Introduction

Inside the Amour has brought us much fantastic resin and photo etch kits and upgrade sets. The ITA16001 Detailing Set (1/16th for Takom) adds just one more great little set to the ever growing list. This detail set is intended to add a little more detail to the Takom model kit that was left off in production of the new Renault FT kit. This set come complete with the following:

Contents

2 – Cast Resin Idelers
1 – 37mm Cast Resin Breech
1 – 37mm Cast Resin Barrel/Compensator
2 – Cast Resin Tool Box Brackets
4 – Cast Resin Tool Brackets
1 – Sheet of Photo Etch containing 49 parts
1 – 2-page instruction sheet

Review

There is always one piece you go after when you open up a new kit, this time it was the cast resin idlers to replace parts A3 & A4 which make up the kit supplied idlers. This is a huge upgrade to the manufactures rendition. Inside the Amour has incorporated some really nice wood grain to their idlers. There is no flash or air bubbles present in the cast, only a small casting block which is easily removed and sanded clean.

Sticking with the resin in the kit, there is a small Ziploc style bag supplied filled with the smaller upgraded parts. There are two brackets which replace parts to construct the tool box for the outside of the tank. These two brackets replace the Takom kit parts E17 & E10 and work in conjunction with the photo etch tool box supplied with the Inside the Amour kit. These brackets have a small amount of cast off and a small cast block attached. Again, a quick, light sanding and these parts are ready to go.

The last four small brackets from the bag are the stand-off brackets for use with the Takom kit parts F44 &F46; the shovel and pickaxe. You will need to carefully remove the molded on brackets from the kit supplied tools. The bracket gets installed directly to the tank and then will have photo etch straps installed to hold the tools in place.

Finally, the last two pieces of cast resin are the pieces that make up the 37mm breech and gun. These two pieces are a nice upgrade to the kit parts. The gun and breech section for the kit are made up from multiple parts and there is a small section in between the barrel and the breech that will still be needed. The Inside The Amour photo etch breech shield to enhance the look of the new breech.

On to the photo etch! This detail sheet contains many combination parts for use with some of the above listed resin parts as well as some standalone upgrades. There are buckles and straps to use with the resin brackets for installation with the tools and the tool box, hinges for the tool box, Renault emblems and identification casting plates, the 37mm breech shield with recessed details, tool box and lid and finally rifling for the inside of the gun.

Conclusion

The Takom kit is a nicely appointed kit but with the addition of the Inside the Amour FT-17 Detail Set makes for a perfect match. With this Detail Set, the option of the open or closed toolbox with a better scale appearance is a nice touch along with having an option to have to tools mounted or un-mounted with detailed brackets is always a plus with any build. The upgrade gun and breech is especially nice as there are many seams with the kit supplied parts that need touch up prior to installation. The resin 37mm parts are cleanly cast and ready to go out of the package. And last but not least the finely cast resin idlers round off this detail set. The wood grain effect cast into the idlers will augment the model greatly.

I am currently constructing Takom’s Renault FT here on Armorama and will be using Inside The Amour’s FT Detail Set along the way, please stop by!
Takom’s Renault FT Blog Live links