Strelets – 139 – Japanese Type 96 with Crew

Description:

Japanese Type 96 with Crew

Unassembled plastic model kit and plastic soldiers in 1/72 scale depicting a Japanese WWII Type 96 AA (Anti-Aicraft) and AT (Anti tank) automatic gun, a local variant of the French Hotchkiss 25mm anti-aircraft gun, mainly used as AA gun. Usually was mounted in fixed carriages with one, two or three barrels, but the kit depicts the basic one single barrel mount in a wheeled carriage, probably a mid to late war feature.

Set consists of 20 figures in 5 different poses plus 4 Type 96 guns. The poses are not particularly impressive, though correct, of the 5 poses 4 are devoted to reload and supply then gun, while the other poses is the gunner. A pose like the officer depicted in the box art would have been a good addition.

The gun is split in 10 parts, soft plastic as the figures which is not the best to depict this kind of models. Figures are well sculpted and detailed, very proportioned, so while the set is a good addition to a Japanese army, we miss some other variation in the poses. Original crew of the gun were 3 men, here you get all 5 devoted to the gun itself.