SOVIET LIGHT TANK BT-7 TAMIYA 1/35

It is BT-7 completed in October 2015. It was very easy to make.

This is the BT-7 of Tamiya. I built the BT-5 of ZVEZDA long long ago and had a hard work. BT-5 and BT-7 are something like brothers. The body became the welding from a rivet as a change from BT-5 and became the slant gun turret as a characteristic of the model 1937.

Even Tamiya does the work of the box composing type at the beginning of the process, it’s surprising. I don’t worry the TAMIYA product, but just in case I did a trial assemble.

The chassis box was completed without problems.

Building around the complicated front wheel ends and side armors. I wrote a weld at the top, but I wonder some rivets may also be used.

I got big wheels fixed. It’s one of the characteristics of BT series.
(14-October-2015)

The mold of a BT-7 caterpillar, both sides are good quality. There are injection pin marks. Whether I leave the marks except where it stands out.

It was assembled on a tracker roller right away.This caterpillar is splendid. It cannot happen with the belt.

They are the etched parts and the decals to be used now.

The delicate curved surface processing of photo-etched parts use this jig, and anyone can easily make it.
(25-October-2015)

I clean the surface before the painting. It is assembling completion for the moment.

As usual, these headlights will be installed just before the completion. This thick chain is one of the big outward features of the BT tank.

There were a few wheels, so assembly was early. Because the caterpillar tracks are the high quality injection parts, they look like hard plates one by one.

The photo-etched parts are too beautiful and stand out. The shape of the shovel is somewhat strange and different from a Japanese one. Will this reproduce the shovel of the Russian military exactly? When I checked it, there was also such a shape shovel in the WWII Russian Army.

I fitted the photo-etched parts of the radiator inlet port in the body side.
(27-October-2015)

Painting with black lacquer paint.

I painted with dark green water-based paint and tore off favorite places. Sometimes it’s overdone.

Two figures are attached to this Tamiya kit. After having painted the tank, I begin this painting now. A complete report will be up after I finish painting the figure. Please wait a moment.

The back shot.

This position is just right to put a hand to the edge of the gun turret.

A mold is illegible in green colored parts.

The expression of the face becomes easy to understand that I paint surfacer.

The back shot.

I painted it generally. Is blue workwear slightly too bright? Maybe I will tone down the color a little.
(29-October-2015)

T-26 and BT-5 were lacking in the defensive powers in the Spanish civil war, BT-7 adopted inclination armor and improved the defensive powers.

The T-34 called a masterpiece tank had an inclination arming and the high mobility. These were inherited from BT-7.

BT-7 played an active part in the Battles of Khalkhin Gol that fought with the Japanese Army and the invasion in Poland, the winter war that invaded and attacked in Finland, the Eastern Front of the early stage. I had an impression that the BT tank was very weak, was always overthrown. In fact, it played an active part in various fights.

Because this tank is in Leningrad in 1943, it is an experienced tank very much. I think that the damage of the paint surface became considerably intense. It was painted like the tank used for a long time.

I wound a metal chain around the front, it is the basic item of the BT series. This headlight is really well-made. It’s fascinating.

I see the photo-etched parts of the radiator inlet port when from this height.

The painting of the exhaust pipe was increased rust. The recent Tamiya kits have a mold of the knob on the scoop stop tab.

I took a dry-brush with the iron metallic on the caterpillar. There is a sense of weight because it is a little sparkle.

The gun turret turned, but a gun barrel hardened on the way, and movement of the top and bottom has been fixed.

After having painted it with black, I painted with the basics-colored dark green and some areas were peeled off. It is so-called a hair spray technique.

I cut a margin off as much as possible, cut the number one by one and stuck it.

I think a pose and an expression are natural and cool. The painting of a map case belt has stuck up a little. I think I have to apply more correctly. I’m exhausted by face painting.

The soldier was painted like blond hair and added the light and shade.

I am ashamed that I show it by zoom up. The eyeballs were enduringly drawn on the hollow at the very back of a mold. I’m glad because it comes with a rank insignia of the decal in the Soviet Army. I want Tamiya to release the decal of the rank insignia of the U.S. Army, British troops, the Soviet Army, the Imperial Japanese Army. I absolutely buy for five each decal set.

I painted the tank crew of blue working clothes faded looking. It seems to fit for other tanks. It should be adjusted the height for using something inside of the tank.

From behind. I refrained from the oil dirts this time, maybe it is too shabby…

It is a layout same as a box picture.

A face is oil painting. Both of two people have a serious expression.

Judging from a badge of rank, the right soldier is a captain. I can choose the rank of a captain, a first lieutenant, a second lieutenant with the kit decals of Tamiya.

Because it was easy to assemble it, I was able to spend time for the painting. I think the best part of the tank model is drawing various expressions after having finished basic color.

Recently, I like the method to tear off a paint film afterward. I would like to use it to the Modern AFVs, but I wonder weathering it overdo.
(30-October-2015)