RENAULT FT

Renault FT, a COBI brick kit

This item is a clip-together brick kit from the Polish maker COBI, not a plastic model. The hull, the rotating turret and the running gear are created by assembling shaped bricks and additional parts that click into each other; the details are handled by printing on selected parts. The model is therefore complete the moment you complete the last step of the instructions.

The real subject

The Renault FT is a French light tank of the end of the First World War and one of the most influential designs in the history of armored vehicles. It introduced the layout that became the standard for practically every later tank: the driver at the front, a fully rotating turret with the weapon in the middle and the engine at the rear. The crew numbered two men, the machine was small and light and it was built in large numbers; after the war it served with a number of other armies. A characteristic feature is the tall tail skid that helped it cross trenches.

Assembly and display

Assemble it according to the steps of the instructions and push the joints fully home; a part that is not pushed home shows up only later, when the following assembly will not fit onto it. On the running gear, check that the wheels sit in one plane, as a deviation shows clearly on a small model. Place printed parts with regard to the orientation of the print. The finished model is sturdy, will take being picked up and carried and will stand in a cabinet without support.

Who the kit is for

• For collectors of First World War equipment
• For anyone interested in the military range of COBI brick kits
• For anyone who wants to have the model finished right after assembly
• As a smaller piece that fits even a full cabinet

The kit is supplied unassembled. Once assembled, the model is finished and ready to be displayed.