O-I - The Imperial Japanese Army’s Super-Heavy That Never Was

The O-I super-heavy tank represents one of Imperial Japan’s most ambitious armored concepts of the Second World War. Planned as a massive breakthrough vehicle weighing an estimated 150 tons, the O-I was intended to dominate fortified positions and counter increasingly heavy Allied armor. In reality, Japan’s limited industrial capacity, material shortages, and the changing nature of the war prevented the design from ever progressing beyond the planning and prototype stage.

This model is based on the Takom kit and was approached as a blank slate due to the speculative nature of the subject. Several modifications were added to enhance realism and narrative, including additional front plate armor, a rear crew telephone, a front track holder, and a replacement left-side skirt panel depicted in partially rusted primer, suggesting prolonged exposure to tropical operating conditions.

Weathering became the primary focus of the build, reflecting a vehicle that might have existed in limited trials or limited active service. Each rivet was individually hand-shaded to emphasize the tank’s massive construction, and the headlight lenses were scratch-built from resin. The finish combines heavy wear, grime, and subtle corrosion to convey the sheer scale and impracticality of the design.

The O-I remains a fascinating example of wartime ambition outpacing reality - a super-heavy tank conceived during a period when Japan no longer possessed the resources to bring such an idea to life.

 

The Char B1 - Powerful, Complex, and Overtaken by Events

The French Char B1 was one of the most heavily armed and armored tanks in service at the outbreak of World War II. Designed as a breakthrough tank, it combined thick armor with a unique dual-gun layout: a hull-mounted 75mm gun for bunker busting and a turret-mounted 47mm anti-tank gun. On paper, the Char B1 was more than capable of defeating contemporary German armor and often proved nearly impervious to early Panzer weapons.

In practice, the tank’s complexity worked against it. Limited range, high fuel consumption, one-man turret workload, and poor tactical coordination reduced its effectiveness during the 1940 campaign. Despite these shortcomings, individual Char B1 crews achieved remarkable success, with several documented engagements where single tanks knocked out multiple enemy vehicles before being disabled or abandoned.

This 1/35 scale Tamiya Char B1 was finished using acrylics and oil paints, with weathering kept grounded and realistic to reflect a vehicle operating during the opening phase of the war. Subtle wear, accumulated dirt, and restrained chipping were applied to emphasize the tank’s heavy construction without overstating battlefield damage. The build focuses on form and mass, highlighting the Char B1’s distinctive shape and imposing presence.

The Char B1 remains a fascinating example of a technically impressive tank whose design philosophy was overtaken by the realities of modern, fast-moving armored warfare.