BT-7 Model 1937 Early
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/3/4/5/103345-12716-74-720.jpg)
Time for something Soviet...
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/3/4/6/103346-12716-45-720.jpg)
Step one has you install the most beautiful plastic springs ever done for a styrene model.
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/3/4/7/103347-12716-64-720.jpg)
Then you cover them up so no one can ever see them!
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/3/4/8/103348-12716-69-720.jpg)
Either I'm doing something wrong, or this model has major "fit" issues.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/3/4/9/103349-12716-95-720.jpg)
Lots of filling, filing and sanding. Also used some plastic strip to fill a gap.
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/3/5/0/103350-12716-60-720.jpg)
It took 5.5 hours to get thru Step 3 (the finished body), but it was fun, and I like this model (so far).
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/4/6/4/103464-12716-16-pristine.jpg)
Moving to the front suspension, the instructions show Part B6 installed 180 degrees from what's proper. A hand written note and arrow on the instructions (errata?) tries to explain this, but I didn't understand at first.
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/4/6/5/103465-12716-67-pristine.jpg)
Finished front suspension. It's tricky, and I suggest clean all the parts and dry-fitting everything between steps 4 and 6 (inclusive) before gluing any front suspension parts!
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/5/9/0/103590-12716-65-720.jpg)
Lots of little reworking.
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/5/9/5/103595-12716-81-720.jpg)
Phot-etch screen versus the kit part.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/7/6/0/103760-12716-88-720.jpg)
Engine vent louvers done.
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/7/6/1/103761-12716-31-720.jpg)
This is what it will look like once the screen cover is on.
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/8/7/3/103873-12716-33-720.jpg)
Starting to work through some of the extensive photo-etch I purchased separately.
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/8/7/4/103874-12716-70-720.jpg)
This model may become more metal than plastic!
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/9/4/9/103949-12716-39-pristine.jpg)
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/9/5/0/103950-12716-96-720.jpg)
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/9/5/1/103951-12716-48-pristine.jpg)
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/1/9/1/104191-12716-15-pristine.jpg)
More metal added, and shovels.
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/1/9/2/104192-12716-14-720.jpg)
Ready to paint!
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/1/9/6/104196-12716-32-720.jpg)
Tamiya white primer, via airbrush.
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/1/9/7/104197-12716-83-720.jpg)
I found that by thinning with hardware-store, regular lacquer thinner (not Tamiya's), I can get a gritty textured effect that's great for pitted armor plate.
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/2/4/0/104240-12716-29-720.jpg)
Base coat for the three-color scheme is applied via airbrush.
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/3/3/3/104333-12716-57-720.jpg)
Other base colors applied by hand.
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/3/6/7/104367-12716-26-720.jpg)
Gloss coated and decals applied.
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/5/4/2/104542-12716-75-720.jpg)
Pin washed with black artist's oil paint mixed with mineral spirits, and dry-brushed with Model Master enamel.
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/0/8/2/105082-12716-11-720.jpg)
Finished!
Komentáře
28 February 2014, 21:13
![](/profiles/img/12853-387-s.jpg)
ill be following this one George i have seen this kit and have contemplated getting it as the Tamiya kit is really expensive
28 February 2014, 21:51
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Welcome aboard William! This kit seems to have good detail, but I have a large photo-etch set to go with it. I hope I won't have to use much of it, and mainly got it for the screens. We'll see😉
28 February 2014, 22:10
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NOOOOOOOOOO. For a long time I am tempted by the Tamiya BTs. If you do your magic with this kit, I am doomed 😄
1 March 2014, 09:51
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H K 🙂. The deeper I get into this kit, the better the Tamiya sounds. The Eastern Express instructions are vague and unclear to me. I am actually following an internet "build log" on the Tamiya kit to see how parts are suppose to look and go together. 🤔
1 March 2014, 17:09
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George, you seem to be completely undaunted by crappy kits. I would lecture you about not loosing time doing all these home-made corrections but your pace is also undaunted. What's your secret?... Deal with the devil?
3 March 2014, 00:33
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This is slowly becoming an Eduard photo-etch kit held together with a few Eastern Express parts 😄
4 March 2014, 18:50
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Very nice George - I like the Irwin persuader - I am with Brian on crappy kits but then its better than scratch build I guess! Yours will probably be better than real thing as they were 'rough as old guts' in reality I think.
4 March 2014, 19:15
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Thanks Michael. I've found lots of reference photos on the internet. That helps🙂.
Hunter, welcome aboard😉. Hope you're settled-in and building!
5 March 2014, 05:42
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Yes, there is a lot of metal showing on the hull. I'll be curious to hear how the workable tracks work.
5 March 2014, 05:44
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Brian, the Hobbyboss workable tracks are a little like Dragon "Magic Tracks". They come on a sprue and need minimal cleanup 🙂. They do snap together and "work", but the connection pins are pretty small and the connection is weak. I only tried five to see how they fit around the sprockets. Some will have to be glued to stay together 🙁.
5 March 2014, 13:58
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Started painting, using Tamiya's white primer via airbrush to both prime and texture😉.
5 March 2014, 23:40
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Thanks for the update & info the tracks George. Sounds like it's moving along. I started a car model last weekend and have yet to start painting. It's close though.
6 March 2014, 05:12
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Decals are on. I have to say, Eastern Express has wonderful decals! 😉
8 March 2014, 02:25
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Nice progress, George! The decals are really that good? They must be pretty old already or have you got a reissue of the kit?
8 March 2014, 07:08
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Thanks Mates! 🙂.
Frank, I bought this kit maybe 5 to 10 years ago "used" on eBay. I've had it in my stash since then. I was very leery of the the ancient decals, so I tested one on the bottom of the tank. They are super-thin, strong and disappear with a gloss coat (undercoat and overcoat) 🙂. They may be the best decals I ever used! For a manufacturer, they don't say anything except "Eastern Express" on them. Enough for 4 or more vehicles 🙂
8 March 2014, 14:23
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Nice job George, your making this kit look pretty good maybe a nice substitute for the overly priced Tamiya kit
8 March 2014, 16:47
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For all those interested in the Hobby Boss track links, they came up one inch (6 links) short on both sides 🙁. Fortunately, I was able to use links from the kit to fill the gaps. Had to modify and create guide teeth to match the Hobby Boss.
10 March 2014, 22:14
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thats not very cool at all at least you were able to complete it with the kits tracks, thanks for the heads up
10 March 2014, 22:22
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Hi George. I have followed the step by step and the finished model looks great. The PE adds a lot to the kit and the finish and weathering look great.
22 May 2014, 20:00
Album info
Eastern Express 1/35 Scale