OK Here we go with the new build. Presenting the BT-7 mod 1937 late version by Eastern Express.
A little history:
The BT-7 was further improvement on the BT-5 with a new conical turret in all but the earliest vehicles (BT-7-1). Thicker front armour, all-welded construction, a more powerful aero-type engine, a ball-mounted MG in the turret rear (in some vehicles), new gearbox, and extra fuel and ammunition stowage were other features. The BT-7 was the major service type in the 1939-41 period. A similar vehicle was the BT-7A close support tank which had a 76.2 mm howitzer replacing the 45 mm gun. Dispensed with wheel running ability and car type steering. 13.8 tons; crew 3; 45 mm gun pluse 2 MG; armour 6-22 mm; engine (gasoline) 450 hp; 45 mph; 18.65 ft x 7.98 ft x 7.5 ft. Other users: Finland and Germany (captured vehicles).
Now back to the kit. It comes with 5 sprues of soft, light gray plastic. This is my first Eastern Express build and upone opening the box, I was quite impressed with the fine, sharp detail. It also comes with length and link track. The track is very narrow and would appear to be more to scale than what have seen in other kits. here is some flash on some of the parts but nothing bad and not much. The instuctions are a bit poor. They are printed on two loose leaf pieces of paper and do not show much detail but they may not need too because of the low part count.
Already have the paint scheme planed out. It will be a unique winter pattern found in the fighting for Moscow. Think it will be very intresting as long as I can pull it off properly.
Starting with step 1 the instructions have miss labled the coil springs, part B7, the first one, should be part B8 and B8 should be B7. Moving to step 2 and 3 is constuction of the hull. The sides have fit and glued up with no problems but at the rear we run into problems. The rear is made up of 3 plates and they do not fit well and will leave large gaps that will need to be filled and sanded.
Top, rear
Bottom, rear
The front cowling will need much shapping and filling to get it togther.
All of those pieces are dry fit at the moment, here is what is actually built at this time.
Thats it for now. Work will not proceed full time until my T-26 is completed. The T-26 is 99% complete so it will not be long for full attentions to be given to this build.
That does look like a bit of work, certainly not a shake-and-bake like Tamiya’s new kit. I imagine this was quite affordable compared to the $60 + price tag on the Tamiya kit. Urghhhh.
Good luck and I’ll be watching, becuase I like the series and we don’t see too many of these kits here.
Oh yeah, russian tanks are cool! I think you made an excellent start here. I’ll stay around in case you have something russian to translate [H]. Good luck with your build and have a nice day
You’ve got some work to do there but I am confident that it will look terrific
Now don’t take this the wrong way but… I like your nuts.[:P] The nuts on the sides of the hull are very nicely molded. Can even see a little bump for the bolt it looks like.
Tigerman - It does appear there will be extra work in this kit. Picked this kit up about a year ago for around $10.00 and for that amount figured would give it a go. Would love to have the new Tamiya fit but for $60 + it may be a while.
Pawel - It’s going to be nice to have you and good to know I will have a translator. I have much around here that needs translated.
Wing Nut - Thanks for the confidence. Was a bit traumatized at first but your right, I do have some mighty fine nuts. [H]
DM - Thanks for that thread of your old BT! It is a fine example, very nice work, and it will definatley make a good visual.
WBill - GUARD IS UP [Y]
Ron - Thanks for stopping in.
Well it’s been a long week and not much has been done. It is the weekend though so should be able to get some work done on this one. Here it is.
Finally got the hull togther but there is still much work to be done. Will be a lot of putty and sanding to come.
Here is a shot of the rear. Filled the gaps with some extra styrene from and old kit. Once again still putty to come to smooth things out.
In hind sight, think it would have been easyier to just make new back plates rather than fill the gaps but did not what to have to try making new nuts, I like the ones I have. There should be a better up date soon.
Your off to a great start, as the other guys said these kits take a lot of work but I never knew that $60 was the price of a new Tamiya kit, for the love of God thats what the resin kit cost when I was a young chap.
Hello everyone. Sorry for the long time between response. The cold has finally made it to the south and when the weather gets bad, thats when I have to go to work. Spent the last few days straight at work with very little sleep. The city is covered in ice and there are accidents everywhere. Thats my excuse.
Terry, DM, Tigerman, Nate, TRM, Andy, Zokissima and Parkadge thanks for stopping in. I will be starting up on this build in high gear now.
Did get some work done today after making it home. Used squadron putty on the hull and sanded to shape.
Had to put another styrene strip in the rear to make the corner where the two plates meet, putty then sand some more.
Leaving the hull for a while, went to work on the turret. Once again, think the kit itself had some nice detail to it.
There was some minor fit issues with the turret hatches. Had to thin out the hatch arms and shape them a bit in order to get them to close (if left open they would have worked perfect). In the rear of the turret there was more filling to do.
Drilled out the gun barrel and added a new MG, the one that came with the kit was broken in a few places.
Here is a shot with turret and hull
Dont plan on doing a lot extra with this kit but there are a few small details I will be adding to the turret. The one big thing I will have to replace is the engine screen. Does anyone know of a good PE one? I probably wont wait for PE. I plan on cutting the plastic screen out leaving the frame and replacing it with some fine mesh tomorrow. This is what it looks like now and the brass mesh I plan on useing.
Thats it for now, plan on a more exciting update at the end of the weekend.
Putty work and modifications turned an ill-fitting set of hull slabs into a nice hull Rob, looking forward to more! [;)] Definitely think your mesh plan will be a big improvement over the kit part for sure. You’ve already got it handy so no need to go the PE/AM route an incur the additional expense IMHO.
