_GOTOBOTTOM
Armor/AFV
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
FEATURE
Tamiya BT-7 Review and Build
firstcircle
Visit this Community
England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: November 19, 2008
KitMaker: 2,249 posts
Armorama: 2,007 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 07, 2013 - 10:50 AM UTC
Todd Michalak takes us through his building, painting and weathering of Tamiya's BT-7, with a little help on the way from Glenn Bartolotti's BT-7 Step by Step.



Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
clovis899
#155
Visit this Community
California, United States
Joined: May 05, 2002
KitMaker: 774 posts
Armorama: 605 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 07, 2013 - 03:10 PM UTC
Todd,
Congrats on a super looking build. I really like the weathering and paint, I'm like you, that is the prize at the end of a build. Got to love those Tamiya kits, they prove over and over you don't need a parts count that pushes 1000 to make a superb model.
Cheers,
Rick
c5flies
Visit this Community
California, United States
Joined: October 21, 2007
KitMaker: 3,684 posts
Armorama: 2,938 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 07, 2013 - 03:53 PM UTC
Outstanding Todd, great build and write-up. Felt like I was right there with you, taking a break and talking about GB's SBS half way through! Thanks for sharing this one with us

Wonderful work Matthew, getting this one all together and published, thanks!
scratchmod
Visit this Community
Massachusetts, United States
Joined: November 07, 2008
KitMaker: 796 posts
Armorama: 763 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 07, 2013 - 04:51 PM UTC
Great review and man what awesome painting and weathering. Very nice work brother.
imatanker
Visit this Community
Maine, United States
Joined: February 11, 2011
KitMaker: 1,654 posts
Armorama: 1,565 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 07, 2013 - 08:44 PM UTC
Todd, most excellent my friend Well written and very informative. I was impressed with the low parts count and relative ease of the build. Jeff T.
TRM5150
Visit this Community
Massachusetts, United States
Joined: January 03, 2010
KitMaker: 2,159 posts
Armorama: 707 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 07, 2013 - 10:27 PM UTC
Thanks a bunch Rick!! A lot more fun when you can "just build"!! Then take your time on the good stuff!!

Thanks James!! Appreciate the kind words! It was interesting to try and slide the review within the review...lol!! Spoke with Glenn last night and he was real pleased with the outcome...he is a solid builder and a great guy! Matt did great getting this up too...being blindsided with 6 pages of my ramblings and a hundred some-odd pictures...good man!!

Thanks a ton there Rob!! Just doing the do, right? This will look good on the table at AMPS this year!! LOL!!

Thank you Jeff!! Awesome little kit!! Tempted to pick up another now! Just straight out FUN!!
Grumpyoldman
Staff MemberConsigliere
KITMAKER NETWORK
Visit this Community
Florida, United States
Joined: October 17, 2003
KitMaker: 15,338 posts
Armorama: 7,297 posts
Posted: Thursday, August 08, 2013 - 01:25 AM UTC
Very nice article and lovely model.
TRM5150
Visit this Community
Massachusetts, United States
Joined: January 03, 2010
KitMaker: 2,159 posts
Armorama: 707 posts
Posted: Thursday, August 08, 2013 - 02:02 AM UTC
Thak you very much Dave!!
AlanL
Visit this Community
England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: August 12, 2005
KitMaker: 14,499 posts
Armorama: 11,675 posts
Posted: Thursday, August 08, 2013 - 02:42 AM UTC
Hi Todd,

Lovely build. I do like this vehicle and it's straightforward construction. The link and length tracks look to be a a great improvement on the normal Tamiya style rubber band tracks.

Excellent work.

Al
BBD468
Visit this Community
Texas, United States
Joined: March 08, 2010
KitMaker: 2,465 posts
Armorama: 2,383 posts
Posted: Thursday, August 08, 2013 - 03:30 AM UTC
AWESOME Review Todd and BT-7 is stunning to say the least! Well done sir.
TRM5150
Visit this Community
Massachusetts, United States
Joined: January 03, 2010
KitMaker: 2,159 posts
Armorama: 707 posts
Posted: Thursday, August 08, 2013 - 04:27 AM UTC
Hi Alan! Thank you kindly Sir!! Big improvent with the tracks! Easy to clean too! Small pin marks but like I said in the review...sand and done or leave and cover with mud!! LOL!!

Brotha Gary!! Thanks bud! Appreciate it...thanks!!!
AFVFan
Visit this Community
North Carolina, United States
Joined: May 17, 2012
KitMaker: 1,980 posts
Armorama: 1,571 posts
Posted: Thursday, August 08, 2013 - 04:40 AM UTC
Excellent write up, T. A modeler and an author.... truly a man for all seasons!
TRM5150
Visit this Community
Massachusetts, United States
Joined: January 03, 2010
KitMaker: 2,159 posts
Armorama: 707 posts
Posted: Thursday, August 08, 2013 - 08:33 AM UTC
Hello Bob!! Thank you, thank you! LOL!!
vonHengest
Visit this Community
Texas, United States
Joined: June 29, 2010
KitMaker: 5,854 posts
Armorama: 4,817 posts
Posted: Friday, August 09, 2013 - 06:17 PM UTC
The is great, I wish more modelers would write up build-reviews like this! I just copied it onto file for my references.
TRM5150
Visit this Community
Massachusetts, United States
Joined: January 03, 2010
KitMaker: 2,159 posts
Armorama: 707 posts
Posted: Friday, August 09, 2013 - 10:14 PM UTC
Thank you very much Jeremy! Sometimes it takes a bit longer...but it can be fun to go through the process!!
Minsk94
Visit this Community
Wisconsin, United States
Joined: June 16, 2008
KitMaker: 418 posts
Armorama: 408 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 13, 2013 - 03:46 PM UTC
What I like the most from the article is the part about scratch building of the "lost" details. How often we see posts on forums asking for help, because some detail got lost. With little bit of internet search and some work a new part can be built, which may look even better than the lost original one. The author definitely didn't have a heart attack from losing a couple of parts! Kuddos for that!
I only would like to add that "the two white scratch-built parts on the rear deck" are not to fill with fuel, but to adjust the rear suspension shock absorbers.



I wouldn't put too much trust in your historical sources, though.

>>>"By the onset of the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, and with tank losses soaring higher and higher, the BT-7 was still in full production."
No BT-7 was produced past September of 1940 as the T-34 started to go into mass production.

>>>"By the time of the Battle of Kursk, the BT-7 was making up nearly half of the armor in the Soviet Army."
Hardly over 5,000 BT-7 were produced at all time, and most of them lost in 1941-1942. More than 15,000 T-34 were built before 1943; plus, another 15,000 were built in 1943 alone. Plus all kinds of light tanks, KV tanks and SPGs. Not exactly "...BT-7 was making up nearly half of the armor...".

Anyway, great build! Thanks for sharing with us!
And good luck on your future projects!
 _GOTOTOP