93 replies to this topic

[Antoine]

One and only picture, just to show you what I was after those last days.

You'll have understand it, the progress margin is ENORMOUS!
I've had my share of accidents, among them a varnish session turning the figs into white creatures, and other things like that.
I'll try to finish them quickly now, only some small alterations and that will be enough, time to do something else.
Sorry for the lack of step by step pics, but with all those coming back and forth, they would have been useless.

but the compensation for this mediocre result, there are numerous profits.
They were my first figs, it's a big step forward, and I've learned a lot.

I'll try some more in the future, certainly from tamiya for a start, then some finer plastic or resin brand. And maybe latter conversions, or creations?
We'll see.

Enter the clowns!

[Mish]

Looking good

[Antoine]

Really?

[Mish]

Better than I can do at that scale

[bruce3371]

I believe one of the other unique features of this tank is that with the tracks removed it can still go along on its road wheels. Not sure where the power would come from to do this.

Alan, you're correct about the original Christie design - it was designed to be convertible with the rubber-rimmed road wheels being designed to work without the tracks, thereby essentially turning it into an armoured car. I don't think this was done with the T-34 (it might have been a bit too heavy for going on the road wheels alone) but it may have been done on the BT-7. That's a good question about which wheels were powered. I'm sure some of the "trackheads" ("treadheads"?) here can answer that - I'm more of a "prophead" myself (although I do like armour, especially Soviet armour).

The rear pair of road wheels were chain driven from the drive spockets (the chain drive being hidden between the inner and outer layers of armour, just like the suspension), whilst the front pair were steerable.

The BT-7, I think, tended not to run on its road wheels, because it had fuel tanks on the side skirts, thus leaving nowhere to stow the track.

[jimbuna]

Looking great.

[Learstang]

The rear pair of road wheels were chain driven from the drive spockets (the chain drive being hidden between the inner and outer layers of armour, just like the suspension), whilst the front pair were steerable.

The BT-7, I think, tended not to run on its road wheels, because it had fuel tanks on the side skirts, thus leaving nowhere to stow the track.

Thank you for the information, Bruce! I think the main attraction of the Christie suspension was not the convertibility option, but just that it was a good suspension for fast tanks. I always thought it odd that the United States never adopted it. On the other end of the spectrum from the BT-7 I was just reading about the German "Landkreuzer" or "Ratte", which was so huge it was impracticable (below you can see it compared to a Maus and Tiger). Still it would make an interesting model in 1/72nd scale.

Regards,

Jason

[bruce3371]

Thank you for the information, Bruce! I think the main attraction of the Christie suspension was not the convertibility option, but just that it was a good suspension for fast tanks. I always thought it odd that the United States never adopted it. On the other end of the spectrum from the BT-7 I was just reading about the German "Landkreuzer" or "Ratte", which was so huge it was impracticable (below you can see it compared to a Maus and Tiger). Still it would make an interesting model in 1/72nd scale.

Regards,

Jason

According to one source I've read, Christie's personality is what put the U.S. off adopting his designs. He wouldn't just stick to one design, he kept on coming up with newer, 'better' designs. In the end the U.S. Army just got so infuriated with him that they abandoned him and his designs. (Source; 'Tank vs. Tank', by Kenneth Macksey).

[Antoine]

Better than I can do at that scale

I'm not so sure.
What about a tamiya figs GB, just to see what can be done with them?

[bruce3371]

Thank you for the information, Bruce! I think the main attraction of the Christie suspension was not the convertibility option, but just that it was a good suspension for fast tanks. I always thought it odd that the United States never adopted it. On the other end of the spectrum from the BT-7 I was just reading about the German "Landkreuzer" or "Ratte", which was so huge it was impracticable (below you can see it compared to a Maus and Tiger). Still it would make an interesting model in 1/72nd scale.

Regards,

Jason

Sorry for the late reply, and for continuing this, but I did some more research and found the real reason why the BT-7 didn't run on its wheels. Simply put, there wasn't enough paved roads in Russia to make it practical.

[Antoine]

Concernning the tank itself, I was blocked in my track (!) when it was time to paint the wheels.
Then a friend told me about the quickwheels sets, and I ordered one.
It's a kind of very useful tool made for lazy modellers.

First, I painted the wheels black, or german grey. When completely dry, I put the lot in the set (It's self adhesive).



Then, in my Russian green lifecolor set, I randomly choose one jar, and airbrushed two successive pass.




The result. Neat, isn't it?




To me, it was a good choice. The sets are quite cheap, and were delivered very quickly. I have the BT-42 in my stash, along with another BT-5, and I plan to get another BT-7 to use a set from A2Z.

Then, here's the plan.
There will be the tank on a dirt track, and aside Sergueï and Leonid, discussing about wich way to go.
Any idea is welcome.

[Antoine]

Turret is masked for the markings, a simple white cross on the sides and above.
No need for a sharp delimitation.




Off the masks.




A quick overall look.
One of the tracks is nearly ready, still the other to build.
Not too difficult to do, if you work before the paint, and with thin tamiya glue.

[Antoine]

I still have the tracks to finish, but not only them.

I've spared the exhausts, that I wanted to treat appart.
Remember, the neptun set.

I start with the primer and a brush, as a rough surface will be fine. It seems that this stuff can be diluted in water.

[Learstang]

Very nice work, Antoine - it's really come together! That tank green looks very similar to the green (AMT-4) that was used on Soviet Aircraft. It was, however, a completely different paint - it appears that despite persistent rumours to the contrary, tank colours were not used on Soviet aeroplanes during the Great Patriotic War (Eastern Front to you bourgeoisie!).

Regards,

Jason

[jimbuna]

Coming along nicely.

[Antoine]

Thanks.
I'm not that much concerned about the colour accuracy, it can change à lot due to numerous different factors.

[Learstang]

Thanks.
I'm not that much concerned about the colour accuracy, it can change à lot due to numerous different factors.

Antoine, I think the colour looks fine - that comment was really for aircraft modellers who still think that the poor, stupid, sloppy Soviets just haphazardly slapped on their aeroplanes whatever paint was handy, including tank paint and bright-green tractor(!) paint. Your BT-7 looks good to me.

Regards,

Jason

[Antoine]

But at the same time, as we were not there, we can't be sure that it never happened.

[Lucas Enrique]

Beautiful.....
Good Work, congratulations

[Learstang]

But at the same time, as we were not there, we can't be sure that it never happened.

That may very well be true Antoine, but try and say that on www.scalemodels.ru and be prepared for some heavy return artillery fire (I'd say 152mm howitzers at least)! They're a tough bunch over there. But knowledgeable - even with my very limited Russian, I've learnt quite a bit about the Red Air Force (and its colours). I can at least look at the pretty pictures they post. I don't know how it is with armour colours, but they definitely have some very strong opinions regarding VVS colours.

Regards,

Jason