1:16 JAPAN GROUND SELF DEFENSE FORCE TANK CREW SET

Tamiya 1:16 JGSDF Tank Crew Set — figure set

This set from Tamiya brings figures of the crew of a tank of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) in the large 1:16 scale. The package holds two figures: a complete crewman and a second figure in the form of the upper body of a commander leaning out of the turret. This arrangement is typical of Tamiya sets for large tank models, where the commander emerges from an open hatch. The figures are molded in hard polystyrene and are supplied unassembled and unpainted.

The real subject

The Ground Self-Defense Force is the land component of the Japanese defense forces. Its tank crews wear modern coveralls and helmets; the large 1:16 scale makes it possible to capture the detail of the uniform, the gear and the faces faithfully, detail that is lost in smaller scales.

Building and painting tips

• Cut the parts from the sprue and bond them with cement for plastic; clean up the seams before painting.
• In the large scale, shading and highlighting really show, so it pays off to work with tones and glazes.
• Faces and hands can be done in oils or acrylics using a layering technique.

Who the set is for

• For builders of large tank models who want to bring the scene to life with figures
• For collectors of modern Japanese army figures
• For modelers who enjoy painting figures in a large scale

The figures are supplied unassembled and unpainted. Paints and glue are not included in the package.