Meng ES010 - 1:35 Chinese ZTQ15 Light Tank with Cage Armor

Plastic model kit of the Chinese ZTQ-15 light tank with cage armour in 1:35 scale

Meng ES010 is a model kit of the Chinese ZTQ-15 (Type 15) light tank fitted with cage armour - screens mounted on the turret and hull that protect against shaped-charge warheads and, increasingly, against drone attack. The kit is a limited edition, packed in a distinctive burgundy box with gold printing.

The cages are reproduced in very fine photo-etched mesh, with the supporting framework supplemented by 3D-printed parts - an approach that yields clean, sharp frame detail impossible to achieve in injection moulding. The model features workable torsion bar suspension and individual link tracks.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, turret and equipment parts
• Fine photo-etched mesh reproducing the cage armour
• 3D-printed cage framework parts
• Individual link tracks
• Workable torsion bar suspension
• Decal sheet reproducing the digital camouflage scheme
• Illustrated instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Catalogue number: ES010
• Manufacturer: Meng
• Assembled model length: approx. 280 mm, width: approx. 92 mm
• Skill level: intermediate/advanced (photo-etched mesh, individual link tracks)

Note: Glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. This kit requires assembly.

Building the model:

The most demanding stage is assembling the cage armour - photo-etched mesh calls for patience, precision tweezers and cyanoacrylate glue. Bending the parts over a dedicated photo-etch bender or a straight hard edge is recommended, and it is worth fitting the cages only after painting the hull and turret, since access underneath is limited once they are in place. Individual link tracks are easiest to build in short runs, forming a natural sag over the return rollers.

The ZTQ-15 typically wears digital camouflage in greens, browns and greys, as well as plain green finishes. The instructions provide schemes with paint codes. A wash to bring out recesses and textures works well, finished with a matt coat as is standard for military vehicles. Dust and mud can be reproduced with pigments - the vehicle operates mainly in mountain and desert terrain.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for photo-etched and 3D-printed parts
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Photo-etch bender (recommended)
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Panel wash to bring out detail
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle - ZTQ-15 (Type 15):

The ZTQ-15, also known as the Type 15, is a Chinese light tank that entered service with the People's Liberation Army in the late 2010s. It was designed for theatres where heavy main battle tanks are ineffective or simply unusable: mountainous Tibet, ground with poor load-bearing capacity, regions with limited bridge infrastructure, and the jungles of southern China.

At around 35 tonnes it is far lighter than a main battle tank, and its new-generation powerplant retains high performance at altitude, where thin air drastically reduces diesel engine output. The ZTQ-15 remains combat effective on plateaus above 4500 m, making it one of very few tanks capable of operating at such heights.

Its main armament is a 105 mm rifled gun firing a range of ammunition types, including gun-launched anti-tank guided missiles. A remote weapon station with an automatic grenade launcher and a machine gun is mounted on the turret roof. Modular armour allows explosive reactive armour to be fitted, while a modern fire control system and onboard battle management system integrate the vehicle into China's networked battlefield concept. The tank serves with both the army and the marine corps.

Original vehicle specifications (ZTQ-15 / Type 15):

• Combat weight: approx. 35 t
• Crew: 3
• Main armament: 105 mm rifled gun (various ammunition types plus gun-launched anti-tank guided missiles)
• Secondary armament: remote weapon station with 30 mm automatic grenade launcher and machine gun
• Powerplant: new-generation diesel engine retaining performance at high altitude
• Maximum speed: close to 60 km/h, including on plateaus above 4500 m
• Armour: modular, with provision for explosive reactive armour and cage armour
• Operators: army and marine corps of the People's Liberation Army

About the manufacturer - Meng:

Meng is a Chinese model company founded around 2011 and based in Shenzhen. Within little more than a decade it has established itself as one of the leading producers of 1:35 armour kits, known for very precise moulds, well-thought-out engineering and a bold choice of subjects - from contemporary Chinese designs through Second World War classics to Israeli and Russian vehicles. The catalogue also covers aircraft, 1:700 warships, licensed 1:9 motorcycle kits and a humorous line of caricature models. Meng also develops its own range of accessories and modelling tools.