Japanese Armor

3212 views

29 replies

J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Japanese Armor

Posted by J-Hulk on Monday, March 17, 2003 8:10 PM

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!!

~Brian

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 17, 2003 8:32 PM

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.

Reply
Edit

J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Monday, March 17, 2003 9:07 PM

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.

~Brian

djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 1:41 AM

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...

J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 1:51 AM

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!

~Brian

djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 3:13 AM

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!)

Tongue [: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

djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 3:23 AM

And here's the Kurogane staff car... It's about 3cm long.

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 6:45 AM

what brand makes that armored car/ tank? on the track it is cool.

Reply
Edit

djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 7:50 AM

Hi Juniormodeler,

the company that produce that a/c is called SMA (Scale Model Accessories); here's a link to their website...

http://www.smal.sageweb.co.uk

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...

Rob Gronovius

Member since
December 2002
From: Fort Knox

Posted by Rob Gronovius on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 5:43 PM

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.

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 7:10 PM

I did a Chi-ha about 20 years ago (or more) don't remember who made it but i do remember it was fun.

Reply
Edit

Buddho

Member since
March 2003
From: Newport News VA

Posted by Buddho on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 7:33 PM

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....

Rob Gronovius

Member since
December 2002
From: Fort Knox

Posted by Rob Gronovius on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 9:19 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by claymore68

I did a Chi-ha about 20 years ago (or more) don't remember who made it but i do remember it was fun.

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.

Model Maniac

Member since
February 2003
From: Thailand

Posted by Model Maniac on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 12:58 AM

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:

http://www.geocities.com/~falconbbs/modelcnt.htm

Impressive Songs:

All 10 Playlists that I created on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/ModelManiacThailand/playlists

Pan Flute Music (300 songs) (Most Popular, over 100K views):

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUNb2zPxGTZO7alagEPsEMzgBkWt4-vKV

El Condor Pasa (Top 50) (World's most famous and my most favorite song):

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUNb2zPxGTZOLKHbju350mLle4HkMhsb8

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 1:15 AM

I was just on ebay and they have a LOT of Japanese armour incl. Tamiya, Fine Molds and others.

Reply
Edit

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 20, 2003 9:51 PM

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

Reply
Edit

J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Thursday, March 20, 2003 9:51 PM

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

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!

~Brian

djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Friday, March 21, 2003 1:22 AM

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

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 22, 2003 8:11 AM

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.

Reply
Edit

J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Monday, March 24, 2003 9:26 PM

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.

~Brian

djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 1:43 AM

Did not know it was experimental but it did look great. I saw it a long time ago in a Tamiya catalogue, but I've never been able to remember which one it was. What issue of this Armour Modeling mag is this, J-Hulk... I'm VERY interested!

J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 2:38 AM

I'll check it out tonight and get back to you.

~Brian

J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 10:01 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by djmodels1999

Did not know it was experimental but it did look great. I saw it a long time ago in a Tamiya catalogue, but I've never been able to remember which one it was. What issue of this Armour Modeling mag is this, J-Hulk... I'm VERY interested!

Checked it out. I was wrong! Issue #18 (JSDF special) featured a Type 61 with "Fuji Summer Camouflage," a light-green / dark-green / beige splinter pattern that was one of four experimental camouflages tested in the late 70's. The article described another pattern that featured the upper surfaces done in blue! No mention of the lozenge, but I suspect it was one of the four designs tested.
I scoured my other resources, but I couldn't find any reference to the lozenge pattern! Where did I see that...

~Brian

djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Wednesday, March 26, 2003 1:46 AM

That's still good to know..! I'm gonna hunt this issue down. Thanks a lot for the tip. Mmmm... by the way, can you give me a tip about any places in Japan I could order the kit from? It's not available here...

J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Wednesday, March 26, 2003 2:44 AM

Is there no distributor for Fujimi in the UK?
I'll ask the shop owners I know here.

~Brian

djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Wednesday, March 26, 2003 4:43 AM

Hannants, who have pretty much everything, do not carry it. I think Fujimi is imported in Europe via Germany, and some kits might not make it to the UK (let alone to Germany!)

J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Wednesday, March 26, 2003 7:27 PM

Talked to my boys at Mammut and Hobix, but they only do domestic mail order business.
I don't do much net surfing, but surely there must be a Fujimi connection there somewhere.

~Brian

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 26, 2003 7:56 PM

You should try playing battlefeild 1942 it has alot of jap. veicles

Reply
Edit

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 2, 2003 5:01 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by djmodels1999

That's still good to know..! I'm gonna hunt this issue down. Thanks a lot for the tip. Mmmm... by the way, can you give me a tip about any places in Japan I could order the kit from? It's not available here...

Hobbylink Japan or RainbowTen are two sites in Japan that carry a full range of Japanese kits. Service is great from both.

http://www.hlj.com/
http://www.rainbowten.co.jp/english/

Find more on the links pages of www.ipmsoc.org

Reply
Edit

djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Thursday, April 3, 2003 12:50 AM

Thanks for the tip, James!

FREE NEWSLETTER

By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.

THE MAGAZINE

CONTACT US

RECENT ARTICLES

POPULAR TOPICS

RECENT REVIEWS

POPULAR TOPICS

RECENT REVIEWS

POPULAR TOPICS

RECENT VIDEOS

POPULAR TOPICS

RECENT THREADS

CATEGORIES

NEW PRODUCTS

OUR STORE

CURRENT ISSUE

SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Japanese Armor