1:35 Leichttraktor Rheinmetall 1930

Leichttraktor Rheinmetall 1930 in 1:35 scale from Revell

An unassembled plastic kit in 1:35 scale from Revell production. The subject is the Leichttraktor, a German experimental light tank of the turn of the 1920s and 1930s, specifically the Rheinmetall works version of 1930. The model is meant to be glued and painted; paints, glue and accessories are not included in the package.

The real subject

The Leichttraktor came about as a test design, not as a production fighting machine. It carried the cover designation tractor, which was meant to disguise its true nature. A characteristic feature was the turret placed at the rear of the hull with a gun of 3.7 cm caliber; the engine, by contrast, was at the front. The machines served for trials of the running gear, transmission and crew layout, and the lessons learned from them fed into later development. They never entered service in the ordinary sense and only a small number were built.

Building and painting tips

With vehicles it pays to work from the running gear up: finish and paint the running gear and the suspension before you close the hull — after that a brush will not reach them. Cut the parts off at a distance from the sprue, scrape the mold seams first and only then sand them. Before painting, lay down a thin primer, which evens out the surface and brings out any unfinished spots. A model of this type looks good with fine dusting of the lower part and a darker wash in the recesses; build the transitions up in layers. Spray gloss varnish under the decals and matte the surface down once it has dried.

Who the model is for

• For modelers interested in interwar test hardware and in the development of armored vehicles.
• For builders in 1:35 scale who want an untypical subject outside the usual run for their collection.
• For diorama builders who can use a machine with an unusual layout of hull and turret.
• For modelers with basic experience of building vehicles.

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.