Russian T-40 Light Tank

Ron Garcia
Very similar to the Hobby Boss T-30 kit; the main difference being the rear amphibious propulsion system. As usual, the tracks are the hardest part of the build. Lots of tiny individual track links. If you like to paint your tracks separately like I do, leave off all the return rollers so you can slide the tracks back on after you finish painting the tank. The guide teeth are very long and they are very hard to feed over them if they are already attached. I figured that out when I built the T-30. The road wheels are very fiddly as there is a lot of play in the suspension arms. Take care with them so that all the wheels sit level. Like the T-30, I left off the tow cable because of the tiny PE. I decided to paint the whitewash version as depicted in the kit. If you decide to do that and you want to use the decal that wraps around the turret, leave off the vision port PE pieces or you'll have to forget about applying that decal. I didn't realize that until I had already finished painting the model. Oh well. Even had I left them off, it looks like I would have had to use plenty of decal setting solution to get the decal to snuggle over two large bolt looking things (pistol ports?) on either side of the turret. Neat little kit, but as with all these Hobby Boss tanks I've built lately (T-18, T-26, T-30, T-37, and T-38 ), I'd only pick it up if it was on sale. Experience with small PE is definitely a must (along with a PE bending tool).