Tamiya 35168 - 1:35 JDF Type 74 Tank Winter Version

1:35 plastic model kit of the Japanese Type 74 main battle tank, winter version

Thanks to its hydropneumatic suspension, the Type 74 could kneel or tilt its hull to suit uneven ground – a genuinely useful feature in mountainous Japan. Tamiya 35168 presents it as a winter release in 1:35 scale, using a 1979 mould in a 1993 boxing.

What sets this kit apart is its figure content: a crew in winter uniform, additional figures in standard uniform and a set of skis, allowing a winter training scene of the Self-Defense Forces to be built. Vinyl belt tracks simplify the running gear, and the decal sheet covers four units.

What’s in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, turret and equipment parts
• Vinyl belt tracks
• Crew figures in winter uniform plus additional figures in standard uniform
• Skis for the crew
• Waterslide decal sheet for 4 marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35168
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled model length: 266 mm
• Skill level: beginner

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

Building the model:

The tank itself goes together quickly and without complications – the parts fit well and the vinyl belt tracks close the running gear without any link-by-link work. The figures offer the most rewarding work: painting them separately, off the model, and using the skis and winter clothing to build a readable scene is well worth the effort.

Japan Self-Defense Force tanks were finished in dark olive green and brown tones; the instructions give paint codes for each option. Applying decals over a gloss coat is recommended to reduce silvering, and a matt varnish suits the final finish. For a winter setting, a light wash and pigments suggesting slush and mud on the lower hull and tracks work particularly well.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Hobby 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 a range of sizes, including fine ones for figures
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to accentuate details and recesses
• Optional: pigments for mud and dust effects

About the vehicle – Type 74:

The Type 74 was designed as the successor to the Type 61 and entered service in 1974. It received a licence-built 105 mm L7A1 gun – the standard weapon of Western tanks of the period – along with a modern fire control system including a laser rangefinder.

Its most distinctive feature was the hydropneumatic suspension, which allowed the ground clearance to be varied and the hull to be tilted forwards, backwards and sideways. This let the tank fire from positions where conventional suspension would have limited gun elevation and depression – a particularly valuable capability in Japan’s hilly and broken terrain.

For decades the Type 74 formed the core of Japan’s armoured forces, including units based on Hokkaido, where winter exercises in deep snow were routine. It was gradually replaced by the more modern Type 90.

Original vehicle specifications (Type 74):

• Length: approx. 9.42 m (gun forward)
• Width: approx. 3.18 m
• Combat weight: approx. 38 t
• Crew: 4
• Main armament: 105 mm L7A1 gun
• Powerplant: Mitsubishi diesel engine, 720 hp
• Suspension: hydropneumatic, with adjustable ground clearance and hull attitude
• Top speed: approx. 50 km/h
• Entered service: 1974
• Operator: Japan Self-Defense Forces

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. The company originally traded in timber and moved on to wooden models in the late 1940s. Its first plastic model kit appeared in 1960, and two years later came its first 1:35 tank – the scale that, thanks to Tamiya, became the worldwide standard for military modelling. The brand is known for precise injection moulds, outstanding parts fit and clear instructions, which is why its kits are equally popular with beginners and experienced modellers. The Military Miniature Series, to which this kit belongs, runs to hundreds of releases covering vehicles, artillery and figures from around the world. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling accessories: paints, cements, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.