Colin Key builds and reviews one of Takom''s latest offerings, the AMX-13/90 light tank.



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Thanks!

Excellent review!, nice to see a 'proper' review instead of most that seem to omit the assembly & accuracy of a kit and rush onto the painting/chipping phase!.

Good review Colin. Just one point to add, the dust cover is mandatory on a AMX13/90. It was introduced with earlier variants and required some modifications to the turret. So if you decide not to use the dust cover, you'll have to scratch all the mounting fittings.

Concerning the tracks, while they are correct, they were only used in military training areas (for the French army). If you decide to depict some scenery in a village or a civilian road, you will have to use Space Ace or Friul padded tracks.

Olivier

Thanks Tony, I made a conscious effort to document the building of this. It was a fun little build, only took a week. In retrospect I would have done a few things differently, and I really hope a turned barrel and some PE for the fenders and stowage boxes comes out.

Thanks for the additional info Olivier. I did notice the padded tracks in probably 75% of the on-line pictures, I did not know that the all-metal tracks were restricted to training areas. Was that just for domestic units or the export ones as well? Do you know if they were the same tracks with pads added or a different pattern?

Thanks for a real nice build review Colin. It looks like a good build...Cheers

It was the rule in France but certainly in Germany as well where lots of French armor units were deployed.
I can't tell for export versions. The best is to find reference pictures of the country you want to depict.

Unfortunately, the track links are different. The guide horns are offset because of the space needed to bolt the rubber pad on such a tiny track link.

Olivier

It should really obvious that padded tracks would be the only pattern allowed outside training areas. All metal would cause unaceotable amnount said of damage to civilian roads.

I've thought about building one of these (thanks world of Tanks) but the only option until now has been the Heller kit.

I'm too assume that this kit is much better in both accuracy and building ease?

Well, having never built the Heller kit, I can't really comment as to that with any degree of authority, but from what I have seen and heard, this one does look more detailed, more accurate, and easier to build. My experience is that this is an excellent kit, but as with all kits, there are some improvements that could be made.