1:72 Wheel-track tank BT-7A

The BT-7A fast tank in 1:72 scale

This short-run plastic kit from UM captures the artillery version of the BT-7 fast tank. The qualifier in the name points to the wheel-cum-track concept of the whole BT series: with the tracks removed, the machine could run on a paved road directly on its large road wheels. The set is intended to be assembled and painted.

The real subject

The tanks of the BT series grew out of the Christie concept with large road wheels and independent springing, which gave them exceptional speed for their time. The BT-7 was the most advanced production member of the series and became one of the main types in the Soviet fast units of the second half of the 1930s. The BT-7A version received a larger turret with a 76.2 mm howitzer and was intended for direct fire support of tank units: it was to silence fortified firing positions that an ordinary anti-tank gun of smaller caliber could not deal with. Only a limited number were built, which makes it a fairly rare type among models of the BT series.

Building and painting tips

The running gear takes the most work: the large road wheels have to sit in one plane, otherwise the model will not sit flat on its base. Assemble them on a flat surface and paint them before fitting the fenders. Set the rubber tire bands off from the discs with a darker color, best applied with a brush after the base coat. The large turret is a rewarding place to bring out the rivets and welds with a dark wash; once the howitzer barrel is glued on, check it against the axis of the hull.

Who the model is for

• collectors of Soviet fast tanks of the BT series
• modelers in 1:72 scale with an interest in less usual types
• builders of dioramas from the late 1930s
• more experienced modelers used to short-run kits

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