T-26
Soviet Tank
Italeri (via Zvezda)
| Catalogue No.: | 359 |
| Scale: | 1/35 |
| Media: | Styrene and Vinyl |
| Review Type: | In-Box |
| Rating: | Highly Recommended |
S u m m a r y |
|
| Contents: | 184 parts (180 in grey styrene, four in sivler vinyl) |
| Price: | Price between US$19-27 |
| Advantages: | Finally, a 1/35 scale kit of a T-26 which IS a T-26! |
| Disadvantages: | Some heaviness to features, two-piece tracks always a tough fit |
| Recommendation: | For all Spanish, Finnish, and Soviet-era modelers |
F i r s t L o o k |
Note that the "First Look" tag only means that this is an in-the-box review, not
that I had the luck of getting one before anyone else! (By now many modelers who read
"Military Modeling" (UK) will have seen Steve Zaloga'sexcellent article on this
kit and this tank.)
Having been frustrated for so long by half-hearted resin conversion kits for the simple
but stalwart Spojnia kit of the 7TP, as well as the lackluster partial conversions from
RPM and Mirage, I was absolutely delighted to see that Zvezda finally got its kit of the
T-26 to the market. While it does use the BT-5 turret sprue, it at least was a shared
turret between the two tanks. Modelers frustrated with the itty-bitty RPM/Mirage
single-link tracks for their T-26 conversions, as well as the 7TP, should be much happier
with these two-part affairs that have very nice detailing. Steve commented on their being
a bit thin, but in the case of Zvezda's tracks and their past history, this should at
least give them some "stretch" so they will fit better.
Steve commented as well on the fact that this tank has a mishmash of features. This is
essentially true, especially if you want to do one in Spain. If not, then things are not a
problem.
The model, which is of a post-1935 T-26RT model, comes with the production Russian
rubber-tired steel wheels, rather than the solid rubber ones used on the prototypes and
found in the RPM/Mirage kits. It also has the anti-Molotov Cocktail cover over the engine
radiator vents, but unlike the other kits, offers no options. This pretty much nails the
tank down as a 1939 or 1940 service model, as these were added after they found to be a
dangerous threat in Spain. While it comes with the "rail" type antenna, many of
the tanks in that time frame either had no radio set, or were converting over to the whip
type antenna and the newer 71-TK-3 radio.
Overall, this is a pretty accurate kit and one which can be built out of the box without
too much fuss or need to change anything. It IS a T-26, and not a 7TP with a bunch of
parts stuck on it to look like a T-26. As noted, for those who want a more detailed model,
the RPM/Mirage single-link tracks can be used. (Of all their kits, only the T-26S –
the Mirage T-26C/OT-130 kit – with the conical turret and more accurate suspension
can be recommended, but with the advent of this kit, I suggest you simply get this one and
swap their superstructure parts onto it.)
It's about time!
Available through any Italeri kit supplier or from Squadron Mail Order.
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