_GOTOBOTTOM
Armor/AFV
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
Hosted by Darren Baker, Mario Matijasic
REVIEW
Renault FT-17
CMOT
Staff MemberEditor-in-Chief
ARMORAMA
Visit this Community
England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: May 14, 2006
KitMaker: 10,954 posts
Armorama: 8,571 posts
Posted: Monday, November 10, 2014 - 08:48 PM UTC
Jan Etal takes a look at and builds the 1/72nd scale Flyhawk Renault FT-17 Light Tank(Riveted Turret) kit.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
tread_geek
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Monday, November 10, 2014 - 09:16 PM UTC
Darren,

Thanks for getting this one posted. I must say that this was truly an enjoyable kit to build and I can't wait to see what Flyhawk will grace us with in the future.

Cheers,
Jan
philmmusic
Visit this Community
Solothurn, Switzerland
Joined: August 06, 2014
KitMaker: 70 posts
Armorama: 69 posts
Posted: Monday, November 10, 2014 - 10:09 PM UTC
a small tank even smaller. I would be lost at 1/72. thanks for the review.
tread_geek
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Monday, November 10, 2014 - 10:44 PM UTC

Quoted Text

a small tank even smaller. I would be lost at 1/72. thanks for the review.


Thanks for commenting and if you have any curiosity about building 1/72, this kit is a gem. If you build it without the PE it will still look good and make the build easier. I can't stress too much that the parts fit on this kit is superb. Besides, it's still bigger (70mm X 25mm) than the First to Fight Panzer I.

Cheers,
Jan
firstcircle
Visit this Community
England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: November 19, 2008
KitMaker: 2,249 posts
Armorama: 2,007 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 11, 2014 - 12:36 AM UTC
Nice to see a Jan Etal review again... It sounds like a wonderful kit with many of the things that one could wish for, the metal parts, separate tools and hatches, decal choices, interesting color schemes - the Russian Civil War (?) scheme looks great, I wonder if there are suitable figures anywhere for that scenario??

Also a nice touch there being two kits, hopefully none of the tiny parts go missing so you end up using the spares from the other kit then not being able to build both! I guess it makes it decent value for the price, though some might have preferred one kit for $12.99...
Cheers
Frenchy
Visit this Community
Rhone, France
Joined: December 02, 2002
KitMaker: 12,719 posts
Armorama: 12,507 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 11, 2014 - 12:55 AM UTC

Quoted Text

the Russian Civil War (?) scheme looks great


Here are some of the FT tanks seen in Blagoveshchensk in June 1920 :



More info here

H.P.
tread_geek
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 11, 2014 - 01:40 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Nice to see a Jan Etal review again...


Then you very much, Matthew. Various "Real Life" concerns have hampered my participation in this field as of late.


Quoted Text

It sounds like a wonderful kit with many of the things that one could wish for, the metal parts, separate tools and hatches, decal choices, interesting color schemes - the Russian Civil War (?) scheme looks great, I wonder if there are suitable figures anywhere for that scenario??


The kit is, as I seem always to say, wonderful. Perhaps in some ways a bit "over engineered" but none the less, a pleasure. As for figures, I believe that Zvezda might have some winter uniform pieces that with minimal effort could be made suitable. Also, there are quite a varied choice of decals.


Quoted Text

Also a nice touch there being two kits, hopefully none of the tiny parts go missing so you end up using the spares from the other kit then not being able to build both! I guess it makes it decent value for the price, though some might have preferred one kit for $12.99...
Cheers


With embarrassment I must admit that the second set of photo etch had to be scavenged for spare parts to complete the kit for this review. As I mention in the article, bending some of the microscopic PE pieces was a humbling experience and not for the faint of heart!

Cheers,
Jan
tread_geek
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 11, 2014 - 01:45 AM UTC
Thanks for having a look, Frenchy and digging up the appropriate pictures.

Cheers,
Jan
weathering_one
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: April 04, 2009
KitMaker: 458 posts
Armorama: 456 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 11, 2014 - 06:37 AM UTC
Hey Jan ,

Great review and it seems like the kit for me! ;-) Are these available in Ontario? Can the drivers doors be cut apart and shown open? I checked out images and the interior looks like you mentioned, very Spartan.. Looks like a great and simple project.

Regards,
AJB
tread_geek
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 11, 2014 - 10:07 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hey Jan ,

Great review and it seems like the kit for me! ;-) Are these available in Ontario? Can the drivers doors be cut apart and shown open? I checked out images and the interior looks like you mentioned, very Spartan.. Looks like a great and simple project.

Regards,
AJB

AJ,

Thanks for the kudos and as far as I know, the kit hasn't hit the shops anywhere in Ontario. However, there is a fellow from a local club that will be investigating availability in southern Ontario. I'll PM you with what he finds. As for the drivers doors, you might be better off scratch building your own. The plastic is quite thick on the kit doors and also along the sides of the driver's compartment. It is by no means impossible but will take some effort.

Cheers,
Jan
firstcircle
Visit this Community
England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: November 19, 2008
KitMaker: 2,249 posts
Armorama: 2,007 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 11, 2014 - 11:22 PM UTC

Quoted Text

The kit is, as I seem always to say, wonderful.

No, I don't think you always say that... I think you've been less than glowing in some of your reviews before!


Quoted Text

With embarrassment I must admit that the second set of photo etch had to be scavenged for sore parts to complete the kit for this review. As I mention in the article, bending some of the microscopic PE pieces was a humbling experience and not for the faint of heart!

It's the first thing I thought of when I saw there were two in the box and all those tiny parts. There's always something that goes missing, at least for me there is. I can foresee scenarios where the other one has to be built as a wreck.
tread_geek
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 01:45 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

The kit is, as I seem always to say, wonderful.

No, I don't think you always say that... I think you've been less than glowing in some of your reviews before!


The statement above was made pertaining to this kit and my comments about it here and in the review proper.


Quoted Text


Quoted Text

With embarrassment I must admit that the second set of photo etch had to be scavenged for sore parts to complete the kit for this review. As I mention in the article, bending some of the microscopic PE pieces was a humbling experience and not for the faint of heart!

It's the first thing I thought of when I saw there were two in the box and all those tiny parts. There's always something that goes missing, at least for me there is. I can foresee scenarios where the other one has to be built as a wreck.


No need for a wreck with this kit, Matthew. Except for the hatch handles, there are plastic parts as an alternate for the PE and new handles could be make using brass wire. Several of the PE parts are also large enough that I’d hope they wouldn’t “fly away.”

Cheers,
Jan
pogursasha
Visit this Community
Canada
Joined: January 19, 2015
KitMaker: 2 posts
Armorama: 2 posts
Posted: Monday, January 19, 2015 - 05:25 AM UTC
Hey, I see you are from Ontario. Can you recommend me some good modeling stores. Nice review BTW. Sorry for off topic.
Cheers
tread_geek
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Monday, January 19, 2015 - 08:53 AM UTC
It's a big Province so where you live will be an issue. The largest and well stocked shops are in Toronto. You could ask in the Canadian forum about a particular city or region. Also, ask your local shop if they will order from their supplier (mine does!).

Cheers,
Jan
tread_geek
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Monday, January 19, 2015 - 08:54 AM UTC
It's a big Province so where you live will be an issue. The largest and well stocked shops are in Toronto. You could ask in the Canadian forum about a particular city or region. Also, ask your local shop if they will order from their supplier (mine does!).

Cheers,
Jan
pogursasha
Visit this Community
Canada
Joined: January 19, 2015
KitMaker: 2 posts
Armorama: 2 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 27, 2015 - 02:09 AM UTC
Hey, yep I know that Ontario is pretty big . I'm from Toronto so, yea. I only know wings and wheels but I'm pretty sure there is more. Is there some kind of private mssg on this website?
Sasha
weathering_one
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: April 04, 2009
KitMaker: 458 posts
Armorama: 456 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 27, 2015 - 07:27 AM UTC
For private messaging, just go to the upper right of the screen and click on Inbox. Enter the call sign of the person you want to contact. Wheels and Wings is probably the biggest, with a huge inventory and knowledgeable staff. It is also (probably) the most expensive. An alternative would be Hornet Hobbies, on O'Connor Drive. It's more like the old-fashioned neighbourhood hobby shop…lots of stuff, not always well organized, but very friendly and helpful staff. Panther Hobbies, on or near Dundas Street West, has , apparently, good prices and lots of cheaper second-hand stuff. Just a couple of ideas.

Cheers,
AJ
tread_geek
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,847 posts
Armorama: 2,667 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 27, 2015 - 08:21 AM UTC
Here's a few more…

Aviation World, of course!!! Out near the airport on Carlingview Drive, #195

Old Dog Models, in Markham. Again, not really a Toronto Store, but apparently has some good stuff

Sunward Hobbies at 2700 Dufferin Street, Unit 51.

Each of the above shops has a website.

Check the IPMS Toronto website (links) for more info…

HTH,
Jan
 _GOTOTOP