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1:56 Scale Soviet BT-7 Tanks


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Personal logo Editor in Chief Bill The Editor of TMP Fezian writes:

That would make sense. Thanks!


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9 August 2024page first published

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Personal logo Editor in Chief Bill The Editor of TMP Fezian writes:

Many years ago, back at the dawn of TMP, I was tempted to get started in WWII wargaming in 28mm or 1:56 scale. This was when the first vehicles in this scale began to become available.

BT-7 tanks

Unlike today, back then it was quite difficult to acquire 1:56 scale models. The companies were small, obscure and often out of stock. The retailers would advertise a line, then not be able to fulfill orders. The models were resin, often of a primitive quality, and sometimes crudely (and illegally) copied from a plastic kit master.

BT-7 tanks

I acquired these models from Army Group North, which was a pioneer in this scale. AGN is not currently active, as the owner had a health issue and closed down shop some time ago.

BT-7 tank

These models are resin, and consist of hull (with cast-on base) and separate turret, gun barrels, machineguns, and hatches. Two stowage items (sleeping rolls) were also included.

BT-7 tank

The tanks were sitting around my hobby space for a few years, until I resolved to have a painting service take care of them. So in 2019, I sent them off to Old Guard Painters in Ukraine.

BT-7 tank

When the painted tanks returned from Ukraine, there was a problem with the packaging, and some of the hulls and turrets had collided with each other during shipping. Fortunately, touching up the paint was easy.

I had instructed the painters to provide one tank with particular tactical marking and air-recognition symbols, and provided a photo. The painters misunderstood, and used the same markings on all three tanks. They also made the air-recognition triangle quite small.

BT-7 tank

I glued the stowage items in place, and also added flocking to the bases.

BT-7 tank

Now, many years later, the tanks have crossed my workbench again, as I've decided to add LITKO FlexSteel to the base bottoms, to make them more secure in magnet-lined storage and transport boxes.

BT-7 extra turret

I also sent this extra turret to the painters, which I apparently believed was optional for the BT-7. My notes refer to 'extra turret', 'short-barreled howitzer' and separate hatch.

BT-7 extra turret

I've just realized, after all these years, that it doesn't fit on the BT-7 hulls! The turret's bottom ring is too large, and rides up on the back structure of the hull. There's no apparent way to fix the fit issue. Perhaps it belongs to a different vehicle?