Some actual armor (JGSDF) at the Shizuoka Hobby Show

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

Howdy all you JGSDF fans![:D]
Here’s a coupla pix of two JGSDF AFVs that were on display at the Shizuoka Hobby Show the other day.

This is the Light Armored Vehicle that is currently deployed in Iraq:

Tamiya also just released this vehicle in 1/35.

Next up is a Type 96 Wheeled Armored Vehicle (they calls 'em as they sees 'em!):

I’m not sure if the Type 96 is currently deployed in Iraq or not. Anybody know?

Mr. Tamiya was there looking at the vehicles, too. I asked him if there were plans to release the Type 96 in 1/35, and he just smiled and said he couldn’t say…he always says that!

Anyway, I thought ya’ll would enjoy some off-the-beaten-track armor for a change. [:D]

2

Thanks, Brian. Interesting stuff. Are the picture colors pretty close to the real deal?

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I want one of each (in 1/35)!!! The LAV is a very cool looking “armored car” and the Type 96 has some possibilities as well.

4

Looks like Mr Tamiya was smiling for a reason.
This is posted on Hobby Link Japan under the show post.

There are several other shots on the site.

5

Philp, can’t see the link, but what I saw over at HLJ was only the LAV, the release of which has been announced for a while now. Mr. Tamiya was smiling about the Type 96, which has not been announced. Is the Type 96 on the HLJ site, too? I didn’t see it.

Bill, you know I’m not good with colors, but I think those pix are pretty true.

6

Sorry about the link, it worked in the preview.
They just show pics of the LAV not the Type 96. The LAV looks really nice with the Iraq Humanitarian Assistance Unit set up. There are pics of the parts and interior as well.
Here is a link to the page
http://www3.hlj.com/shs/mil/index.html

7

Ah, that’s what I saw! Thanks for the link.
Philp, I misunderstood your post to mean that there was some indication on the HLJ site that the Type 96 was going to released by Tamiya, too (no indication, other than Mr. T’s smile!).
Now I get it!

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Buraian-sama:
a tardy welcome back from Tamiya-ville, & thanx 4 posting the pix !
glad u had a good trip… i wonder if the big T will do any 1/72 armor
now that other 1/35 manufacturers r testing the waters ?

do u think the JGSDF will have 2 come up w/ a new name now that
they r deploying 2 Iraq ? [;)]
then again, antiterrorism activities can be construed as a form of
preventive self-defense…

konnichi-wa !

frosty[:)]

9

Now thats’s cool. Just think the 1:1 at a show. Now if only that would catch on this side of the Pacific. Thanks for the pics Brian.

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Thanks for the pictures. I can’t wait to get my hands on that JGSDF light armored vehicle.!

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It’s a nice kit, that’s for sure!

Frosty-chan, hisashiburi!
Yeah, I suppose you could stretch helping to rebuild the Iraqi infrastructure and bringing relief to the people there as being “self defense” for Japan!
Believe me, the deployment is still very much a topic of hot debate here.

I doubt Tamiya will get into 1/72 armor…even the usual mini-tankers aren’t releasing anything these days (Fujimi, Hasegawa).

Of course, the 1/144 super-mini-tanks are all the rage!