IJA Type 97 Chi-Ha Late Saipan
Barcode: 0 89195 87397 2
Packaging: 48 Pieces per carton
Box Size: 6.4" x 10.2" x 1.9"
Brand New Tooling!!!
Features:
- Newly tooled IJA Type 97 delicately
produced
- New sprocket wheels w/breathtaking details
- New idler wheels and road wheels accurately produced
- Sharply produced on-vehicle tools
- Hollow exhaust pipe w/photo-etched exhaust cover
- Intricate cooling grill included
- Upper hull w/rivet detail molded on
- Slide-molded lower hull molded w/details
- Realistic 57mm Type 97 gun and two 7.7mm Type 97 MGs included
- Cupola can be assembled open/closed
- Rear hull details accurately produced
Dragon recently came up with the first of some scintillating new
subjects in its series of 1/72 scale plastic kits. The first item was a
Japanese Type 95 Ha-Go light tank, and now another Japanese subject is
added to the collection. The addition is a Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tank,
Japan’s most widely produced medium tank of WWII. Boasting a
short-barreled 57mm main gun and two Type 97 machine guns, this tank
was intended to serve as an up-scaled version of the Type 95 for
infantry support. Armor protection was modest on this vehicle built
mainly by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. A total of 2,123 tanks were
built from 1938-43, although 930 of these were of the improved Type 97
Kai version featuring a higher-velocity 47mm gun. The tank could move
at a speed of 38km/h.
Dragon’s 1/72 scale model shows such a Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tank. Like
the preceding Ha-Go light tank (#7394), this model makes wide use of
slide-mold technology. The lower hull, for instance, is made as one
piece with all details molded on. The same goes for the intricate
slide-molded turret. To ensure easy and accurate assembly, the upper
hull comes as a single piece too. The DS track runs on idler wheels,
return rollers and 1st and 6th road wheels that are all slide-molded.
Slide molds also enable the main cannon and machine gun muzzles to be
hollow. Finally, a photo-etched part is provided for the muffler.
Modelers will be delighted with Dragon’s rendition of this widely used
Japanese medium tank!
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