When people hear the term ”tank model,” many might think of something precise and austere, geared more towards authentic enthusiasts. Assembling tiny parts one by one, applying layers of paint, and taking time to complete it. Of course, that charm is also significant. However, the moment I saw this ”Type 97 medium tank Chi-Ha 57mm turret / early chassis special specification,” that image changed slightly. ”Oh, it's a tank, but it's cute,” ”But it's still properly cool.” That kind of mysterious sensation arrives first. By adding the deformation unique to the Chibi-Maru Military series, the originally heavy and rugged tank is transformed into an approachable figure, but strangely, its presence as a tank is not lost at all. Rather, by being compactly condensed, it feels as though only the charm of the tank has been tightly packed into it.

What particularly catches the eye in this special specification would be the existence of the limited inclusion effect parts. Normally, once a model is completed, it becomes ”something to display.” However, this product is slightly different. The moment you attach the clear orange muzzle flash part popping out from the tip of the gun barrel, there is a sensation as if the stopped time suddenly begins to move. The very moment of ”having just fired right now” is given shape. Furthermore, by adding the clear brown dust cloud effect rolling up to the rear, it creates an atmosphere like a cutout of a scene running through a battlefield, rather than just a model placed there. Even though it is simply sitting on the desk, the sound of the tracks kicking the ground and even the vibration of the engine seem like they are about to play automatically inside your head. This ”power to draw out imagination” is quite interesting.

Speaking of deformed designs, some people might think that the appearance is prioritized and fine details are simplified. However, this Chi-Ha betrays that expectation in a good way. Its appearance with the three-color camouflage and a yellow band can be reproduced with the included realistic stickers, leaving a distinct military vehicle-like atmosphere within its cuteness. And the track part features a gunmetal molding, creating a sense of weight despite its small size. While I thought, ”Is it a light atmosphere because it's palm-sized?”, the more you look at it, the more convincing it is as a tank. Moreover, the turret can rotate 360 degrees, and the angle of the gun barrel can also be changed, allowing you to freely alter the expression when displaying it. The atmosphere changes just by slightly raising the gun barrel, and the fact that you can imagine a completely different scene just by changing the direction is interesting.

Even if people are interested in models, I think there are not a few who feel that ”it looks difficult, so I cannot get into it.” The image of gathering glue and painting tools, and performing detailed work for hours certainly exists. However, this product does not require such stiff preparation. It can be assembled without glue, and it is specified to be completed without painting, thanks to the colored plastic parts and the included stickers. The more people worry anxiously, thinking ”I'm a model beginner, but will I be okay?”, the more I want them to actually pick it up. While assembling it, you should feel that ”it's much more casual than I thought.” And when it is completed, rather than a sense of achievement from overcoming difficult processes, the enjoyment of having created a small world with your own hands remains.

The completed size is about 53mm in height, about 53mm in width, and about 90mm in total length, making it a size feeling that is easy to place at hand. However, a dangerous thing happens here. Even though I intended to have ”just one,” before I know it, I want to place another vehicle next to it. Precisely because it is small, it can be displayed anywhere, and the edge of a desk or an empty space on a shelf suddenly starts to look like a tank base. Moreover, precisely because of this size, the effect parts stand out. Gazing at its figure clad in muzzle flash and dust, it feels less like a mere model and more like owning a single scene of a small story. A tank model that packs cuteness, coolness, and even a playful spirit all together. I think that is the charm of this special specification.