1:35 JGSDF Type 96 WAPC

The real subject

The Type 96 is a wheeled armored personnel carrier of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. The abbreviation WAPC in the name means wheeled armored personnel carrier, meaning a vehicle whose task is to bring an infantry squad as close as possible to the point of action under the protection of armor and to support it with a weapon on the roof. The vehicle stands on eight wheels, has an angular box-shaped hull with folding seats inside and a low silhouette without a turret. A wheeled chassis gives road speed and range that a tracked vehicle cannot reach, and with a carrier that is exactly what counts.

What the set contains

It is a kit in 1:35 scale to be assembled and painted. The number of parts, the extent of the interior fittings and the marking options are given in the manufacturer's instructions; the choice of version, if the set offers more than one, follows them too.

Building and painting tips

• Assemble the chassis with its eight wheels on a flat surface, so that the model ends up standing on all of them.
• Glue the wheels on only once the hull has been painted, otherwise neither a brush nor a nozzle will reach them.
• Fit the vision blocks, the lights and the mirrors at the end, because they are easily damaged.
• Always try the assembly dry and only then glue it.
• Wash and degrease the surface before painting.

Who it is for

The set suits modelers who collect contemporary equipment and the Japanese army, and those who build scenes with present-day vehicles. Paints, glue, thinner and tools are not included in the delivery, unless stated otherwise.