I just got a couple of kits. One is UM's BT-2, the other is a T-26 1933 made by a Ukranian company CKi and a character not on my typwriter keyboard. (I have seen it referred to as "SKIF" before.

Both kits look pretty nice. I have only built one armor kit before, so I am not an expert. The main thing I noticed is the vinyl tracks on the T-26 look awful to my eye. I like the photoetched fenders though. Other than the tracks, the T-26 looks to be slightly more detailed. Has anybody built either of these kits before? Anything the beginning armor modeller needs to watch out for? Which one is the most trouble free?

I may try jumping into the barbarossa campaign, building oneof these, but due to time constraints, I would need to go out of the box. I beleive both of these tanks would have been used to defend the Soviet Union, but only the BT-2 has markings for a 1941 Soviet vehicle. The T-26 has Kiev 1935 markings. I would try to find some rsearch, and get some correct markings before finishing either vehicle. Any suggstions? (I have hundreds of aircraft references, but not one tank book)

Any way to deal with the vinyl track on the T-26? Any aftermarket sets for this kit? (I know, there goes the "Out of the box" idea.)

Thanks for your time,
Dave

If you check the campaign list for vehicles allowed, both the ones you have are listed. Maybe just change the decals to fit the time period.

Regards
HastyP

RPM makes a set of tracks that may help you.
url http://www.militaryhobbies.ca/product.cfm?ProductID=721 url

I've got the RPM boxing of the T-26T (comes with parts to make a turretless artillery tractor). My kit comes with four sprues of single link tracks. Each sprue contains 8x7 links (56) or 224 links total. I'm not sure how many links are required per side so I dn't know if I could spare enough to do you any good. On the other hand, my kit was only $5.98 so if you find this kit you could have a cheap set of tracks yourself.

The back of the kit advertises single link tracks for the 7TP, T-26, Vickers 224 links. IIRC my shop had this set on clearance for less than I paid for my kit. I can check this weekend to see if they are still available.

Dave,

Here are some reference materials for a T26:

http://www.armybook.com/summary.html?code=0103003af8
http://www.armybook.com/summary.html?code=0103004z51
http://www.barbarossabooks.co.uk/book_details.asp?id=17547&cat=Russian%20Military%20Vehicles&page=3
http://www.barbarossabooks.co.uk/book_details.asp?id=14997&cat=Russian%20Technical%20Manuals&page=1

some Photoetch:

ABER PE 35001X - Fenders for T-26, 7TP, Vickers E
http://www.eduard.cz/./products/card.php?id_product=288&name=&catalogue_nb=&type=1&pgroup=2&scale=&product_month=&product_year=&page_start=395
http://www.eduard.cz/./products/card.php?id_product=1493&name=&catalogue_nb=&type=1&pgroup=2&scale=&product_month=&product_year=&page_start=395

barrels:

Elefant 35.413 G 45 mm 20K for T - 26 model 1933, Zvezda kit
http://www.bentbutnotbroken.com/Barrels/hb043.jpg
http://www.bentbutnotbroken.com/Barrels/hb044.jpg
http://www.bentbutnotbroken.com/Barrels/hb046.jpg

tracks:

http://www.bentbutnotbroken.com/Tracks/sk38.jpg
http://www.friulmodel.hu/_tree.php?dir=kezdet/Metal%20tracks - ATL-45 T-26


Hope some of this helps in what you are looking for. I havent made the links clickable but you should be able to follow them back to the source!

Lee

Thanks everybody.

Great answers,and a lot of help. I appreciate it.

I knew both tanks were on the list. I was just worried about the lack of a color scheme for the T-26. I did searches on both tanks, but I didn't find those book links. Most of the links I found had technical specs, and B&W photos, but little info on markings and actual units and usage. How is Armybook? They sure have a lot of neat stuff. Anybody here ever order from them?

I can get th RPM kit cheaply here too. I just didn't know it was the same kit, but with better tracks. I will probably do that. Maybe I could do a "Stuck in the mud" diorama to hide the tracks a bit too.

I will probably tackle th BT-2 if I can still get into the Barbarossa campaign. I have the correct decals, a paint scheme, and the linkand length track right in the kit. All I would need to do is toss on a few details, and some stowage. I will dig around the net for pictures of tanks in action with stowage. Any pitfalls I need to watch for with this kit? I have built several aircraft, but only one Armor model. (Tamiya Bradley in 1/35 scale)

I can hold off on the T-26 until I get the tracks sorted out. Also, if I am not building it for the campaign, I am free to use other color schemes. Two included in the kit are for Finland, and the Spanish Civil War. Both off these would be interesting and unique. Also the BT-2 looks like it will be a slightly simpler build than the T-26. (Maybe, If I really learn how to do this armor thing, I can make the Finnish verison of the T-26, and have it going through deep snow.)

THanks again for all of the help.

Rob (Sabot),

Is your T-26 in 1/35 or 1/72 scale? I just looked at the RPM kit listings again, and th one I was looking at was in 1/35. My SKIF kit is 1/72.

I guess that brings up another question. Is small scale a bad idea? All of my Aircraft building is 1/72 or 1/144, so my 1/35 Bradley felt like I was putting LEGO blocks together. Th kit felt huge and clunky. I thought I might feel more at home on a small kit, since I already am used to seeing and thinking in 1/72. 1/72 Armor sure can get complicated though. It takes a mighty big airplane to pack in as many parts as a three inch tank!

Thanks again