IJA Type 1 Chi-He

**PacificWind** · #1 05-25-2019, 02:22 PM

Here's my new Pacific War-themed project. As you see in the title it's Type 1 Chi-He, Japanese WWII medium tank.
IJA & IJN vehicles have always been my favorite subject so I'll try to do my best with this tank.

Model is based on 1/87 design from Czech ABC.

However, I've made some modifications. Original scale was too small for me so I enlarged it a bit. I didn't calculate the scale but the difference is not huge. Looking at the lenght of the hull, it's maybe 1cm longer.
Also, I slightly changed the colors of the camouflage.

Ok, first progress in the attachments.

**rockpaperscissor** · #2 05-25-2019, 05:04 PM

Looking good so far. Nice, clean work. 1/72 is about as small as I go with armor, although I prefer 1/50: small enough to be seen clearly, but usually with fewer parts than 1/25 kits so I'm likely to finish the model before boredom sets in and something else catches my eye.

**Vinalssergio155** · #3 05-25-2019, 06:32 PM

Don said it, looks very good Kacper. I do not know if I cheer with an armored on another scale that is not 1/50, smaller it is difficult to manipulate, bigger I think it would saturate me and lose interest. Of course love to see buildings on other scales.

**PacificWind** · #4 05-26-2019, 11:38 AM

Here's the small update.
I didn't have much time for Chi-He today but at least I've installed the fenders.

**PacificWind** · #5 05-28-2019, 10:57 AM

Today I finished the track system.
Chi-He should be completed before Sunday. There's not much work left.

**PacificWind** · #6 05-29-2019, 10:07 AM

Working on turret right now...

**PacificWind** · #7 05-29-2019, 04:53 PM

Almost done. I just have to put a varnish on it.
Chi-He will be probably finished tomorrow but I may be unable to take photos until I get a new lamp. The one I used for many years seized up a couple days ago.

Anyway, here's a little teaser.

**rockpaperscissor** · #8 05-30-2019, 05:41 AM

Looks good. Straight and true. Nice work.

**PacificWind** · #9 05-30-2019, 12:34 PM

Done!
Thankfully I've found a flashlight with magnet. Sometimes it's worth to check our drawers and tool boxes.

Ok, let's go back to Chi-He...
Model was really enjoyable, nicely designed. As I said before, I resized(to 1/72; measured today) and repainted it. What's more, I had to make headlights from scratch because they were not included in ABC kit.

Another unusual thing I did on this tank is the edge coloring... With gunmetal/steel acrylic paint...
Colors of this Japanese camouflage are probably unobtainable.
Initially, I had painted some edges brown and green but they looked awful. Paints totally didn't match. Then, an idea with gunmetal/steel came to my mind. Something like a scratched paint imitation.

And just a few words about photos...
My old favorite "Pacific background" but this time, with new terrain.