... I don't know. With these 75 year old tanks accurate resources are limited. That book written in all-Russian photographed above shows all-metal wheels in early models while later variants start to have the rubber kind introduced.

The Soviets had pretty terrible logistical support in 1930s and at the start of the WW2...so basically there was no spare parts and when a vehicle crapped out, it was basically rebuilt ...

The Soviets had pretty terrible logistical support in 1930s and at the start of the WW2...so basically there was no spare parts and when a vehicle crapped out, it was basically rebuilt ...

But there was a slight problem, as not all of these tanks on hand were functional due to wear, breakdowns, maintenance problems or simply age. Beginning in April 1940 the RKKA had established five equipment status categories for reporting:

Category 1 – new equipment, not previously in use, fully ready for operation and technically acceptable;
Category 2 – in service, fully ready for operation, may need normal repairs or servicing (author’s italics);
Category 3 – items requiring district workshop level repairs or maintenance;
Category 4 – items requiring central workshop or production factory repairs;
Category 5 – unserviceable items.

As of 1 June 1941, there were 4,875 T-26s of all categories in the western military districts of the USSR – roughly one-half of all of them built. 828 were listed as Category 1, 3,339 in Category 2, 709 were listed as non-operational due to being in Category 3 or 4, and none in Category 5. But of that Category 2 number, it is not known how many were actually functional. 30% may have been early models (e.g pre-1934 construction) and having only limited service life left, and many others may have been inoperable due to dead batteries, missing track links, broken suspension units, and many other items considered “troop-level” maintenance and repair items.

Actually the roadwheels you are using are nearly all rubber, which is why they replaced them...they chunked up really easily and generally didn't hold up that well.

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Actually the roadwheels you are using are nearly all rubber, which is why they replaced them...they chunked up really easily and generally didn't hold up that well.

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Were there actually 3 types as per http://www.andreaslarka.net/T-26_details/T-26_details.html (scroll down) or do those all metal ones just have the rubber worn off or removed?

Kimmo

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Actually the roadwheels you are using are nearly all rubber, which is why they replaced them...they chunked up really easily and generally didn't hold up that well.

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Were there actually 3 types as per http://www.andreaslarka.net/T-26_details/T-26_details.html (scroll down) or do those all metal ones just have the rubber worn off or removed?

Kimmo

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They look like they are the rubber type without the rubber on them

I have some photos in book I have showing damage to the rubber roadwheels, I'll scan them in.

Hmmm I was just doing some more research, and its possible that their might be a 3rd set of roadwheel design like shown in your photo...I've seen a few photos of the Vickers 6 Ton with this style of roadwheel. IIRC Finland did receive a couple Vickers Tanks, along with the captured Russian ones...

Looks like the wheel was fitted at the last roadwheel station

No worry guys. Go ahead ad use this thread for any sort of discussion related to modeling a T-26. Without the input from you fellas I would've painted my road wheels incorrectly thinking they were metal and not rubber.

But there was a slight problem, as not all of these tanks on hand were functional due to wear, breakdowns, maintenance problems or simply age. Beginning in April 1940 the RKKA had established five equipment status categories for reporting:

Category 1 – new equipment, not previously in use, fully ready for operation and technically acceptable;
Category 2 – in service, fully ready for operation, may need normal repairs or servicing (author’s italics);
Category 3 – items requiring district workshop level repairs or maintenance;
Category 4 – items requiring central workshop or production factory repairs;
Category 5 – unserviceable items.

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But there was a slight problem, as not all of these tanks on hand were functional due to wear, breakdowns, maintenance problems or simply age. Beginning in April 1940 the RKKA had established five equipment status categories for reporting:

Category 1 – new equipment, not previously in use, fully ready for operation and technically acceptable;
Category 2 – in service, fully ready for operation, may need normal repairs or servicing (author’s italics);
Category 3 – items requiring district workshop level repairs or maintenance;
Category 4 – items requiring central workshop or production factory repairs;
Category 5 – unserviceable items.

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Interesting... I have a bunch of scans of Soviet documents of that time, but I don't remember any of them placing vehicles in such categories. Will need to ask Steve on his source.