Weekend plans changed and I was able to sneak a few extra hours of bench time this afternoon.
First I was faced with a research issue. The kit instructions and parts show the turret lift rings as posed vertically.
This felt wrong, especially since I recalled having done research on this exact issue when I built the T-26B (which shares the turret design with the BA-6) a couple years back (which to my shame remains unfinished). On that kit, the parts allowed builder’s choice with regard to the rings, and I settled on modeling them laying flat(ish).
Some specific google searching even led to a post from another modeler making a modification on his HobbyBoss T-26 (which certainly shares the turret sprue from this kit) in order to get the lift rings to lay flat. And in the drawings from a Russian armor museum also showed the rings laying flat.
But before I busted the knife out, I decided to double check my source photos just in case the rings were visible… and whammo!
So it appears that at least some of the time, the rings were welded in the vertical position. Phew.
Lastly, a few PE parts would finish up the turret’s construction. Recently in another thread I was mentioning how I hate when PE parts go flying off into the never-never, and @Edbert mentioned that some kits are coming with PE frets encased in plastic film to prevent just such problems. I’d never seen such a thing, but HobbyBoss has apparently gone this route – much to my relief! So much easier to work with.
Lastly on the turret: the barrel. I found that the metal barrel I’d received didn’t match the real deal’s profile, so I tossed it into the spares bin and was glad to find the plastic kit barrel cleaned up great. I decided to sand off the flared muzzle to match the period photos.
And the turret is ready for primer (after I blow the dust off!):
I’ve never built a kit that came with a PE fret before, so I thought it was neat that the metal parts are used as structural components, not just added detail. Check out these cool seats – I used Tamiya cement to soften the pins on the top part enough to “rivet” the PE part in place.
Believe it or not, I still have quite a bit of construction remaining on the interior, to include the dashboard and instruments, the shifter and brake levers, etc. Then, maybe, I can think about primer. Phew!!
