Dragon 7394

Dragon: IJA Type 95 “Ha” Light Tank, Philippines 1942

As promised, Dragon has come up with a scintillating subject for its series of 1/72 scale plastic kits. The new item is a Type 95 “Ha” light tank, and this is the very first Japanese subject in the collection. First, a bit of background. The Type 95 tank was used in combat against China and Russia, as well as fully participating in WWII. Weighing just 7.4 tonnes, it was designed primarily as an infantry support weapon.

Indeed, it was the most common light tank used by the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) in the Pacific, with about 2,300 units manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It had a crew of three, and the main armament was a Type 94 37mm gun. Its maximum speed was 45km/h.

Dragon’s kit is small in 1/72 scale, but it’s brimming with detail. To enable full detail, slide molds are widely resorted to in its production. For example, the turret is of single-piece construction, with the slide molds allowing all details to be rendered. The commander’s cupola is a similar story. The lower hull comes as one piece, and it has the correct armor panels and bolts on it. The upper hull is also made from one piece, and the gun barrel has a hollow end. The idlers and return rollers are slide-molded too. The track links are accurately replicated in miniature with DS track. This is an extremely exciting subject from Dragon, and the little Japanese tank is a simply stunning creation!

Pre-Order available here.