Modeller Build Logs

Japanese Type 97 Shi-Ki

As many who visit this site may know I do a lot of WW II Japanese armor. Within the last 5 years there have been a lot of WW II Japanese armor pieces introduced by Fine Molds. Still compared to other nations there are few plastic kits on the subject. There were a wide variety of Japanese tanks used during WW II and this model represents one of the lesser know variants of the Type 97 medium. This is a conversion consisting of Tamiya's Type 97 Chi-Ha, MR Models Shi-Ki resin converion, Eduard Type 97 P.E. set, Fruilmodel Type 97 tracks and Fine Molds Type 94 37mm gun barrel. The Type 97 Shi-Ki was a command tank. Differences from the standard Type 97 were the replacement of a smaller turret, 57mm main gun was removed to the hull and replaced with a 37mm gun, upper glacious plate flattened to a single piece and dual headlights. Most information that I have states that they were used for training in Japan but I plan to make mine a veteran vehicle of the Phillipines ( a bit of fantasy). David Harper contacted me through this site and a point that I forgot to mention was that the Shi-Ki had a taller hull than the standard Ch-Ha. The MR Models does not take this into account but this build is about the MR Models conversion. In 1/35th scale the hull should be 1/8th inch taller. This as due to the fact on the original vehicles command radios were installed in the hull. There is some cutting to the upper hull of the Tamiya kit involved to adapt the resin conversion. Even after careful cutting and sanding there were gaps that needed to be filled that was accomplished by using A+B epxoy putty. Many handles were replaced with brass wire. Grantline Conical bolts were used to replace any bolts that were sanded off during construction along with detailing where they were absent. The Eduard P.E. kit is great especially where the muffler is concerned. Not only do they give a screen that replaces the kit part but also the muffler itself. After bending I soldered the muffler together placing the seam on the down side. Detail Master header flanges and Grantline bolts were used to detail the mufflers. Look careful on the detail shots and you will notice on the roadwheels chips taken out of the rubber. This was accomplished using a rasp file. Another detail shot shows the MR Models 37mm gun barrel (could have used Viagra!) and why it was replaced with the Fine Molds barrel. Right now the model is ready to paint once the metal parts have been primed using Floquil Figure Primer. I use an acrylic paint to finish my models and it is imperative to prime the metal parts or otherwise the paint just will not adhere properly.