• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Scale Modelling Now

Scale Modelling Techniques

  • HOME
  • CONTENTS
    • What’s New
    • MODELLING WORKSHOPS
    • Techniques Bank
    • Aircraft
    • Classic Kit Builds
    • Armour
    • Podcasts
    • Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Space
    • Vehicles
    • Maritime
    • Figures
    • Dioramas
    • Gift Certificate
    • Book Reviews
  • WHAT WE OFFER
  • AREAS
    • Techniques Bank
    • Aircraft
    • Armour
    • Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Space
    • Vehicles
    • Maritime
    • Dioramas
    • Figures
  • FREE SAMPLES
  • EVENTS
  • ABOUT
  • TRADERS
  • CONTACT
  • LOGIN

Airfix Type 97 Medium Tank Chi Ha 1:76

April 17, 2012 By

Review by: Geoff Coughlin (April 2012)

Price: £5.99

Our thanks to Airfix for supplying our review sample.

Background

The Type 97 Medium, known as the Chi Ha, was the main battle tank of the Imperial Japanese Army during WWII.

Entering service in 1937, the CHI-HA saw widespread service in China and the Pacific, but inadequate armour protection and the low velocity of its 57mm gun made it no match when it came up against Allied tanks.

To increase the effectiveness of the basic design, an improved version was built with a long-barrelled 47mm gun in a new turret; the tank being designated Type 97 Medium-Modified.

The CHI-HA was of riveted construction with a secondary armament of two 7.7mm machine guns. A crew of four was carried and the 170 hp V-12 diesel engine produced a road speed of 23.5 mph. A radio antenna was normally located round the turret top.

The Kit Moulding

10-hn-ar-airfix-type-97-medium-tank-chi-ha-1-76
11-hn-ar-airfix-type-97-medium-tank-chi-ha-1-76
2-hn-ar-airfix-type-97-medium-tank-chi-ha-1-76
3-hn-ar-airfix-type-97-medium-tank-chi-ha-1-76
4-hn-ar-airfix-type-97-medium-tank-chi-ha-1-76
5-hn-ar-airfix-type-97-medium-tank-chi-ha-1-76
6-hn-ar-airfix-type-97-medium-tank-chi-ha-1-76
7-hn-ar-airfix-type-97-medium-tank-chi-ha-1-76
8-hn-ar-airfix-type-97-medium-tank-chi-ha-1-76
9-hn-ar-airfix-type-97-medium-tank-chi-ha-1-76

When I saw this model, I thought ‘hmm, that looks new’ and on opening the box, sure enough the contents would suggest that this is so.

In fact, not so! The kit is in fact (incredibly) date stamped 1974!

Where’s all the flash? Heavy join gates on the sprues? Indifferent detail? You’ll be pleasantly surprised with what’s in this small box – a small model Type 97 for sure, but very finely moulded detail and very impressive for the scale; definitely worthy of the great box art on the outside!

The images above should show you what I mean, but look at the fine rail around the turret top as an example, or the fine grills on the rear decking…or the road wheel hub detail – it goes on.

Track Links…

These are very soft and pliable with decent detail and look like they will be straightforward to mould and attach to your model.

They look pretty fine to my eye, albeit with some flash around each link, but the only reasonable way to go in manufacturing terms in this scale.

The flash may prove to be a pain to remove if that needs to happen in the build, but depending on the degree of weathering you are planning that may not be necessary.

Instructions

A painting guide is provided on the back of the box and, although Humbrol colour references are given, the colours are named and this will help you to match the colours from your own source to complete your model authentically.

Decals

A tiny decal sheet is included with unit and vehicle markings.

Looking at the quality of this, you’re unlikely to have any problems putting it onto a glossy surface; matting down later of course and/or following your usual weathering processes.

To Conclude…

I am really impressed with what looks like a great little model.

I have no idea if this is in fact a re-release, an updated tooling or one bought in from another manufacturer and re-branded under the Airfix logo – who knows, but I don’t much care.

The fact is that you are getting a great little model that’s well detailed with minimal flash for a model dating back to 1974.

1:76 scale is still popular, thanks to the likes of Airfix and their range of AFVs, so this armour kit release is very welcome for that reason alone.

FEATURESTAR RATING (out of five)
Quality of moulding****
Accuracy***
Instructions****
Decals****
Subject choice****
Overall****

Recommended.

Geoff C.

Primary Sidebar

LOGIN/LOGOUT

Lost your Password?


armour-herenow-title
KITS | DECALS| RESIN and 3-D PRINTED | OTHER

BACK TO ARMOUR MAIN PAGE


Here Now Armour Kits In-Box Reviews

HN Armour

Academy
Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer Late Version 1:35
AFV Club
British CVR (T) FV107 Scimitar 1:35
Pak 43/41 “Scheuntor” 1:35
Tiger 1 – Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf.E Sd.Kfz. 181 "Final Version" 1:48
Airfix
Austin K.2/Y Ambulance 1:35
BAe Warrior (British Forces) 1:48
Bamboo House 1:32
British Forces Infantry Patrol 1:48
British Forces Vehicle Crew 1:48
British M3 Stuart ‘Honey’ 1:35 - VIDEO REVIEW
Cromwell Mk.IV 1:35
Cromwell Mk.VI 1:35
Czech Restaurant 1:72
D-Day Air Assault 1:72
D-Day Coastal Defence Fort 1:72
D-Day Gun Emplacement 1:72
D-Day Sea Assault 1:72
European City Fountain 1:72
European Four Storey Shop 1:76
European Town House 1:76
Frontier Checkpoint (German) 1:32
Italian Town House 1:76
King Tiger 1:35
LCM3 and Sherman 1:76
M3 Grant 1:35
M7 Priest 1:35
M12 GMC 1:35
M18 Hellcat GMC Tank Destroyer 1:35
Pzkw VI Ausf.b King Tiger 1:76
Polish Bank 1:72
Quad Bikes and Crew (British Forces) 1:48
Sherman Firefly Vc 1:72
Sturmpanzer IV Brummbär Mid Version 1.35
Supacat Jackal 1:48
Supacat Coyote 1:48
Type 97 Medium Tank Chi Ha 1:76
WMIK and Snatch Land Rovers 1:48
Blue Cat Models
Blue Cat Models Sd.Kfz.10 Demag Type D7 1:48
Border Model
Bronco
Versuchsflakwagen 8.8cm Flak 41 auf Sonderfahrgestell (Pz.Sfl.IVc) 1:3
Das Werk
Borgward IV Pz.Jg. Wanze 1:35
Faun L900 D567 & Tiefladeanhänger für Panzerkampfwagen Sonderanhänger 115 (Ds. Ah. 115)
Dragon
German Infantry Barbarossa 1941 1:35
Last Battle Austria 1945 1:35
M1A1 Abrams, USMC (Heavy Armour) 1:35
Smart Kit M3 75mm Gun Motor Carriage
Sherman 105 1:72
StuG IIIG 1:72
ZSU-23-4V1 Shilka 1:35
Great Wall Hobby
12.8cm K44 L/55 Anti tank Gun 1:35
German Infrared Night-Vision Devices – 2in1
German 3.7mm Flak 43 with SD.AH trailer 1:35
Krupp 12.8cm PAK44 High Velocity Anti-tank Gun 1:35
German WWII 20L Jerrycans (L3514)
German WWII 200L Oil Drums (L3513)
German WWII Maybach HL42 TRKMS Engine 1:35
German sWS with 2cm Flakvierling 1:35
German sWS Gepanzerte Ausfuerung 1:35
SWS 3.7cm flak43 (kit: L3516) plus PE detail set
Zundapp KS750 Motorcycle with sidecar 1:35
Hansa Systems
Ruined French Farmhouse 1:35
HobbyBoss
AAVP-7A1 w/EAKK 1:35
German VK1602 Leopard 1:35
KV-1 Ehkranami Russian Tank 1:48
Landrover Defender XD ‘Wolf’ W.M.I.K 1:35
M1070 Truck Tractor and M1000 Semi-Trailer
M26A1 Pershing Heavy Tank 1:35
Pz.Kpfw.VI Tiger I 1:16
Russian KV1 Model 1942 Lightweight Cast Tank 1:48th
Sd.Kfz 222 1:35
T34/85 Tank 1:48
Italeri
Autoblinda AB 43 1:48
Kfz 305 Opel Blitz 3ton truck 1:48
M24 Chaffee 1:35
Pz. Kpfw. V Panther Ausf. G 1:35
Schwerer Wehrmachtschlepper mitt Flak 43 1:35
Kingfisher Miniatures
Landrover Defender Wolf XD-110 Soft Top 1:76
Sankey .75 tonne Wide Track Trailer 1:76
Kit Form Services
FV1801 Austin Champ 1:24
Magic Factory
Air Defence System Iron Dome 1:35
Master Box
German Military Car Tourenwagen 1:35
German Panzer Grenadiers (1939-1942) 1:35
Rommel & German Tank Crew 1:35
Meng
AMX-30B2 Main Battle Tank 1:35
Merkava Mk.4M w.Trophy Active Protection System 1:35
T-90A Russian Main Battle Tank 1:35
MiniArt
German Tank Crew Normandy 1944 1:35
Su-85 Soviet Self Propelled Gun Interior Set 1:35
ModelCollect
Flak 40 120mm Zwillingsflak with E-100 Hull 1:72
Russian T-90MS (Tagile) Main Battle Tank 1:72
Platoon/Pegaso Models
German Tanker 1:35
Panzer Crewman 1:35
ResiCast
A34 Comet tank 1:35
Revell
ANZAC Infantry 1:76
ATF Dingo 2 GE A2 PatSi 1:35
Australian Infantry WWII 1:72
Bergepanther Sd.Kfz 179 1:35 – kit review
BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle Kit 1:35
Biber and Dingo 1 1:72
British Infantry WWII 1:32
British 4X4 Off-Road Vehicle (Land Rover) Series III 109 LWB 1:35
Challenger I 1:72
Cromwell Mk.IV 1:72
Dingo 2 GE A3.3 PatSi Kit Ref: 03242 1:35
German Africa Corps WWII 1:76
German Command Armoured Vehicle Sd.Kfz.247 Ausf B 1:35
German Half Track L4500R, Maultier 1:35
German Infantry WWII 1:32
German Staff Car “G4” 1:35
German Truck V3000 S 1:35
GTK Boxer (GTFz) 1:35
Henschel Typ 33 D1 1:35
Japanese Infantry WWII 1:72
Japanese Infantry WWII 1:76
LKW 2t. tmil gl Unimog, 1.35
Leclerc T5 1:72
Leopard I 1:35
Leopard 2A4 / A4NL 1:35
Leopard 2A5/A5NL 1:72
Leopard 2A6 / A6M 1:35
Leopard 2A6/A6M 1:72
M48A2 / A2C 1:35
M48A2 GA2 1:35
PT-76B 1:72
Russian Battle Tank T-90A 1:72
Russian T-90 Battle Tank 1:72
Scud B 1:72
Spähwagen Fennek 1:72
Strv 122A/122B Swedish Leopard 2 1:72
Sturmpanzer 38t, ‘Grille’ Ausf.M 1:72
21cm Mörser 18, 17 Kanone, sd. Kfz. 9 Famo 1:72
StuG 40 Ausf G 1:72
TPz 1 Fuchs A4 1:72
Trabant 601 Universal Car 1:24
Type 82E German Staff Car 1:35
US Infantry WWII 1:32
Warrior MCV 1:72
Wiesel 2 LeFlaSys Ozelot, AFF and BF/UF 1:35
Wiesel 2 LeFlaSys AFF 1:35
Wiesel 2 LeFlaSys Ozelot, AFF and BF/UF 1:35
WWI Infantry (1914) German, British and French 1:35
TAHK
German SS Tank Crew Summer 1940-45 1:35
Takom
Takom Merkava Mk.2B 1:35
Tamiya
British 10hp Light Utility Car
British 25 PDR Field Gun & Quad Gun Tractor 1:35
British Crusader Mk.I & II Tank 1:35
British Sherman VC Firefly with 6 Figures 1:35
British Valentine Mk.II/IV Infantry Tank Mk.III 1:35
Centaur C.S. Mk.IV – British Cruiser tank Mk.VIII, A27L 1:35
Cromwell Mk.IV Cruiser Tank Mk.VIII/A27M
German Tank Destroyer Jagdpanther [late version] 1:48
JS-3 Stalin Heavy Tank 1:35
L6/40 Italian Light Tank 1:35
Marder III 1:48
Panzer II Ausf. C (Polish Campaign) Kit No: 299.
Panzerjager ‘Jagdtiger’ Sd, Kfz.186 (Fruhe) Production 1:48
Panther Ausf D 1:35
Russian 1.5ton Cargo Truck, 1941 1:48
SAS Land Rover ‘Pink Panther’ 1:35
Sturmgeschutz III Ausf. G 'Finnish Army' 1:35
Tiran 5 Medium Tank 1:35
Type 90 Tank – Japanese Ground Defence Force 1:35
US Modern 4×4 Utility Vehicle 'Cargo type' 1:48
WWI British Tank Mk.IV Male 1:35
Thunder Model
US Army Armored Tractor 1:35
Trumpeter
German E-50 Flakpanzer 1:35
M1130 Stryker Command Vehicle 1:35
Russian T-62 Mod 1972 1:35
Russian ASU-85 1:35
Soviet Armoured Aerosan NKL-26 1:35
Su 101 SPA 1:35
UM Models
Refueller BZ-38 1:48
Zvedza
Mercedes-Benz L 4500 A WWII German Heavy Truck
T-90 Russian Main Battle Tank 1:35
Volkssturm Berlin 1945 1:35

Copyright © 2023 · Scale Modelling Now · Online Scale Modelling Magazine · Scale Modelling Techniques and Tips · Privacy Policy