An early 2024 release from Fine Molds depicting the air-cooled diesel variant of the IJA Type 89 medium tank.
This is partial text from the full article (usually with photos) at https://armorama.com/news/fine-molds-ija-type-89-medium-tank-otsu
This is partial text from the full article (usually with photos) at https://armorama.com/news/fine-molds-ija-type-89-medium-tank-otsu
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Another excellent IJA release from the people at FineMolds. This iconic tank operated everywhere in China. I’ll be adding this model to my IJA collection.
Curious as to whether this is the same as their girls and panzers kit? Would like to do one as a French Indochina one. Wayne
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This is the Type 89B I-Go Otsu, which is the later air cooled disel engine variant. It was more numerous (291) than the previous Type 89A I-Go Kō Gasoline version that only 119 were built and the one that is seen in Girls und Panzer. The engine deck seems to be the main difference. Fine Molds had a kit 41101 that had this series version. You can find the kit on E-Bay, but it may set you back around $80. HLJ has the non Girls und Panzer version, but it is on backorder.
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“Would like to do one as a French Indochina one. Wayne.”
Per my research, the Type 97 Ha-Go was the tank used in Indochina, and specifically the early version. If you know otherwise, please share your source(s).
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If you google japanese. tanks in Indochina there is a picture of French troops with one and also Type 95s I have the Girls und panzers kit, but was not sure what the differences were or which for sure were in Indochina. Wayne
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Difference between the Ko (left) and Otsu (right) versions can be seen here, courtsey of Finemolds homepage:
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The one used by the french in Indochina was the Ko version, this is the earlier Girl&Panzer kit made by Finemolds, notice the fuelcaps:
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The two Girls and Panzer kits (41101 and 41106) are the same kit as FM56, as far as I am aware. This new kit FM62 is the same kit that was released in three issues of the Japanese magazine Armour Modelling, Nov and Dec 2010 and January 2011 issues.
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That’s correct. The Otsu was originally released as a magazine kit in 2010 and 2011. The initial release of the Girls and Panzer Ko was essentially the same as FM 56. The later release 41106 includes a turret mantlet and etched exhaust covers that are basically fictional.
The Otsu version saw use during the Nomonhan campaign, but otherwise remained in the home islands.
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