TankMaster 1/35 T-70 Model 1942 Light TankBy Kent Kirkpatrick |
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Overview
The
T-70 was produced to overcome the limitations of the T-60 light tank.
Those limitations were the armor and firepower. The upgrade to the T-70
used the basic T-60 chassis. Hull armor was increased up to 60mm and a
new welded turret was used. It was powered by twin truck-type engines
giving the T-70 more horsepower than the single-engined T-60. The twin
engines allowed this light tank to travel up to 32 mph. When production
ceased in 1944, over 8,000 were produced by the auto industry of Russia.
The T-70 weighed just over 9 tons with a crew of 2. It was armed with
a 45mm main gun plus a coaxial machine gun.
The Kit
This resin and white metal kit is from TankMaster of Russia. A color
photo of a T-70 covers the 
box.
It makes a good painting and marking reference. Inside the box is a one-page
two-step instruction sheet in Russian. I would suggest if TankMaster plans
to export any products that they consider an English translation as well.
Kit instructions have no symbol legend for filing, gluing, cutting, etc.
that might guide you through assembly. There are 3 small zip-lock bags.
Two bags contain white metal parts and one with grey-color resin. The
hull comes in 4 resin pieces with 2 one piece resin fenders. As with most
resin kits this one will need basic cleanup of flash for proper fit. The
overall detail is very good with minimal amount of surface imperfections.
My review sample would require the engine deck vents to either be replaced
or recarved with an X-acto knife. It not anything to worry about. For
the resin intake vent I would suggest removing the molded-screen with
some photo-etch screen. The resin turret detail is very good as well and
comes with 3 white metal parts including the 45mm main gun and periscope.
You are instructed to create lifting eyes from wire and includes the proper
length 
of
wire to do so. The 14 resin road wheels are simple in detail but in scale
for 1/35th. The idler wheels are white metal and have nice accurate detail.
The tracks come in length (5 links) and individual links made of white
metal. The detail is very good but will need some clean up before assembly.
Other parts in white metal include the headlight (grind out and replace
with an MV lense), fender brackets, mufflers, suspension arms to name
a few. Other parts in resin include stowage boxes and final drive covers.
Again, these parts are nicely detailed and to scale. Since there are no
decals in this kit you will want to purchase some after-market ones for
Russian vehicles.
Conclusion
Overall
detail is good and accurate but some imperfections on exterior surfaces
can be an inconvience during assembly. From a visual inspection, I give
this kit thumbs up for subject detail and scale effect. The casting quality
could be better. This kit is good and recommended. Due to the amount of
flash on the parts, as with resin kits, I would suggest this kit to an
experienced modeler.
I would like to thank TankMaster for the review kit.
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