were making leaps in tank development.

3

Nice. Fun to see some different armor - like the Japanese stuff, too.

4

Nice one MM! PJ did a good job on it! Like Rob says, the Japanese were a few years behind in tank development during the war. The design looks akin to something from European countries in the early 40s

5

Hey MM, nice work there by PJ, I really like the mud splattered over the lower hull and running gear. Looks very realistic.

Basically it was an improved turret with a 75mm gun mounted on the proven Type 97 hull. Mechanically it was very reliable and fixed one of the main problems of the Type 97 - it’s weak 37/47mm main gun. It didn’t fix the other glaring defect- the extremely thin armour. It was the equivalent pretty much of a late Panzer IV and seems like it wouldn’t be that inferior to a Sherman or Cromwell. It would have been totally overmatched by a Pershing though. Somewhat over 200 were built and stockpiled for the invasion of the home islands so never saw combat.

6

Really nice build MM, I especially like the shading and weathering. Very nice.

7

MM put some sand on the figure, that would be cool. He’s to clean next to that working AFV.

8

Thanks much for all your kind comments, compliments and information about the tank. I really appreciate them! I think this is a good-looking tank compared to other Japanese WWII ones. “PJ” does a good job on almost anything now, but my main armor modeler is still “Art Instructor”. Today he delivered 6 new armors. Only one is WWII, the rest are modern ones. Expect to see these in a day or two:

  • Italeri’s Willy Jeep w/ M2 Machine Gun 1:24

  • Meng’s D9R Armored Bulldozer

  • Trumpeter’s MK23 MTVR Cargo Truck

  • Trumpeter’s M1078 (Armor Cab) + Voyager’s resin road wheels

  • Trumpeter Russian T-62 Model 1972

  • Panda’s Soviet Heavy Tank Object 279