After a 3 decade interlude in modeling, I have recently started building again. The hobby has changed quite abit since the early 80's and I'm almost bewildered by all the new developments. Whatever happened to the endless Monogram Panzer variants? (I know, I know 1/32 scale).

Somehow, I decided to go completely insane and have been putting together a collection that is mainly concerned with the Pacific theater. This has had the side benefit(?) of forcing me to dust off my extremely rusty Japanese picked up while stationed there with the USAF. A fair amount of Japanese armor exists if you have the patience to dig for it and the resources to pay.

I managed to pick up a BT-7 (cylindrical turret) with the intent of finishing it as a participant of the "Nomohan Incident". It was only after the fact that I found out the Eastern Express version is superior to Zveda, but too late now.

I have found so little source material/photographs of the armor that was there and am not sure about the color scheme to use. I have found ONE picture that indicates the typical Russian Green, but also know that the Soviets used a green/brown/yellow camoflage scheme then as well. Anyone know of any resources I can use for reference?

I did buy some aftermarket parts for the kit (Eduard's PE, a brass barrel and Fruil tracks), but the kit doesn't include the chain. Any idea where I can source that?

Finally, I'm not sure what the interior of the tank should be painted.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

This is the book you want. It has lots of photos of Soviet tanks and quite a few of Japanese tanks and vehicles.

Бой в районе реки Халхин-Гол --- 11.05.1939 - 16.09.1939 гг
Илья Мощанский
Военная летопись 2001 - 02

Boy v rayone reki Khalkhin-Gol --- 11/05/39 - 16/09/39
Ilya Moshchanski
Voennaya Letopis, 2001-02; Moscow

Fighting in the Region of the Khalkhin-Gol River --- 11/05/39 - 16/09/39
Ilya Moshchanski
Military Chronicles, #2 2001; Moscow

It is long out of print, but you can find it for download on armorbook.com. (You pretty well have to read Russian to figure out the links and passwords and such.) I won't link to the site because of some of the content, bif you PM me I will forward it to you.

In a nutshell, the bulk of the tanks are BT-7s with cylindrical turret, overall 4BO green. No numbers, no stripes, no camouflage, just plain vanilla green. The camouflage you refer to came in the next year, and was pretty well limited to western and southern MDs in the USSR.

HTH
Scott Fraser

Scott,

I managed to find the site and grab the material - I may not be able to speak Russian (does "da" count?) , but Google does. Now I have to get cracking on the build!

Many thanks!

Good on you! I use google all the time, in both alphabets, and never even thought about suggesting you C&P the text into it. I'm sure you find the photos in the book useful --- they don't really require translation.

Cheers
Scott