MiniArt 1/35 Soviet T-70M

The T-70 light tank was used by the Red Army during World War II, replacing both the T-60 scout tank for reconnaissance and the T-50 light infantry tank for infantry support. The T-80 light tank was a more advanced version of the T-70 with a two-man turret—it was only produced in very small numbers when light tank production was abandoned. The T-90 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun was a prototype vehicle with twin machine guns, based on the T-70 chassis.

The T-70 was armed with a 45-mm L/46 gun Model 38 with forty-five rounds carried, and a coaxial 7.62-mm DT machine gun. The tank was operated by a driver and a commander who loaded and fired the gun. Armour thickness on the turret front was 60 mm, hull front and sides: 45 mm, rear and turret sides: 35 mm, roof and bottom: 10 mm.

T-70s were put into production in March 1942 at Zavod No. 37, and along with T-60 production at GAZ and Zavod No. 38. They completely replaced T-60 production in September 1942, although that tank remained in use until the end of the war. Production ended in October 1943, with 8,226 vehicles completed.

The one-man turret of the Soviet light tanks made coordinating a tank platoon nearly impossible, because the commanders were kept busy acquiring targets, loading and firing the main gun and machine gun, and commanding their drivers.

The infantry tank role was already considered obsolete. The SU-76 self-propelled gun was better suited for infantry support, its 76.2-mm gun capable of firing a larger high explosive shell. Industrial resources were, for the most part, redirected from light tanks to building SU-76s.

The T-70 is very nice and I was unable to find any molding problems aside from a bit of flash on some parts. The general detail is really well done with the hull and turret having a slightly rough texture as one would expect. The kit includes a small photo etchfret that I suspect is part of what makes this boxing a Special Edition as I don't recall previous issues having this set.

There are a few parts not used, and I suspect that those would be from the T-80 kit. The suspension bits are nicely done and the kit does include separate link tracks, which come on four sprues. I imagine that a goodly percentage of the build time will be in assembling these tracks. Aside from the gun breech, there is no interior detail, though the inside of the hatches includes some additional detail. This is not a tank that has a ton of 'stuff' attached to the hull, making construction a relatively painless experience.

Instructions are quite well done with additional diagrams to help in assembling some of the less obvious parts. There are no optional bits included.  Color charts with a wide variety of paints are included and all the figures have a color painting diagram. There are markings for nine tanks from the late 1942 through early 1944 time period. Most of the options are overall Soviet Armor Green with a couple in white winter camo. The decal sheet is well printed and offers a variety of turret numbers.

This is a really fine kit of a type of vehicle that was shortly to disappear from the inventory of most military forces.

http://en.wikipedia.org

December 2010

My thanks to www.scale-model-kits.com for the preview kit. Get yours from the link and at a discount.