IBG Models Type 89 Japanese Medium Tank Kou (Gasoline Hybrid Production) - 1/72 IBG Models (72039)

[Paul A H]

Type 89 Japanese Medium Tank Kou (Gasoline Hybrid Production)

1:72 IBG (72039)

 

 

The Type 89 I-Go was a medium tank employed by the Imperial Japanese Army between 1932 and 1942. It has the distinction of being the first mass-production diesel engined tank, although the version depicted in this kit is the petrol engined version. Armed with a 57mm main gun, the Type 89 proved to be effective against enemy fortifications in campaigns in Manchuria and China. Despite being upgraded and modernised at various points during its life, such as with the addition of a radio, it was still a fundamentally 1920s design and was considered obsolete by the outbreak of the Second World War.

 

Based in Warsaw, Poland, IBG Models started out in 1991 as a model kit importer and distributor. They released their first plastic kit – a 1:72 scale Bedford QLD - in 2008, and have gradually built up a range of interesting kits of different vehicles from the WWII period in both 1/72 and 1/35 scale. They have kitted a variety of Type 89 tanks, with this hybrid production version being the latest in the line. The kit arrives packed into a surprisingly large top-opening box inside which are a large number of sprues of crisply moulded grey plastic. Just because this producer hails from central/eastern Europe, don't think for a moment that this is a limited run kit. It has all the hallmarks of a cutting edge kit, with high quality, slide moulded parts as good as those from any other mainstream producer.

 

 

 

 

Construction starts with the lower hull, suspension and running gear. The road wheels are each moulded with separate inner and outer faces, both of which fit onto the pre-moulded leaf spring suspension units. The drive sprocket, idler and return rollers are all nicely moulded too. The tracks are very nicely rendered and are of the link and length variety, for which I have a strong preference. The box-like hull is made up of upper and lower parts, with just the front glacis plate needed to finish it off. Extensive use has been made of slide moulding in order to reduce the part count whilst retaining a high level of detail.

 

You won't need to worry too much about the fit and finish of the suspension components, as for the most part they will be covered up by the large armoured covers. Next up are the fenders and stowage boxes, which have to be fitted to the sides and rear of the hull. Naturally smaller details such as tools are all moulded separately, which is great for detail-hungry modellers. A rather nice exhaust is included, as well as photo etched parts for the exhaust shroud. This will prove to be a shrewd move, as such as part could not be satisfactorily recreated from injection moulded plastic.

 

 

 

The turret is made up of eight parts, and again slide moulding has been used to keep the part count down and the detail level up. The muzzle of the 57mm gun has also been manufactured using a multi-part mould to save the modeller having to drill out this small part. The commander's hatch can be finished in either open or closed positions. For once you can actually take advantage of this feature because IBG have thoughtfully included two crew figures – and very nice they are too – although they are not mentioned in the instructions and don't even feature on the diagram that shows the layout of the sprues. Just one marking option is shown in the instructions, a Type 89 tank of an unknown regiment deployed in Shanghai, China in 1937. The decal sheet itself is nicely printed.

 

 

Conclusion

 

I really enjoyed reviewing IBG's recent AFV kits, so it's great to see them turn out another Type 89. Detail is excellent and the quality of manufacture looks to be up there with the very best. The inclusion of photo etched parts and particularly crew figures is very welcome too. Highly recommended.

 

Review sample courtesy of 

 

[Cometracer]

The Type 89 is such an interesting AFV and it's nice to see these offerings from IBG.  It would look quite nice in French post war markings.