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We all know that the first tanks built in hundreds and the first ones used in combat were the British ones. But we must also all agree that it was the French Renault FT - the first with a gun placed in a rotating turret on the top of the hull - that became the progenitor of all later tanks, both the T-34 and the Patton. The Renault FT, spread all over the world (used even in Japan and Brazil, manufactured in Italy and Soviet Russia), was used still during WW2 in the numbers exceeding 2,000. But it was not the most numerous tank of the interwar period. For that was - almost forgotten in its original form - British Vickers E. Designed by Carden and Loyd in 1928, it did not attract the interest of the British army - the 150 vehicles built were sold to Finland, Turkey, Thailand, China, Poland and Soviet Russia. The last two of these countries also acquired a manufacturing licence - in Poland, 130 diesel-engined 7TP tanks were built, but the Russians built as many as 11,370 (named T-26) with original petrol engine. No British tank - before or after - has spread around the world in such numbers. Like the Vickers and the Polish 7TP, the T-26 was initially produced with twin turrets. However, the operational experience of all users around the world showed a decisive advantage of single-turret tanks, so from 1933 all T-26s (9,740 units) were built with single turret. Crewed by 3 and armed with a 45mm cannon and 1 MG, the single-turret T-26 m.1933 weighed 9 tons. It was powered by the 90hp inline 4-cylinder Siddeley engine. At this point, it is worth dealing with the urban legend that this engine was a 4-cylinder version of the Siddeley Puma from the DH.9 bomber. The “aviation” Puma cylinder dimensions were 145x190mm, and the tank ones - 120x146mm. In addition, the tank engine was twice as heavy. So Siddeley - yes, but Puma - definitely not. The Polish 2002-tool Mirage kit (debuting as 7TP, then Vickers and T-26) is the best Braille scale “Vickers-E family” kit on the market. Not less than 21 boxings are available and #72609 I used contains 198 styrene parts and two vinyl tracks. If they were of link and length type, the number of parts would easily exceed 220. In a package some 63mm long – a massacre! The model was made OOB except for drilling the exhaust pipe. Only the vinyl tracks had to be shortened by 6mm each. I was tempted to build the T-26 from the Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939. At that time, they accounted for more than half of the 4,700 tanks thrown by Stalin (and 2,700 by Hitler) against 900 fielded by Poland ... But - perhaps due to the danger of being misidentified with almost identical (but camouflaged) Polish Vickers’ and 7TPs - Soviet T-26s in 1939 were in boring 4BO green overall. The 6K chestnut brown blotches did not appear on them until 1941. Despite huge losses during Operation Barbarossa, hundreds of T-26s continued to fight the Germans in 1942 in the Caucasus and near Stalingrad. The last combat use of the Soviet T-26s was the 1945 operation August Storm in Manchuria. My model shows a tank from an unidentified unit that fought in January 1943 near Voronezh (midway between Moscow and Stalingrad). It has a two-color (4BO + 6K) camouflage with white areas of temporary winter camo. The paints are (as always) Humbrol enamels: 86 for the pre-1941 4BO, 186 for the 6K and 130 for the temporary whitewash - painted with Italeri brushes. Finally the Vallejo acrylic matt varnish was brush-applied overall. The photos are taken with an LG smartphone. Comments are welcome Cheers Michael

After almost 50 years of modelling (mostly aircraft, but also ships, cars, railways) at last I decided to build a small collection of AFVs in 1/72. Frankly speaking somewhere deep in the 70s or 80s I have built two or three such models (Centurion, Patton and 155mm M40 IIRC), but the time goes by and new kits appear every year. As a newbie in this ocean of modelling I would like to know your opinion which kits of several WW2 AFVs are the best on the market now. I'm not a rivet-counter, but correct shape and sharp surface detail are more important for me than sheer number of parts, opened hatches and detailed interior. So which kit would you buy to model the : Sturmgeschutz III Ausf. G (ESCI/Hasegawa/Italeri, Revell, Dragon, Trumpeter) T-34-76 (ESCI/Hasegawa/Italeri, Revell, AER/Toga/Parc, Zvezda, Trumpeter, Dragon, Unimodels, Eastern Express) T-26 (SKIF/Unimodels, Mirage, S-model, Pegasus) M4 Sherman - original variant, not M4A and later (Dragon, Italeri, Trumpeter, Heller) M3 Stuart - also "plain" M3, neither M3A nor M5 (Hasegawa/Revell, Alanger, Mirage) Eager to hear your opinion

Dear Fellow Modellers Vickers were succesfull in exporting their 6-ton tanks round the world. The model with two turrets was called the 'trench sweeper'. The Soviets wanted to kick start their tank industry and they started producing these oddities themselves. This is the nice Hobby Boss kit. No I did not add all the track pins! The figures are from miniart but heads from Hornet or Tank. Hope you like it? Andrew

One of my newer models - circa 2014 Kit: HobbyBoss 82499 Scale: 1/35th Scary part: the Indy link track with indy track pins Yikes! (15% tank, 85% track ) Based on the T-26 chassis (a British concept) this was probably the first Soviet SPG This was another long weekender for me and although it looked crude, it went together really well. The kit is fairly bland having no markings supplied so, I took a little license and added the '143' strictly for effect - I think it works? AND, the track Actually Works! Yeah, I know....... Just a little light weathering and ????? Hope you like

Russian T-26 Light Tank MOD 1935 (E35-183) 1:35 ET Model Trumpeters T-26 (1935) Light tank is a very nice little kit even though the suspension is a little awkward as seen in the review HERE. Whilst the kit is quite nicely detailed ET Models have released this two sheet set to replace some of the chunkier items to give a more scale thickness and appearance. Onto top of these there a host of smaller items that both delight, when fitted and frustrate, when making. The set comes in the standard ET packaging of poly bag with card header. The main sheet is taped onto black card, whilst the smaller sheet is contained in a zip lock poly bag, and the instructions of three sides of A4 green paper. These are very clear and well laid out, but they will still require careful reading before starting to assemble the etched parts, as some of the kit parts need to be altered or removed before these can be added. Plastic or brass rod of various diameters will also be required to use as directed. The first parts to be constructed are the large storage box for the right hand track guard and is made up of a single piece lower part which needs to be folded to shape and the lid which also needs the edges folded down to for an lip. To the completed box two support brackets, one at each end are attached as are the rear lid hinges, two hasp and clasps and one of two alternative lifting handles. Each of the pioneer tools receives new brackets and clamps including tiny wing nut bolts for each clamp. The next major assembly is that of the air intake grille on the rear engine deck. This is made up of the base box structure, which is quite a complex folding job, into which twelve individual slats are glued into the slots on either side. The top edges of the box are then folded over to cover the ends of the slats. Four bolt heads are then fitted to each edge and three plastic/brass rods passed through the three holes on each side under the slats. One of the most awkward assemblies within this set is that of the new exhaust. The main body needs to be rolled to shape with only the small overlapping seams being glued or, preferably, soldered. The internal end pieces are then fitted and the three support struts/straps attached to their specific locations. Whilst it may be awkward the effect should be a much better looking exhaust particularly as the etched part has a nice knurled like texture more indicative of the real item. Another awkward assembly is that for the two replacement track guards, where each end needs to be rolled to the shape matching that of the folded sides. Once achieved however, the completed guards are a great improvement over the kit parts in that they provide a much better scale thickness. Once the guards have been rolled and folded to shape they are fitted out with a compliment of strengtheners, support struts and fitting straps. To the left rear section of the engine decking there is another air intake and this is completely replaced with etched items, including new grilles and intake housing. Next to the slatted intake a new jack support and clamp fitting is provided, but the instructions give details of how to make a new shaped bottle jack to fit. With all the main assemblies built up they can be fitted to the model leaving just the new drivers hatches, turret hatch hinges, turret rear hatch hinges, fighting light lens covers and driving light housing hinges to be fitted to complete the build. Conclusion This is another superb set that, considering the size of the model is pretty comprehensive. Covering almost all the tank these parts will give a much improved detail and scale appearance to the completed model. There are some specialist folding and rolling tools that would make the work on the parts much easier, but I’m sure there are modellers that can find ingenious ways to do the same work if they’re not too keen of the extra expense. Highly recommended. Review Sample courtesy of

Etched set for Russian T-26 Light Tank MOD 1931 for HobbyBoss 1:35 ET Models E35-167 The T-26 tank was a Soviet light infantry tank used during many conflicts of the 1930s as well as during World War II. It was a development of the British Vickers 6-Ton tank and is widely considered one of the most successful tank designs of the 1930s. It was produced in greater numbers than any other tank of the period, with more than 11,000 manufactured. During the 1930s, the USSR developed a record number of 53 variants of the T-26, including different combat vehicles based on its chassis (flame-throwing tanks, combat engineer vehicles, remotely controlled tanks, self-propelled guns, artillery tractors, armoured carriers). Twenty-three of these were series-produced, others were experimental models. The Hobbyboss T-26 Mod1931 is a great little kit, having recently built one I couldn’t really see a need for any etch, other than that which came with the kit. But ET Models obviously don’t feel the same way as they have released this two sheet set just for this version. The larger of the two sheets is bigger than the model itself. Most of the sheet is taken up with the replacement fenders, which will need particular care when folding and bending into the correct shape. The myriad of straps and support brackets are also included. As with the other ET sets, there are a number of hinges and the like that will need the modeller to supply the correct gauge styrene or brass rod. The main storage box on the right hand side of the tank is completely replaced with a new brass item and comes complete with new hinges, catches, brackets, handles and locking clasp. Each of the tool tie downs are replaced with new brass items and this will require the removal of the kit details first. For these ET have even included the smallest details such as the wing nuts for releasing the tool clamps. On the rear deck of the tank, just aft of the turrets is a large air intake. Once again the kit part is completely replaced with a brass assembly consisting of the main surround into which the individual shutter parts are attached. Now this does make for a better look as the completed assembly is of a more scale thickness. Staying aft, there is another intake on the left hand side, just forward of the exhaust silencer, this will also need some careful bending to get the curve right and is also fitted with two grilles, The silencer is also another fun part to get right as the modeller will have to roll the flat brass part to the correct diameter before adding the end pieces and the three clamp supports. Whilst working on the engine deck, there are several grab handles and lifting handles fitted along with a couple of inspection ports. The main turret plate is fitted with extensions to either side and again the kit parts are replaced with brass bent to shape and attached to their respective positions. The drivers hatch plates are also replaced with brass and detailed with hinges, catches and internal latches, whilst the turret hatches only have external details fitted. If the model being built includes the 37mm gun in the right turret then there is a new shield provided. Conclusion Having said at the beginning of this review that I didn’t think the model required this much etch, I can see now that the scale thickness of most parts would be much improved with this set. It is surprising how much detail ET Models have included as apart from the hull and turrets there isn’t a part that hasn’t been changed or replaced. I will definitely be getting another T-26 kit to be able to compare the difference between one model with no etch and on with a complete etch makeover. Highly Recommended. Available soon from White Ensign Models in the UK Review Sample courtesy of

Another Russian tank from the 30's, based on the British 6 ton Vickers light tank. As with the T-24 the base may not be used with this tank. A lovely little kit to build, with the exception of the flippin' tracks, (each individual link is fitted to the next with two tiny pins.), nearly ended up cross-eyed by the end.