1:35 Japanese Tank Crew

Japanese tank crew, 1:35

A set of plastic figures of Japanese tankmen in 1:35 scale. They are not vehicle models but an accessory for a scene. The figures are injection molded and made up of several parts, usually the torso, the head, the limbs and the gear, so their stance can be changed according to where they are to stand in a diorama.

What it is for

• Bringing a Japanese tank to life, which without a crew looks like a museum piece.
• The basis of a diorama from the fighting in the Pacific and in China.
• A sense of scale for the viewer, because only next to a figure does it become clear how big the vehicle really was.
• A source of figures for other scenes of the same period.

Building and painting tips

Assemble the figures, sand the mating surfaces and fill the gaps at the shoulders and the neck, because they show the most on a finished figure. Paint them separately on a stick and place them in the scene only at the end. Work the uniform in layers, that is, with thinned paint applied repeatedly, with shadow in the folds and light on the raised areas. Keep the faces restrained, because strong features look like caricature in a small scale.

Who the set is for

• Builders of Japanese vehicles in 1:35 scale.
• Modelers who build dioramas from the Pacific.
• Figure painters looking for interesting characters.

Try standing the figure dry on the model first and only then glue the arms and the head.

The figures are supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.