Thought of as invincible by the Allied forces in the early stages of World War II, the Japanese soldier was a brave, disciplined, often fanatical, warrior who fought to the death sometimes against overwhelming odds. Conquering all before them and carving out a vast Empire during the opening stages of the war the Imperial Japanese Army were truly a force to be reckoned with. This plastic box set contains enough parts to make 30 plastic Japanese infantry armed with:

• Arisaka rifle
• Light 'knee' mortar
• Hand grenades
• Type 99 Light machine gun (and bayonet!)
• Type 14 Nambu pistol
• Flag pole
• NCO's Shin Gunto sword
• Anti-tank lunge mine
• Arisaka rifle with bayonet
• Type 100 sub-machine gun

Plus lots of accessories including a bugle and full-colour devotional banner and flag sheet!

Also referred to as the Type 91 broad-gauge railroad tractor, the So-Mo has the unusual distinction of being able to quickly switch from road to rail. The So-Mo could achieve speeds of around 25 miles per hour on roads and almost twice that on railroads. Fielded by both the Imperial Japanese Army and the SNLF during World War II, the six-wheel-drive So-Mo also served in the 1937 Japanese invasion of China. The vehicle did not have integral weapons, but the crew often carried a 7.7mm machine gun that was fired through the observation ports in the turret. Despite its light LMG armament, the So-Mo provides a relatively inexpensive armoured car for a Japanese force, which has the dual benefit of being able to transport six infantrymen across the battlefield. It is particularly useful if the battlefield contains any railroads! Box contains one resin & metal Type 91 So-Mo Armoured Car in its road configuration, decal sheet, and vehicle damage markers.

Even the emperor is pleased with what this box contains:

• Enough plastic components to make 1 Chi-Ha or the up gunned Type 97-Kai Shinhoto Chi-Ha
• Damage markers
• Full colour waterslide decal sheet
• A Bolt Action stat card
• A detailed booklet describing how to build and paint your Chi-Ha

With over 2,100 units made, the Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tank was the second most produced Japanese medium tank of World War II, after the smaller Type 95 Ha-Go. It saw extensive action in the Second Sino Japanese War, the Battles of Khalkhin Gol against the Soviet Union, and throughout World War II. It was Japan's standard medium tank - although with a weight of only 15 tones, excellent speed and mobility, and no more than 33mm of turret armour and 26mm on the hull, it would be considered a light tank in any other contemporary army. The Type 97-Kia Shinhoto Chi-Ha in Bolt Action With 2 options in the plastic kit you're spoiled for choice, although we suspect many might opt for the up-gunned variant - the Type 97-Kia Shinhoto with the high velocity 47mm anti-tank gun in a new and larger turret from 1942.