Here is my Type 97 Chi-Ha that I completed for the Japanese Imperial GB II. Stikpusher and I both built up the same kit and I think we seen the them in pretty much the same way. This was my first IJA tank and I’m looking forward to more of them.
The kit went together fantastic and I used Army painter black as a primer. The base and camo paints were Tamiya acrylic and I washed it with Abteilung brown with turpenoid and weathered with Mig and Vallejo pigments. I finished it with a fine dusting of mixed pigments then over sprayed with Vallejo matte. I was torn on how to approach the yellow line. My options were to paint it up nice and clean with an airbrush, but I took the liberty to think that these lines were hand painted in theatre, so I chose Tamiya flat yellow and after a few attempts at thinning it down, I finally got what I think is a hand painted look. I’m pretty satisfied with the weathering that gave it the appearance of a working tank thats seen action.
The Type 97 is a vintage Tamiya kit that was an absolute joy to build, and I used every part in the box. A rarity with todays kits.
Nice work there Jibber! That kit is really quite a fun one to build. I am pretty sure that the yellow lines were painted as you describe them in real life.
The yellow line was a later addition added after the tanks were in service as an identification to Japanese troops who were not familiar with tanks. Remember, Japan in WW2 was primarily a foot army.
The line were hand painted as were the camouflage pattern.
Very cool Jibber. I’ve often wanted to get my hands on the Tamiya late version with the 47mm. The camo scheme always seem to thwart my attempts though.
I was just researching the new Dragon Type 95 Ha-Go and I stumbled across some info on the Type 97 as well. Your buildup looks pretty good. Might have to add one of these to my stash. [Y]
Dirkpitt, try this kit. I’m finding that the old vintage Tamiya kits were really well done, timeless in fact. There are several ways to finish it off according to their theatre of operations. By the way I’ve read almost all of the Dirk Pitt novels, they deserve a series of movies. Thanks
Tigerman, go get yourself the Tamiya late 47mm Chi Ha. It is another fun simple build and the pattern is not that difficult todo. If you have a favorite brand for hand brushing, like I do with Humbrol, it will go easily enough. Airbrush on the tan base color, then do a disruptive scheme in the brown and green with the colors you feel work best for that. There was no official pattern, vehicles were painted individually so you can do as you please
It was for friendly identification for Japanese troops. The troops were not all that familiar with tanks so they had to have definitive visual identifiers so they didn’t attack their own tanks. One of Japan’s main forms of anti-tank warfare was the suicide assault with satchel charges so you don’t want your own troops killing themselves against their own tanks.
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