Todd Michalak shares with us a review of a Type 3 Chi-Nu in the Anime Girls and Panzers guise from Fine Molds.

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Thanks!

wonder why this doesnt come with paper dolls and a flower pot for the turret bin?

Shouldn't it be called girls and pansies

Thanks for checking out the review guys!

Like I mentioned pretty much the former Type 3 Chi-Nu from Fine Molds which is a decent kit. The Anime factor is certainly not for everyone....lol, myself included for the most part but with all seriousness this stuff is absolutely HUGE worldwide...Multi-billion dollar powerhouse and growing. Usually this stuff fits into it's own niche with Sci-Fi like Star Blazers and Gundam or figures, this just happens to be the crossover to our modelling world. This may not get much eye raising amongst our modelling brothers in arms but its out there and there is a large following and worthy of its promotion.

Thanks to the GuP promotion I was able to get the Fine Molds IJA Type 89 for around $45 delivered to the USA. Even buying a decal set, metal barrel, and ModelKasten tracks along with it totalled less than buying the Type 89 in military markings.

KL

The interesting thing about this particular team of girls is that they're made up of online computer game fans: they all but say World of Tanks.

I'm an anime and Japanese equipment fan, but this show even pushes my tolerances... lol WW2 tanks generally didn't accelerate and corner like sports cars, but they sure do in this show! A Tiger I spins its turret at speeds that would embarrass modern tanks. A Maus(!) drives up on a Hetzer monster truck style. It sounds silly, but I've run into people who think this show is completely factual-- that's pretty scary. lol

Having pretty much all of Fine Molds' IJA line in their original release versions, I don't really need to get the GUP versions. But if it gets some IJA armor into some new hands, that's a good thing.

Incidentally, when I bought my Type 89 a couple years ago, it was a package deal as the kit was split into thirds to coincide with the release of three issues of Model Graphix's Armour Modelling magazine (120 pages each, lots of great photos, I have no problem with the Japanese text). *At the time* it was $50 delivered (now it would be closer to $80). Was it worth the extra $5 to get a total of 360 pages of modeling goodness in place of the GUP sheet of anime girl decals? Absolutely.

Nice bid there Kurt!! Save some change and ended up with a nice kit too...nothing wrong with that!!! In retrospect, $45 for a kit and a couple bucks for decals building one of these OOB most are under the pile of cash shelled out for some other kits with less quality!!!

You can still get the magazine combo from HLJ but the kit in the combo doesn't include PE or a metal barrel. Unfortunately Fine Molds has discontinued their add-on set. The GuP kit (a different version of the tank BTW) has the PE but no barrel or useable decals.

Magazine issue (assuming all details available)
3x $28.08 - kit + mag
$13.69 - details
$97.93 total

GuP
$35.38 - kit + PE
$7.58 - barrel
$16 - decals
$58.96 total

The most important thing though is that you can't get the PE now except in the GuP set.

KL

I bet you won't post any pics of it in your stash though Kurt.

I got all of the accompanying stuff to go with the tank when it first came out in the magazine edition (again, for far less than now) so yes, I have the tracks, PE, and barrel (the latter two were both included in the original detail up set).

The differences between the two versions, Kou and Otsu, (mantlet, body tweaks, vents on rear) don't matter when it comes to the PE because the PE is only a muffler cover and license frame-- and those parts are exactly the same on both versions. Check out AJ Press' Japanese Armor 1931-1945 to see what I mean.

Here's the GUP Kou:


Here's the Otsu (note no difference in PE):


Besides, the PE no longer being available isn't really a major issue-- it's not like we're talking about a full-on Eduard set here. If you can't get the PE, a generic mesh piece will pretty much do the job of muffler covering with some styrene strips for the bands. In fact, plenty of Type 89s were in the field with no muffler cover at all (only the bands), so it's even less of an issue.





The key thing about having the magazines is the content. Full build/ detailing article on the kit. An in-depth walk around of a restored example with lots of great detail shots, including a reenactor with accurate IJA tanker uniform.

Even at the price you're quoting, I think it's more than worth the additional $39 for the accurate historic decals, extra research material included, as well as other great articles. Definitely more so than a decal sheet with anime girls that won't even be used if building a historic example and an easily replaced PE part.

Again, your mileage may vary. BTW, Kurt, will you be attending the PennConn in September at Carlisle? I'll be there if you want to meet up and I'd be happy to bring the mags along to show you.