1:35 Soviet D-38 Tank

Soviet D-38 1:35 (Hobby Boss)

An injection-molded plastic kit in 1:35 scale from Hobby Boss. The subject is the Soviet tracked armored vehicle designated D-38, a theme that appears in kit form only rarely. The model follows on from the range of Soviet interwar equipment that this manufacturer offers, and it is aimed at modelers looking for something other than the usual Second World War types for their display case.

The real subject

The designation D-38 belongs to Soviet armored vehicle development of the interwar period, that is from the time when a number of light tracked and wheeled vehicles were created in small numbers and as prototypes. The designs of that time built on light armor and on automobile and tractor components, and they experimented with various arrangements of the turret and the armament. Most of these types never reached large-scale production, which makes them all the more interesting for collectors and for modelers who enjoy less usual subjects. Details of the exact appearance and service of this type are best checked in the specialist literature.

Building and painting tips

With tracked vehicles it works well to finish and paint the running gear before the hull is closed up and the turret fitted. Leave the tracks separate and fit them only once the chassis is painted. A small vehicle suits a finer patina: a dark wash into the riveted joints and pressings, careful highlighting of the edges, and dust pigments on the underside and on the tracks. A base color matters on small parts, because without it the paint rubs off smooth plastic easily.

Who the model is for

• Modelers of Soviet interwar equipment
• Collectors of unusual and rarely covered subjects
• Builders of smaller dioramas in 1:35 scale
• Modelers with basic experience of building tracked vehicles

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