Smart Tank

Historical Background

Even though the Type 90 MBT was still coming off the production line in the 1990s, the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force decided to update its armoured force to better prepare for 21st-century warfare. After considering buying tanks from abroad (which were too heavy and too large for Japanese terrain) and after assessing the upgrade potential of the Type 90 (and even the earlier, and obsolescent, Type 74), the JGSDF decided that the Type 90 lacked internal space to upgrade their C4I capabilities. Therefore, in 1996, the Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI) of the Japanese Ministry of Defense began the development of a new tank, under project name TK-X / MBT-X, with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries being appointed to build prototypes. The plan was expected to begin production by 2010-2011 and the prototype made its debut on 13 February 2008 at TRDI's facility in Sagimihara. The Ministry of Defense was impressed with the prototype and a contract was signed in 2010. Following Japanese military tradition, the TK-X/MBT-X was given designation Type 10 after the year of its introduction.

Although the main requirement for the Type 10 seems to be enhancement of C4I capabilities, the initial focus of the project was its weaponry and ammunition. While the Type 90 was armed with a licence-built Rheinmetall 120mm gun, the Type 10 was armed with a 120mm weapon indigenously developed by Japan Steel Works. While it can fire all NATO-standard 120mm rounds, a special Type 10 APFSDS was developed and can only be fired by the Type 10. As with the Type 90, the gun was fitted with a bustle-loaded autoloader, reducing the crew to three. 44-calibres long, the gun can be upgraded to 50- or 55-caliber length. Secondary armament consist of a co-axial Type 74 7.62mm machine gun and a 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun which can be remotely controlled from within the turret. The main armour plate is steel but apparently modular applique ceramic and steel composite armour plates is an option according to mission profile and weight requirements.

The Type 10 is lighter than the Type 90 (44 tonnes v. 50 tonnes) allowing the Type 10 to be deployed all around Japan (the Type 90 can only be deployed in Hokkaido as most bridges and roads in the rest of the Home Islands were unable to support the weight of the Type 90). The tank was powered by a water-cooled V-8 diesel engine rated at 1,200 hp. Power was transmitted via CVT gearbox allowing the MBT to move at around 70 km/h. As with its predecessors, the Type 10 was also equipped with a hydropneumatic active suspension allowing it to adjust the ride height, tilt sideways and or adjust the height of the front and rear of the tank. The C4I system can be used to share information among the tanks and also to integrate with the infantry. The advanced systems meant a hefty price tag for the Type 10 (also known as Type 0 Hitomaru) : ¥954 million (US$8.4 million) per vehicle for the initial 13 units and ¥700 million (US$6.5 million) for the rest of the order.

The first delivery of the new tank took place in 2010 and formally entered service in 2012 and current production target was 80 units and could be as high as 600 as older vehicles were retired. In January 2014 the Turkish government expressed in purchasing the Type 10's powerpack for the indigenous  Altay MBT. The deal fell through just three months later, mainly due to Japan's stringent arms export laws.

The Kit

Tamiya was pretty quick off the mark by releasing this kit roughly a year after the real tank entered service. Still conforming to the Tamiya philosophy, the kit comprised of just 205 parts spread among six dark green plastic sprues, two lengths off well-detailed vinyl tracks, a sheet of die-cut clear acetate, a sheet of vinyl mesh plus the usual poly caps and a small decal sheet. The real tank had a smooth exterior with little bumps and bulges usually seen on modern tanks and this also helped in keeping the number of parts low. Simple it may be but existing surface features are very well rendered, except for the tie-downs which are moulded-on., while the vinyl mesh is also a bit of a throwback to the last century.The small decal sheet provide markings for three vehicles:
1. Armored Division, JGSDF Fuji School
2. 2nd Company, 1st Armored School Unit
3. 1st Tank Company, Tank School Unit, Fuji School Brigade

Construction

As the usual practice wth vehicle models, construction started with the lower hull. The suspension arms were installed in the usual way. The idler arm is however quite unique. There were five slots for the 'pimple' on the tab to slide into. Tamiya's instructions have you slot it into the middle, 'neutral' position. The real Type 10 has adjustable suspension so I strongly think that a modeler can replicate his model 'kneeling' by varying the tab's position and by removing the 'pimple' on the suspension arms as needed. I skipped the assembly of the road wheels and went straight to assembling the rear hull panel. The lower hull were set aside at this time and I continue with the upper hull. The front upper hull is a multi-part assembly and I found the fit was not perfect between parts D19 and D22 (but the again, as usual, it could just be me). The provided mesh was cut to act as light guards and I found that it was quite stiff and I resorted to using superglue to bond it to the plastic surface. The clear bits for the episcopes are of semi-cut style (they are of the appropriate width but have to be cut into proper height) and are apparently from Tamiya's earlier Type 90 kit. The side walls and the skirtings were set aside at the moment.

The upper and lower hull hales were then cemented together. There is some gap at the front which was puttied over (the clean-up would be easier if the towing hook are not cemented early on). The lower hull was then painted a base colour of JGSDF Dark Green. I got lazy and painted only the visible areas of the lower hull and the running gears! The tracks were painted Vallejo Anthracite Grey which was then given an AK Interactive Track Wash. Although polystyrene cement can be used on modern Tamiya belt-style tracks, I stick to superglue to get them together. After the tracks were put in place the side skirtings cemented into place and they fit perfectly.

Turret construction started with the gun barrel. It was quite disappointing  because the seam running its length (my bad). I assembled the smoke grenade dischargers in a reverse order from the instructions as I think it was easier that way. The environment sensor at the turret rear is supposed to be moveable after assembly but I find it difficult to handle during the process and end up cementing it in the 'up' poisition. Both the gunner's and commander's sight were finished in closed position. The gun mantlet was assembled and the use of poly caps allow it to remain moveable after assembly. The turret shell consists of multiple parts yet it was easy to assemble without the danger of it askew. At this time I decided to only use the commander's figure so the gunner's hatch is cemented shut. The commander's cupola need some careful assembly as one need to note the location of the locating tabs and in relation, the location for the uh, thingies (upon which the heavy MG is mounted) on the cupola. The turret bustle rack was last. It was quite straightforward work and since the mesh was applied on flat surfaces, its stiffness was not a problem. I however deviated from the instructions by cutting the mesh parallel to the mesh pattern instead of diagonally across it. 

Painting & Decalling

Apparently all Type 10s have similar camouflage patterns and that kind of simply things (in one way). The model was given an overall coat of JGSDF Dark Green (Tamiya XF-73) and was then followed by the camouflage pattern of JGSDF Brown (Tamiya XF-72). The rubber skirting and fenders were painted Tamiya XF-85 Rubber Black while the 'canvas' parts (mantlet cover and spent casing container) were painted XF-49 Khaki. As for markings, I decided not to use the 'school' markings provided with the kit and instead used decals from a little-known Japanese company named Twilight Model. In fact I have never heard of them until they opened a booth at last year's MALCOM. The small-ish sheet provide markings for Type 10s from the 8th and 1st Tank Battalions. Further information were in Japanese characters so there were no further details I can gleaned off. I chose the 8th as their tanks feature a tiger's head insignia which is a bit more colourful than the the 1st Battalion's. The decals were thin and having good register.

Finishing

There aren't much to do at this stage with this kit. The pioneer tools and the tow cable were cemented into place. The model then received the usual wash process. The large stowage basket at the rear were left bare as these tanks have never been seen with stowage (plus I don't have any JGSDF accessories in stock). As they were also fairly new weathering was basically not done save for the usual mud / dust at the lower hull. The dried mud was made by using Aqualine 'Brown Mud' from Wilder Weathering Products while the darker mud was made using Vallejo Dark Mud. The radio aerial stubs were cut and replaced with plastic rods. Only the commander's figure was used and after studying the instructions and photos, I realise that the instructions have the colour callout mixed-up - it has XF-64 Red Brown as the main colour. Anyway, since my brushes aren't fine enough, the flecktarn pattern were not as intricate as it should be...but I think good enough from full-scale 6 feet away!

Conclusion

What else can be expected from a Tamiya kit? The build was straightforward, the details, including the non-slip patches were excellent and great fit all around. Probably the only negative points with the kot is the rather stiff (and having to cut them into shape) mesh for the stowage rack and the two-piece plastic barrel.