Type 94 „Te-Ke“ – the Japaneshe light tank

Type 94 "Te-Ke" (Type 2594) is a Japanese light tank (tankette), built in the 1930s and used by the Japanese Army in the early stages of World War II. In the late twenties of the 20th century, the Japanese army bought 6 British “Vickers Carden Loyd” Mk.VI tankettes. After testing and studying them, the design of the tank of its own construction began. Unlike other countries, the Japanese installed a small rotating turret with a machine gun on their tank and moved the engine from the rear to the front. The crew took their places in the machine through a hatch in the rear armor plate. In 1933, an improved prototype was presented, equipped with a new suspension, designed by Tomiro Hare. The chassis consisted of two two-wheeled carriages on one side. The carts were attached to a special lever system, cushioned by spiral hinges. Later, this type of chassis was used in other Japanese tanks. A modernized version of the Type 94 "Te-Ke" was produced from 1937, in which the tension wheel was enlarged at the rear, which also partially performed the functions of the support wheel. During the war, some machines were re-armed with 7.7 mm machine guns or 37 mm cannons. Use of the “Te-Ke” in the Sino-Japanese War and in the early stages of World War II. The experience, gained in the battles, showed that the Type 94 tankettes are very mobile, but too weakly armored and armed. They were replaced by the Type 97 "Te-Ke" tankette.

Due to the small dimensions and the abundance of small details, this model is not easy to glue, but advanced beginners and modelers with little experience can cope with it, if they work slowly, patiently and carefully, and have a more experienced colleague nearby to give advice at a difficult moment. The model represents a tankette, used by the 2nd Separate Company of the Kwantung Army in the battles in China in 1937.