Bring accurate historical detail to your Pacific Theater armor projects with this comprehensive 1/35 scale 3D printed figure set. This collection features six Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) tank crewmen in a variety of realistic poses.

• Diverse Poses: The set includes six unique figures, offering a wide range of display options. Poses include a commander pointing out a target, an officer observing through binoculars, a crewman checking his watch, and another standing with arms crossed.

• Seated and Standing Options: Uniquely, the set provides both standing figures for ground scenes and a seated crewman designed to fit on the hull or turret of a tank.

• Authentic Uniforms: The figures are dressed in standard-issue tank coveralls (likely the summer cotton version), featuring realistic fabric folds and secured with puttees at the ankles.

• Specialized Headgear: All crewmen are wearing the distinctive Japanese padded tank helmet, with goggles positioned either over the eyes or resting on the forehead.

Japanese Tanks of WWII

The Imperial Japanese Army's armored force was designed primarily for infantry support rather than tank-vs-tank combat, reflecting the strategic priorities of the war in China and the Pacific.

• Light and Medium Armor: The backbone of the Japanese armored force consisted of the Type 95 Ha-Go light tank and the Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tank. These vehicles were highly effective in the early campaigns against colonial forces lacking anti-tank weaponry.

• Jungle Warfare: Japanese tanks were surprisingly effective in terrain considered "impassable" by Allied planners. In Malaya, they utilized their narrow profiles and light weight to navigate rubber plantations and jungle tracks, outflanking British defenses.

• Technological Gap: By the later stages of the war, Japanese armor struggled significantly against Allied medium tanks like the M4 Sherman. While newer designs like the Type 3 Chi-Nu were developed to counter this threat, they were produced in limited numbers and rarely saw combat outside the home islands.

The Japanese Tank Crewman and His Gear

The Japanese tanker's equipment was distinct from his infantry counterparts, designed for the cramped and hot interiors of early armored vehicles.

• The Tank Suit: Crewmen typically wore a one-piece coverall. In the tropical heat of the Pacific, this was often a lightweight cotton version, while heavy wool-lined suits were used in Manchuria. The figures depicted here wear the lighter suit with puttees wrapped around the lower legs.

• The Padded Helmet: The most recognizable piece of gear was the leather or canvas padded crash helmet. Unlike steel helmets, these were designed to protect the head from bumps against the tank's interior rather than shrapnel. They often featured ear flaps and integrated communications equipment.

• Personal Weapons: Due to the tight confines of Japanese tanks, crewmen were often armed with the compact Type 14 Nambu or Type 94 pistols. Officers famously often carried their Shin Gunto swords into battle, even inside the tank, symbolizing their samurai heritage.