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RPM 1/35 POLISH LIGHT TANK, TKW-II WITH INTERIOR

By RAY MEHLBERGER

KIT NO. 35034  MSRP: $20.98  GREAT MODELS PRICE: $17.30

HISTORY

On the 20th of June, 1929 Poland bought a single Mark VI tankette from the British firm of Vickers-Armstrong. After tests, an additional 10 were bought a few days later. It was thought that they would have a good use with cavalry units as reconnassance vehicles and Poland then purchased a manufacturing license to build these tankettes. The suspension was re-done to give the vehicle a smoother ride and the vehicles were designated as TK.

Early in 1936, the designers at the National Engineering Works...in Ursus, near Warsaw worked on re-arming the TK-3 and TKS versions with the Danish Madsen or the Swiss Solothurn 20mm automatic cannon. These both proved to be inadequate and a home-grown 20mm capable of penetrating 40mm of armor at 200m was used. Only 10 were built before the German invasion in 1939 and these were used as commander's vehicles. One of these is the subject of this kit.

The crew was only two men: the driver and the commander. On September 18th, 1939 a TKW armed with a 20mm, commanded by Officer Cadet Roman Orlik, destroyed three German PzKpw. 35(t) tanks near Paciecha in central Poland.

TECHNICAL DATA:

WEIGHT: 2800Kg 
ENGINE: Ford model A 4 cylinder/40 hp.
CREW: 2 
FUEL CAPACITY: 70 liters 
SPEED: 40 Km/h 
RANGE: On roads: 180Km Cross-country: 110Km 
LENGTH: 2.98m 
HEIGHT: 1.32-33m 
ARMAMENT: 20mm FK-A wz.38 L/73.5 automatic cannon 
AMMUNITION STORAGE: 250 rounds 
ARMOR THICKNESS: Front, sides, & rear 8-10mm 
...............................Top: 3mm 
...............................Bottom: 5mm

WHAT'S IN THE BOX?:

Great Models calls this kit out as a T-26/BT-2 Light Tank WWII on their web site. This is wrong! They also list the same kit, without the interior parts, as kit no. 35232 and call its name out correctly there.

The kit comes in a tray and lid type box. This box is way too large! It is almost DOUBLE the length that it needed to be to hold the parts inside. So...expect to see a big void at one end when you open the box. The box art shows a TKW-II passing a knocked out German tank that is burning in the background. This artwork also shows a manufacturer's plate, that says "URSUS" on the bow of the tank. However, this is NOT molded into that part in the kit. The side panel of the box show box arts for five other RPM kits. However, their kit numbers and discriptions are missing.

There are four, very pale gray and two chalk white trees of parts in two cello bags, a small decal sheet, and the instructions in the kit.

The instructions consist of one large sheet, folded in the center, to create four pages. This is for the assembly of the tank itself. A second, single sheet, is included for the the assembly instructions to do the interior. This single sheet is common to other RPM kits of TKW tankette variants, so the armament and hull top assemblies shown on it are to be ignored for this version. Only the interior layout drawing is applicable.

I would only refer to this single sheet after assembly of the hull pieces in step 4 of the main instructions.

The main instructions begin with a history in Polish only. A single paint scheme, calling out Humbrol brand paints, is next. But this drawing gives no instructions for any placement of the decals in the kit. The box art also shows no markings on the tankette pictured there. This is followed by parts tree drawings. These drawings will have to be constantly referred to as NO part numbers are molded onto the trees of parts. There are 10 assembly steps.

The first, large light gray tree, holds the vehicle's bottom, sides, glacis plate, tools and 20mm cannon. This tree is common to other RPM TKW variant kits, so 13 parts are not used for this kit. These unused parts are for different hull top and it's hatches. 12 parts are used. The next smallest light gray tree holds the new hull top, turret parts and hatches. All these parts are used and there are 24 of them. All hatches can be posed open if desired.

The final two light gray trees are identical. They hold the link and length type tread parts, drive sprockets, return rollers, idler wheels, and other suspension parts (47 parts per tree, 94 total). All are used for this kit.

The smallest white tree of parts is shown on both the main instructions and again on the single sheet of interior assembly drawings. Different parts are "X'd" out (shown as not used/excess) on each drawing. I would ignore the drawing on the single sheet as you may go wrong using it. Only five parts are indicated as to be used. The remaining 14 are excess. The ones to used appear to be an external machine-gun mount, some hinges, and some hatch covers.

The larger of the white trees holds interior parts: seats, steering wheel, transmission, storage compartments and their lids, main gun and machine-gun breeches, control levers, fire extinguisher etc. (43 parts here)

A small decal sheet is provided. Unfortunately, NO info is given as to what Polish units these represent or where they would be placed on the tankette. I am really puzzled here.

Conclusion

The kit looks like it will make up nice with care. No figures are included.

Recommended.

I bought this kit from Great Models.