Zvezda BT-7 Soviet Light Tank 1/35

[Guest]

which bt-7?, iI would like to see , cheers

Have a search on YouTube for Harry Houdini he is building this kit on there a lot better than I am lol

[papa 695]

Slowly is the way to go Graham, some very nice work so far.

[Guest]

Three hours tonight and only rear fenders, rear box and four external fuel tanks added on the fenders. It's been a struggle I have to admit. One piece lost to the carpet monster but if it had asked nicely, it could have had the lot!o_O


The eagle eyed amongst you will have spotted I had done the rolled PE exhaust pipes wrong. If no one had noticed, please ignore this confession ops:. Anyway, I have now corrected them and added what I can only describe as PE caps over the raised suspension sticky up things either side of the rear engine grill.......

[Guest]

That looks really nice Graham!

[Guest]

That's a good looking bt 7 graham is it going in a diorama?


Scott

[Guest]

Lots of fiddly work Graham, but the end result is well worth it

[Guest]

Look good for now, cheers Graham

[Guest]

That's a good looking bt 7 graham is it going in a diorama?
Scott

Nothing in mind at the moment Scott, may do a small scenic base for it. Will decide when I have completed the initial paint job

[Guest]

Good work going into this Graham.

[Guest]

Right, a bit of an update.


Started work on the turret.






This model is not designed to have the hatches open as the interior is devoid of anything you would want to see. What it does have in it are two mould release pegs which have to come out as the photo etch has some basic detail to go in there.






Enter my favourite tool for this sort of work.


This is a slow running battery operated foot thingy that my better halves late Mother gave me years ago, unused I hasten to add.






Because it is slow running it produces little heat and can shift plastic in a nice controlled way. The big flat disks I have never used but the three rotary files get used a lot.


Anyway, soon makes short work of the big sticky out pegs just needs a quick tidy up with a sanding stick.






The rear of the gun as the kit would have you see






A bit of photo etch later, including rolling a tube for the rear of the barrel.






And a couple of ammo racks to go on each of the turret sides. Not all of these would be used if depicting the command vehicle as per box art with antennae around the turret but, oddly, they do not give you the radios to fit instead. I never intended that great loop aerial going on anyway so not an issue.






And, at last, it is starting to look a bit tank like

[Guest]

You're doing a fine job with this Graham.


It's starting to look the part.

[papa 695]

Some nice PE work there Graham it makes the turret come to life

[takeslousyphotos]

That's looking really very good Graham.

[grumpa]

I like Actually the tank Chris is referring to is a BT5, a previous model

[monica]

coming along very nicely Graham,do like the interior of the turret.