Description

This tank has been in use for a long time as the main tank of the J.G.S.D.F. It features modernized equipment and has been recreated in high detail.

About the JGSDF Type 61 Tank

Since being officially adopted by Japans Ground Self Defense Force in 1961, the Type 61 tank has been in continuous service for more than 30 years. Although destined to be replaced by the sophisticated Type 74 and the newly introduced Type 90 tanks, it is still considered by many as the center piece of the Japanese Self Defense Forces. Designed from the outset to carry a 90mm main gun, the tank also had to be able to traverse the narrow railways throughout Japan. The result was a very compact medium tank, with a low profile that is only 2.96m wide and 2.46m high, and weighing 35 tons. Its 90mm gun was produced by the Japan Steel Works, Ltd., using the renowned U.S. type M3A1 gun as a pattern. The gun is mounted in a cast steel turret, and elevated either manually or by hydraulic pressure. Loading is manual and capable of firing 15 rounds per minute. Auxiliary armament is a 12.7mm M2 machine gun mounted on the commanders cupola, and a 7.62mm M1919A4 machine gun mounted co-axially with the main gun. Powerplant is a Mitsubishi Type 12HM21WT, air cooled V-12 cylinder, diesel engine, capable of 570 horsepowers which provides a top-speed of approximately 45km/h. A torsion-bar suspension system was utilized and is matched to the single-pin caterpillar tracks. Minor improvements, such as smoke discharging units, were added to keep this venerable armored vehicle in the front lines of Japans self defense operations.

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Recommended paints for this kit:

• X-1..- 10ml Black
• X-10..- 10ml Gun Metal
• X-13..- 10ml Metallic Blue
• X-2..- 10ml White
• X-21..- 10ml Flat Base
• X-6..- 10ml Orange
• X-7..- 10ml Red
• XF-1..- 10ml Flat Black
• XF-14..- 10ml J.A. Grey
• XF-15..- 10ml Flat Flesh
• XF-16..- 10ml Flat Aluminum
• XF-49..- 10ml Khaki
• XF-52..- 10ml Flat Earth
• XF-56..- 10ml Metallic Grey
• XF-57..- 10ml Buff
• XF-62..- 10ml Olive Drab
• XF-65..- 10ml Field Grey