Greg's Zvezda 1/35 BT-7

[Greg_147]

Hello all,

Here's my input to the GB, a 1/35 BT-7 light tank. The plan is to have it in a winter get-up, on a small base with a couple of crew members. Not a huge amount of parts in this one, as it's still quite a small vehicle, but as I'm normally used to 1/72, that's probably a good thing!

 

[adt70hk]

Cool!!

 

[Ian M]

Makes me think of some of the WWII Japanese tanks.
And its not green all over.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Something a little different there Greg Looks a good kit as well.

 

[Lee Drennen]

Greg looks nice.

 

[Greg_147]

Bit of a delay, but I've managed to make a start. It's fiddley kit, which doesn't fit together too smoothly, but it's getting there. The steering mechanism and front guards were particularly tricky to get into the right places at the right angles.




I've also decided that it'll be a hatch-open display, which means I'll need some interior bits. I've ordered a PE interior kit from Eduard, which should be arriving shortly. In the meantime, on to the figures!

 

[Mark1]

Nice progress.

 

[GerryW]

Oh to have the confidence for a 'hatch open' display - I was tempted with a dec 21st at spitzbergen display!

 

[JR]

Very nice Greg, front row seat please.

I remember the front guards were terrible, so much Its now a shelf queen. Good to see you managed to beat it.
Did you receive any chains for this, they were always shown in photos as with massive links. I've look round for some on the web, the last time RB we're out of stock.

 

[Mini Me]

Hi Greg I have one of these critters in the stash......albeit 1/87 scale. You look to be doing a super job in this........if JR left his on the shelf cause of fit problems you are probably home free from here on. Looking forward to the next update.
Rick H.

 

[Greg_147]

Thanks all! No chains with this one, John, but I have some lying around somewhere, so fully intend to attach the customary links dangling off the front!

In the meantime, the PE kit has arrived. It appears to be mostly exterior (which I wish I had known before I used so much of the original parts), but the turret interior is there, and that was the main bit. There's also some replacement top hatches, and some details for the inside of the driver's hatches. It's a shame to waste a lot of it, but it's tailored for various different versions of the BT-7, so a lot isn't compatible with my model anyway.



Shell holders and the gun breach. The main bits!



And I've fashioned some 45mm shells from the end of cocktail sticks. Not perfect, but it should be fine for the limited amount of them viewable.



And some amendments to the inside of the driver's hatches:



Here they are attached to the model. A basic white primer has been used, but it has pooled a little in places. Maybe it's been on the shelf too long. I'll fix that before the paint goes on!



And some views of the interior from the turret.



Lastly, a start on one of the figures from Miniart. It took a fair bit of putty and sanding to get the arms to look flush with the body. Eventually he'll have a map in one hand, gesturing to it with the other.

 

[rtfoe]

Looking really good with the interior and progress Greg...figure too.

Cheers,
Richard

 

[Mini Me]

Excellent work so far....love the interior detailing. Rick H.

 

[GerryW]

Great work with the internals, wouldn't know where to start.

 

[Greg_147]

Some more work done with this one. A few more detail bits have been added; the PE kit came with a replacement grill for the engine deck, and a radio for the interior. I've also made some seats for the turret, which just about completes that side of things:





The lay-out of the kits existing interior doesn't allow for a completely accurate representation, so I've settled for something that looks similar enough at a glance through the hatch:




I've also assembled the tracks ready to fit on. They appear to be black in most reference pictures I've found, so I've left these as their original colour, and applied dark steel pigments to make them appear as painted metal.



Base paint has been put on, and prior to the wheels and tracks being added, I've applied some mud:






Now to begin the weathering!

 

[Lee Drennen]

Nice updates Greg looks great

 

[GerryW]

Looking great!

 

[Greg_147]

A bit of weathering has gone on, and the hull has now been sealed:



Aaaaaand now it's snowy






Bit of an experimental effort. I'll likely change some bits if I can find a good way of doing it. Otherwise it'll be onto the base next.

 

[Mini Me]

Nice snow effect Greg....I've not tried that yet. Looking forward to the base. Rick H.

 

[Jack L]

Sorry Greg, missed this until now. Love the additions.