Japan’s Type 97 Chi-Ha was first accepted for the IJA in 1937 though a few were used by the IJN marines. For the time it was superior to the Type 89 for which it was to replace. Construction was of rivet design and a ‘scissors’ bellcrank suspension. The main gun was a low velocity 57mm that at the time was considered adequate for anti-personal and bunkers for which the tank was originally designed. The Chi-Ha was one of the world’s first diesel powered tank put into production even before the famous Soviet T-34. Chi-Ha medium was the 2nd most produced tank in the Japanese arsenal with a total of 1,049 units made from 1938 until 1941. This tank was also the base for many specialty vehicles and future Japanese tank designs through the World War II period.The kit contains 166 parts of which 8 are poly caps, 2 for the tracks and 9 for the figures. Molding is still crisp after all these years and the detail that is there is very good. Compared to scale drawings in ‘Nihon no Sensha to Sookooji dosha’ printed by Panzer magazine the model dimensions are very accurate. Overall the fit of the kit is good with some putty needed on parts C1 and C3 that fit onto the hull. Considering the age of the kit the crew figures are actually done quite well. Tracks are the heat-welded type. Even 30 years ago if the big ‘T’ wanted to do the vehicle right it seems they had the ability.Drawbacks from the kit are many in detail areas. The main gun is in 2 pieces that distracts from the kit. There is no turned barrel available that I know of to replace it so careful sanding and fitting will be required. A main drawback of Tamiya kits even today is the lack of sponsons. This kit is no exception and there are 2 areas that this needs to be addressed. The lower hull is devoid of detail as are the areas for the fender support. Only real die-hard Japanese armor fans will need to fix this section. The most glaring detail however are the screens over the mufflers that should be replaced with the Eduard photo-etch set. Tracks are not bad but Fruilmodel and ModelKasten offer superior workable tracks.Markings for the tank are for the 1st Tank Regiment in Malaya, 1st Tank Regiment, Third Company in Japan proper, 8th Tank regiment Rabaul, 17th Tank Regiment, 34th Tank Regiment Manchuria and Chiba Tank School in Japan proper.This is the only 1/35th scale model available of the Japanese Chi-Ha to date. Even though the kit is over 30 years old it is a very good rendition. Adding workable tracks and photo-etch screens real can make this an exceptional model.This was service in Royal Thai Army during WWII they ware attack Shan state in the Northern of Thaiand, Modeler can make as the one service in Thai Army.
รถถังสเกล 1/35 Type 97 Chi Ha กองทัพบกไทย เคยบรรจุเข้าประจำการ และใช้บุกโจมตีเชียงตุง ในสมัยสงครามโลกครั้งที่ 2 ..
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