IBG 1/35 Tankietka TKS z NKM wz. 38 FK-A 20mm

[Dave Ward]

My Airacobra build is awaiting a replacement canopy, and my Knyaz Suvorov build now needs some more DAS to repair the sea, so for the moment, the bench is empty. I've decided to go for this:

This is the simple suspension version - the tracks are one piece. It has compete internals - it's a very small model, I bought it when it first came out & it came with two bonus resin crew members.
I'll put the camera on macro and will take some sprue shots & put them up tomorrow ( It'll be a certainty that the canopy & the DAS will arrive in the morning )
Dave

 

[Jakko]

it's a very small model

How small? This small

 

[GerryW]

Sounds an interesting build, will watch with interest

 

[Dave Ward]

The sprue shots:

An odd range of styles & shapes of sprues - slide moulding - no shrink or ejector pin marks. There is a little flash, but nothing to really cause problems. One thing I note is the large number of ingates on some of the more spindly parts - a new scalpel blade will be needed.

There are no decals & one colour scheme.................


The instructions are produced from CAD renders - and are very vague in some areas

Next up some detail shots:

 

[Dave Ward]

The thing is really small - all those parts crammed into a tiny chassis


You see what I mean when I say a lot of ingates on some parts........................

The resin crew in relaxed poses - neither is pointing into the distance!

The TK series of tankettes were all 2 man vehicles - like all the tankettes, they suffered from poor moblity, short range and poor operational awareness - no radios - little visibility, not helped by being so low! Armour was just adequate to keep out shell splinters. The TKs came in all sort of varieties, machine gun etc. The TKS had a 20mm cannon, which would punch holes in the Pz.kpfw. I & II - if they could see them!
I've made several TKs before, from Mirage & RPM, this differs in having the one piece tracks & a complete interior.
This is the TKW II from RPM

This has link & length tracks - really fiddly. You can get the IBG TKS in two varieties - one with the single piece tracks - or link & length - I obviously decided to go for the simpler option!
And in comparison to a T-28.....................
!!!!!!!!!
Dave

 

[Tim Marlow]

That’s a lot of sprue for such a small tank......good luck with it Dave, it’s something that isn’t often seen....

 

[Jim R]

Hi Dave
If a weapon of war can ever be described as cute then this is it. You won't need much shelf space. It looks a nice kit generally. I don't like the instructions done like that.
Jim

 

[Dave Ward]

Hi Dave
If a weapon of war can ever be described as cute then this is it. You won't need much shelf space. It looks a nice kit generally. I don't like the instructions done like that.
Jim

Jim,
I don't rate them much either - just lines, not renders is much clearer
Dave

 

[adt70hk]

Hi Dave

I have one of these tankettes partially done in the stash, albeit is a much simpler version from a different manufacturer, apart from the tracks.

When I was doing my research for it, I came across a build thread of this very kit. Not sure if it helps but here's the LINK.

All the best.

Andrew

 

[Dave Ward]

Hi Dave

I have one of these tankettes partially done in the stash, albeit is a much simpler version from a different manufacturer, apart from the tracks.

When I was doing my research for it, I came across a build thread of this very kit. Not sure if it helps but here's the LINK.

All the best.

Andrew

Andrew,
that's the complicated version, with the link & length tracks - and injection moulded crew!
Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

Some TKs ..................................

Dave

 

[Jakko]

That looks well-moulded, and will probably go together far better than the RPM one I built once upon a time, of which you seem to have a different version.

 

[Steve Jones]

I'm a big fan of IBG models so looking forward to seeing how it goes together. Its more like 1/72 than 1/35!. I have been studying Polish camo patterns for my current project so if you want some different ideas let me know. Happy modelling my friend.

 

[Dave Ward]

Construction started - I decided to assemble the left & right track units. They are very fiddly, with tiny parts, but the worst part is the clean up after removing from the sprue. Each part has numerous ingates, and takes far longer than normal.........................

This is the simple version - the other version has separate wheels & link and length tracks. I'm happy enough with the simple version! The plastic is rather soft, and a bit too easy to cut................
With such a small model, I'm a bit torn as to when starting to paint - I could prime & basecoat the tracks now or wait until much later in the build - the problem is the camouflage - it carries on across all the running gear & the hull behind it. I can see pros & cons for either option, I'll have to sleep on it!
Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

Good Grief! I'm having a bit of a struggle with this - getting the parts off the sprue without breaking them is the first hurdle. The second is the vague instructions, the final downer is the fit! Filing & cutting. once you have deciphered where the parts go!

The next stage I've puzzled over for a while - a shaft runs backwards from the engine to the rear - a pulley & belt drive the fan for the offset radiator - the instructions show an exploded version, which I can't work out. The only way is to get all the parts off the sprue, cleaned up, and work backwards from the fan, seeing where parts touch........................
Dave

 

[scottie3158]

Looking good Dave, the "simple" version looks busy enough.

 

[Jakko]

The only way is to get all the parts off the sprue, cleaned up, and work backwards from the fan, seeing where parts touch........................

But that’s what makes this hobby fun! (To a degree, anyway )

 

[Dave Ward]

I do have a plan 'B' - if the interior looks rubbish - I'll close all the hatches!
Dave

 

[Jakko]

Stick two figures into the seats, nothing will be visible of the interior after

 

[Dave Ward]

Stick two figures into the seats, nothing will be visible of the interior after

Jakko,
the crewman supplied, one seems to be standing, leaning against the tankette, the other seems to be sitting on the mudguard - being resin, they don't really look like they would convert easily................
Dave