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Fine Molds: Type 97 Chi-Ha
tatbaqui
Staff MemberNews Writer
ARMORAMA
#040
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Metro Manila, Philippines
Joined: May 06, 2007
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Posted: Saturday, July 29, 2017 - 04:09 PM UTC


Coming this August is an updated kit of this Imperial Japanese Army medium tank of the Second World War.

Read the Full News Story

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
27-1025
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North Carolina, United States
Joined: September 16, 2004
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Posted: Saturday, July 29, 2017 - 05:49 PM UTC
Looks like Fine Molds is out to steal some of Dragons thunder. Nice touch adding the interior details and new tracks.
TheoBraat
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Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: April 21, 2017
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Posted: Saturday, July 29, 2017 - 06:31 PM UTC
Nice touch that FM added an interior, although an engine would have been equally nice
russamotto
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Utah, United States
Joined: December 14, 2007
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Posted: Saturday, July 29, 2017 - 06:47 PM UTC
The partial interior is a nice addition. Maybe it will push Dragon to add more detail, though that will also drive the price up for both kits. I wonder if this kit includes etch for the muffler screen and intakes.
tatbaqui
Staff MemberNews Writer
ARMORAMA
#040
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Metro Manila, Philippines
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Posted: Saturday, July 29, 2017 - 07:11 PM UTC
Russ, it has PE for the muffler cover, as in the original release (FM25LM). For additional PE such as screens one needs to add item #MG64. Cheers, Tat
Removed by original poster on 07/30/17 - 14:47:47 (GMT).
Kevlar06
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Washington, United States
Joined: March 15, 2009
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Posted: Saturday, July 29, 2017 - 07:46 PM UTC
Didn't Fine Molds release an earlier kit that used the Tamiya kit reboxed with some extras? Is this the same hull with a new interior, details and tracks? In my opinion the Tamiya kit was pretty good, I have a late model Tamiya Chi-Ha on the bench right now, the only thing that could use work are the exhaust screens, vinyl tracks and the lack of an interior. I might be tempted to buy this kit just to get those items.
VR Russ--- the other Russ!
TopSmith
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Washington, United States
Joined: August 09, 2002
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Posted: Saturday, July 29, 2017 - 09:01 PM UTC
I am going to wait for the Dragon kit. I want to see if it is panther quality or Black death quality before I purchase a kit. I have the Tamiya kit but the upper deck is terribly warped so I haven't built it.
Cantstopbuyingkits
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European Union
Joined: January 28, 2015
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Posted: Saturday, July 29, 2017 - 09:40 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Didn't Fine Molds release an earlier kit that used the Tamiya kit reboxed with some extras? Is this the same hull with a new interior, details and tracks? In my opinion the Tamiya kit was pretty good, I have a late model Tamiya Chi-Ha on the bench right now, the only thing that could use work are the exhaust screens, vinyl tracks and the lack of an interior. I might be tempted to buy this kit just to get those items.
VR Russ--- the other Russ!


Tamiya rereleased their 1975 Type 97 in 1987 with parts to make the 3 man turret and have recently reboxed Fine Mold's Type 95, Type 3 and Type 5 kits with various extra parts. Not sure if any of those are what you're confusing a FM brand rebox with.
jfeenstra
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Alberta, Canada
Joined: April 24, 2014
KitMaker: 342 posts
Armorama: 342 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 29, 2017 - 10:05 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Didn't Fine Molds release an earlier kit that used the Tamiya kit reboxed with some extras? Is this the same hull with a new interior, details and tracks? In my opinion the Tamiya kit was pretty good, I have a late model Tamiya Chi-Ha on the bench right now, the only thing that could use work are the exhaust screens, vinyl tracks and the lack of an interior. I might be tempted to buy this kit just to get those items.
VR Russ--- the other Russ!


Fine Molds has never reboxed a Tamiya kit, as opposed to Tamiya re-boxing Fine Molds kit as noted already.

Not sure what all the fuss is about. This is the same interior sprue and link-and-length tracks that FM has already released this year in the Ho-Ni III, Late Chi-Ha and Type 3. They are simply going back through their catalogue of Chi-Ha based kits and re-releasing them with the extra sprues.
JPTRR
Staff MemberManaging Editor
RAILROAD MODELING
#051
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Tennessee, United States
Joined: December 21, 2002
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Posted: Saturday, July 29, 2017 - 11:03 PM UTC
Uh-oh, Sorry Dragon. My moola is going elsewhere. No hard feelings.
iowabrit
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Iowa, United States
Joined: November 06, 2007
KitMaker: 585 posts
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Posted: Saturday, July 29, 2017 - 11:41 PM UTC
The Fine Molds kit may be older but it doesn't have the crappy DS tracks so it would be an easy choice for me, the partial interior being an added bonus
Kevlar06
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Washington, United States
Joined: March 15, 2009
KitMaker: 3,670 posts
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Posted: Sunday, July 30, 2017 - 04:00 AM UTC

Quoted Text

The Fine Molds kit may be older but it doesn't have the crappy DS tracks so it would be an easy choice for me, the partial interior being an added bonus


When it comes to Dragon lately, just because another manufacturers kit is older doesn't mean it's inferior in comparison. I don't have that many Dragon kits, but It seems to me thier earlier kits were better value. I've been disappointed recently with thier later offerings-- many seem to have sloppy errors in detail and dimension, and they seem to be very high priced for the what you get in the box. I try and do a side by side comparison at my LHS before I buy, and I can say I haven't bought a Dragon kit lately if there is another kit available. The last Dragon kit I did buy was the Ka-Mi, because nobody else makes one.
VR, Russ
vettejack
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Florida, United States
Joined: November 23, 2012
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Posted: Monday, July 31, 2017 - 04:54 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

The Fine Molds kit may be older but it doesn't have the crappy DS tracks so it would be an easy choice for me, the partial interior being an added bonus


When it comes to Dragon lately, just because another manufacturers kit is older doesn't mean it's inferior in comparison. I don't have that many Dragon kits, but It seems to me thier earlier kits were better value. I've been disappointed recently with thier later offerings-- many seem to have sloppy errors in detail and dimension, and they seem to be very high priced for the what you get in the box. I try and do a side by side comparison at my LHS before I buy, and I can say I haven't bought a Dragon kit lately if there is another kit available. The last Dragon kit I did buy was the Ka-Mi, because nobody else makes one.
VR, Russ


I bought Dragon's Ke-Nu kit very recently. Why? It's presently the only available 1/35 kit of this type. If Fine Molds had done this type earlier, they would have my money before Dragon got it. Now, having not bought Dragon in years (reasons abound ad nauseam) does not mean I won't give their Japanese releases a look. I rely on the reviews quite a bit for kit purchases along with personal experience with the producers, and the reviews read so far gave me enough information to purchase the Ke-Nu. I still consider Fine Molds the better kit maker of anything Japanese. Since purchasing the Dragon Ke-Nu, I've grown confident enough in it's detail, prompting me to purchase a turned barrel, Voyager PE and metal tracks. I think what it comes down to for me is who will impress me the most. This one instance, it was Dragon.

As far as this new release by Fine Molds...I have over 20 IJA kits of theirs...to include many Type 97 variations, so this time I won't be needing this new release. Other than that, Fine Molds kits are of molded plastic I wish other makers would emulate. While I appreciate the Fine Molds brand, I don't need/want every kit released. Same goes for other brands.
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