Tamiya 35075 - 1:35 Japanese Medium Tank Type 97 Chi-Ha

1:35 plastic model kit of the Japanese Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tank

Tamiya 35075 depicts the Type 97 Chi-Ha – Japan's most important medium tank of the Second World War, a design created for conditions very different from those of the European battlefields. The model is produced from 1975 tooling.

The kit captures the tank's distinctive silhouette: the small one-man turret with its 57 mm gun, the riveted hull and the characteristic bell-crank suspension. Vinyl band tracks speed up work on the running gear. Two figures – one full figure and one bust – complete the kit, and a generous decal sheet allows you to represent the markings of at least six units.

What's in the box:

• Plastic parts for the hull, turret and fittings
• Vinyl band tracks
• Two figures: one full figure and one bust
• Waterslide decal sheet for at least six marking options – including the 1st, 8th, 17th and 34th tank regiments and the Chiba Tank School
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35075
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: approx. 158 mm
• Skill level: beginner

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

Its small size and simple construction make this a very approachable build – the model comes together quickly, and the vinyl band tracks spare you the tedium of assembling individual links. The road wheels are best painted before the tracks are fitted.

The main painting attraction is the Japanese multi-colour camouflage: patches of earth brown and green over an earth-yellow base, separated by light-coloured stripes. The scheme calls for patience, but the result is striking. A wash brings out the rivets and hull detail, while pigments on the tracks and running gear add realism. Decals are usually applied over a gloss coat to avoid silvering, with a matt varnish as the final finish.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Modelling knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to accentuate detail and recesses
• Optional: pigments for mud and dust effects

About the vehicle – Type 97 Chi-Ha:

The Japanese army designed its tanks with China and the Pacific islands in mind, not duels with heavily armoured opponents. The Type 97 Chi-Ha weighed around 15 tonnes, had armour up to 25 mm thick and was armed with a short 57 mm Type 97 gun intended mainly for infantry support and destroying fortifications.

Power came from a 170 hp Mitsubishi diesel – a choice ahead of its time, as diesel engines were then a rarity in tanks. The four-man crew worked from a cramped turret in which the commander also had to serve the gun.

The Chi-Ha performed well in China and in the early Pacific campaigns, where it encountered few enemy tanks. Clashes with American Shermans, however, exposed its limitations – armour that was too thin and a gun that was too weak. Even so, it remained Japan's most numerous tank of the war and the basis for an entire family of derivative vehicles.

Original vehicle specifications (Type 97 Chi-Ha):

• Length: approx. 5.5 m
• Width: approx. 2.3 m
• Height: approx. 2.2 m
• Combat weight: approx. 15 t
• Crew: 4
• Main armament: 57 mm Type 97 gun
• Powerplant: Mitsubishi diesel engine, 170 hp
• Armour: up to approx. 25 mm
• Role: Japan's standard medium tank of the Second World War

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. The company started out in the timber trade, but by the late 1940s it was producing wooden models, and in 1960 it released its first plastic model kit. Two years later came a 1:35 tank kit that established the worldwide standard scale for military modelling. The brand is known for precise injection moulds and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are chosen by beginners and experienced modellers alike. The Military Miniature Series, to which this Type 97 Chi-Ha belongs, runs to hundreds of items and is one of the most comprehensive catalogues of 1:35 military vehicles in the world. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of accessories: paints, glues, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries today and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.