Dave......Reading what you said has made me feel a lot better, like many I just hate the idea of not being able to do it.
Si............ Worry not mate, you would lick it into shape, it's me, but kind of you to say. More like a dodgy modeler.
Greg.......No mate,,, the truck is dead long live the Tank.
Right good afternoon.
A brief history of the T40
I think I said T70 Earlier, just shows how things get to you. ITS A T 40 S .
The T40 started life as an amphibious light scout tank used by the Russians during WW2. It was armed with one 12.7 mm (0.5 in) DShK machine gun and a 7. 62 machine gun.. It was one of the few tanks that could ford a river without a bridge.
It was primarily intended to equip reconnaissance units. A land-based version of the T-40, the T-40S, was produced, although was later redesignated the
T-60. The T-60 was cheaper, simpler, better-armed, and could fulfill most of the same roles, so T-40 production was halted.
The vehicle served mainly in Barbarossa and in the defence of Moscow, and it was rarely seen after that point, although it was used in Soviet training schools until 1946. A total 44 examples of the type were later fitted with Katyuska rocket launchers, firing 82 mm unguided rockets from a 24-rail launcher. The Katyuska Rocket version would be great to build, but don't think anyone produces it, a scratch build maybe
Engine wise it was powered by the Gaz 202.... 12 hp power engine
Coming into service in 1941 until 1946. with a total of 222 being built, I have read else where that a total of 663 were built , so you can't take every figure to be true . Post June 1941 saw the removal of the propeller and the S added to its description .
It's weight a mere 5.9 tons was no match for the S65 for recovery purposes.
Crewed by two, the commander was quite busy , directing the driver, loading and aiming the 12.7 MM DShK Machine gun and firing the 7.62 machine gun.
The tank was no match for German Armour and many were lost in the Barbarossa Campaign.
A good start was made yesterday with work started on the hull, bits of PE for the fenders were fun rather than a fear.
Where I do need some advice is the position of the wheel supports.In most kits I have built the placement hole has one side rounded to give a correct alignment, here you are just given a square, so slight confusion as to how low they should be.
I've removed them once and put them back in what I think will be roughly the correct position .
You can see what I mean from the drawing unless I just don't read it right.
These 2 section of PE were not bad, I even managed to get them to fir well , underneath the track cover is a PE strip, how many people are going to look underneath there ?
Decided to do the tracks next,
all separate, oh what fun. I have a jig that might help.
Not going to rush, but have a good look and a few dry runs.
If anyone can advise on those arms I'd be grateful.
Thanks for looking in, I can always enlighten anyone's bad day with my tales from the bench
John .