The Type 69 is a Chinese made tank and is an evolution of the Type 59 which was a copy of the Russian T-54. Consequently it has the same organization but the Chinese introduced several improvements in the fields of protection, mobility and firepower. The lineage with the T-54 is still visible with the dome ventilator on top of the turret and the bow MG. But unlike the Russian tank, the lower hull is straight and not trapeze shaped. At the rear the Type 69 has the same bulge for the engine ventilator as the T-62.

The Type 69-II is the third evolution and integrates a new fire control system, a new gunner sight and a 2 axis stabilization system for the gun. To enhance the protection grilles have been added all around the turret and rubber skirts have been fitted to the sides of the running gear. Smoke grenades dischargers have also been fitted.

The Type 69-IIC is the command version which can be recognized by the large storage boxes at the hull rear. They are used to store cables and communications stuff. On the turret roof there is a stowage tube for antennas. The Type 69-IIC is alos fitted with additional radios and an auxiliary power unit.

The last version of the Type 69 has been fitted with a copy of the British rifled 105 mm L7 gun and was named Type 79.

The Type 69 is armed with a smoothbore 100 mm gun associated to a laser rangefinder, a ballistic computer and a IR Luna projector copied from the T-62. The secondary armament comprises a Russian 12.7 mm DhSK AA MG or its Chinese copy Type 54, a 7.62 mm coxial MG and a 7.62 mm bow MG. On each side of the turret there are 4 smoke grenades dischargers.

The Type 69 has a crew of 4: a driver, a tank commander, a gunner and a loader.

The Type 69-II was exported to several African and Asian countries with which it saw action in many conflicts. The Iraqis used it during the war with Iran from 1980 to 1988 and then during the Gulf wars in 1991 and 2003.

The kit

Initially Takom released this model with a T-54 lower hull but fixed this mistake with a modified lower hull and lower glacis plate. The box includes 17 might grey plastic sprues, 1 clear parts sprue, 1 lower hull, 1 upper turret shell, 194 individual non workable track links, 1 mantlet dust cover in vinyl, 2 polycaps, 2 sheets of photoetched parts, 1 sheet of decals, 1 length of metal cable, 1 instructions booklet and 1 leaflet for 4 of the 6 decoration options.

The cast is very neat but the attachment to the sprues are sometimes very large. The level of detail is excellent with some very fine parts like the fuel piping. Many parts come from a T-54 model kit and a lot of them will fill the spare box. The fit is perfect. The notice is easy to read but a bit vague in some areas.

The build

The hull

The build starts with the suspension. As soon as step 1 one can notice that Takom modified the lower hull but not the instructions. So there is no need to fill the holes on the sides. The part V2 to be used is the one issued as a separate part and not the one on the sprue V.

At step 2 it is better to glue parts A6 and A7 when the swing arms are in place. Be careful to align properly the arms so all the road wheels are in contact with the ground.

At step 3 you have to remove the molding lines on the wheel tread. In reality those disappear quite quick. The road wheels are not glued to facilitate the painting.

Instead of gluing the details on the upper hull at step 5, I first glued it onto the lower hull. The tracks are assembled in two runs to paint them more easily. They are fitted till the glue sets then they are put aside. The lower hull, the road wheels and the tracks are painted and slightly weathered. Then the whole running gear is glued.

At step 8 you have to choose between the standard and the command versions. I opted for the latter and glued the two large boxes at the rear. The handles have been replaced by some metal wire.

At step 11, you have to assemble the fenders. The headlights glasses are not glued. The fuel piping can be glued only when the tanks are placed. This avoids to break them.  The tanks latches insert into the fender stiffeners. For a better realism the molded tanks handles are replaced by some metal wire.

At step 13 unlike what the instructions state it is easier to glue the fender sub-assembly before gluing the last fuel piping parts. The shaping of the headlights PE guards is tricky as Takom do not include any jig.

From step 16 the same sequence starts. The cable strap C15 is put aside for the moment.

At step 18 you have to glue the driver episcopes washer tank as well as a electric conduit and a connector. Takom omitted the positioning holes. A dry test fit is necessary to estimate the right height for the parts.

At step 20 the rear mudguards PE attachments must be bent. Without a jig several dry fit test are necessary to get the right angle.

The hull is complete. You just have to install the tow cables. They don't have the same length (106 mm and 106.5 mm). Those lengths are too long by 1 mm. Take note that the cable delivered by Takom is quite stiff.

The turret

At step 22 you need to install the coaxial MG. Beforehand the muzzle is hollowed. Be careful to put the barrel at the right angle. Until step 30 the assembly comes with no issue even with the side grilles. You just need to fill the positioning notches when the grilles are glued.

At step 31 the gun base is assembled with 2 polycaps. They theoretically help the gun remain mobile but the vinyl dust cover (glued at step 34) is too stiff for that.

At step 33 you can choose between the Russian and the Chinese Type 54 12.7 mm MG which I did.

At step 34 to install the laser rangefinder on the dust cover you need to drill 3 holes. Despite all my efforts I didn't manage to get 3 clean holes with my drills because the vinyl "healed". I think a pucn would be better.

The 2 part gun barrel needs to thoroughly clean the seam at step 37 before inserting it in the mantlet.

The decoration

Takom propose 6 decorations of which 2 are for the command version under the Iraqi flag during the first Gulf war. One is plain tan and the second I chose is tan with green patches

To get the base color I utilized XF-58 Olive Green which I sealed with some Klir. Then I applied 2 coats of hair spray. The tan color is a mix of AK122 base color for US vehicles OEF/OIF and XF-60. The scratches are done by rubbing an old brush. Some areas are painted with a thin paintbrush and a bit of scouring pad. On the green patches, the scratches are handbrushed with a lighter green shade.

When the base is done it is sealed with some Klir before applying the scarce decals. Those are sealed with some Klir too before the weathering begins.

I started with an ochre and white mix filter to get a first dusty look. Vertical streaking is done with oil dots in various colors. The streaking under the exhaust is made with pure black. The protection plate over the exhaust and some horizontal surfaces get some Sienna oil spots to depict a rusty effect.

To increase the dusty look MIG Gulf War Dust and AK Syrian Ground and Airfield Dust pigments are tapped with a brush and rubbed. To conclude deposits of sand are done with pigments.

Conclusion

Takom released a great kit with few assembly issues. As often the box content allows to choose between two versions and gives many decoration options which is always great. One must note that Takom did fix the hull mistake but not the instructions. A jig to shape the headligths protections would have been appreciated.

10/2020