Dragon Military Models 1/72 IJA Type 4 Ke-Nu Light Tank Kit

Dragon continues to extend its scintillating line of Japanese subjects in its 1/72 scale model kit collection. The Type 4 “Ke-Nu” light tank isn’t as well known as the Type 95 “Ha-Go” or Type 97 “Chi-Ha”, although in actual fact it was a hybrid formed from these two tank designs. When operations in Manchuria and Russia revealed that the performance of the low-velocity 57mm anti-tank gun of the Type 97 was inadequate, it was replaced with a 45mm gun to create the Shinhoto Type 97. Some of the original and now obsolete turrets mounting the 57mm gun were then retrofitted onto the Type 95 Ha-Go. The resulting hybrid was known as the Type 4 Ke-Nu, and just 100 vehicles were created in 1944. As such, the Type 4 came too late to have any significant impact on the war, and most vehicles were retained to protect the Japanese homeland from the expected Allied invasion.

This kit required a completely new upper hull to accommodate the larger turret ring of the Type 97 turret. Details on this model are exquisite. Indeed, although small in stature, this model of a rare Japanese tank is extremely well refined, and it would make a unique contribution to any Japanese WWII model tank collection.

Features:

• Newly tooled and highly detailed Type 4 
• Realistic 57mm Type 4 cannon and 7.7mm machine gun included 
• Cupola hatches can be assembled open/closed 
• Upper hull w/rivet detail molded on 
• Intricate ventilation grills 
• Sharply molded on-vehicle tools 
• Detailed stowage box included 
• Hollow exhaust pipe w/photo-etched exhaust cover 
• Detail on hull rear accurately produced 
• Fully detailed slide-molded lower hull 
• Suspension system realistically represented 
• Sprocket wheels w/breathtaking details 
• Intricate idler wheels accurately produced 
• One-piece DS tracks reproduced