Flame-throwing tanks formed around 12% of the series production of T-26 light tanks.^[1] It should be mentioned that the abbreviation "OT" (Ognemetniy Tank which stands for Flame-throwing Tank) appeared only in post-war literature; these tanks were originally called "KhT" (Khimicheskiy Tank which stands for Chemical Tank), or BKhM (Boevaya Khimicheskaya Mashina; Fighting Chemical Vehicle) in the documents of the 1930s. All chemical (flame-throwing) tanks based on the T-26 chassis (KhT-26, KhT-130, KhT-133) were designated BKhM-3. The vehicles were intended for area chemical contamination, smoke screens and for flame-throwing.

The TKhP-3 chemical equipment for smoke screens and chemical contamination was developed in 1932. This equipment could be easily installed on any T-26 light tank and was produced by the "Compressor" Factory, (introduced for smoke screening as the TDP-3 from summer 1934; 1,503 such sets were produced to the end of 1936).

• KhT-26 (OT-26) — Flamethrower variant developed in 1933. Based on the twin-turreted T-26 mod. 1931 tank but using a single turret armed with a flamethrower, the second turret was removed.
• KhT-130 (OT-130) — Flamethrower variant of model 1933, using a larger 45 mm gun turret (a gun was replaced with a flamethrower).
• KhT-133 (OT-133) — Flamethrower variant of model 1939 (a gun was replaced with a flamethrower).
• KhT-134 (OT-134) — Flamethrower variant of model 1939, with 45 mm gun.

This kit is the second flame thrower variant that uses the larger 45mm turret. It is a very nicely molded Hobby Boss armor kit. It comes with mostly dark green sprues with the track bits being in  dark tan. A one piece lower hull is provided as is a working suspension. Each of the various suspension bits is installed using plastic pins, which have 'no cement' notes that should provide full articulation once complete. This is also true of the individual track links and I do not think I would be far from wrong in stating that most of the parts count is involved in the tracks. In with the bag of plastic track links is an alignment board that allows the links to be held in place while they are pinned. These sorts of pinned plastic tracks are very much one of the more recent developments in separate link technology and everyone I have talked to about them really likes the way they work.

The kit also includes a pair of nice photo etch frets. This fret is mostly for the engine exhaust/vent screen, the fender braces, and the small channels that fit in front of the driver's compartment. Perhaps these are to prevent ricochets from bouncing off the glacis and into the driver's face. Also included are the usual tools that one finds on the fenders and a driving light.

The welded turret is in two halves with separate crew hatches, though these and other hatches are to be modeled closed as there is no interior detail. The gun barrel is a shortened version that you would expect from a flame thrower tank and the area around the turret seems appropriately busy. A coaxial machine gun is provided for the turret as well.

Instructions are well drawn with clear construction steps. At the end of the steps are several full tank drawings so you can be sure you got all the bits in the right place. Unsurprisingly, no color information is supplied in the main instructions. A full color painting and markings guide is provided for two vehicles, both in overall olive green. The box art vehicle actually has some numbers to go along the hull, while the second version has broad white and blue stripes along the circumference of the turret. These will need to be painted.

If you like light tanks, or Soviet tanks or just want a more unusual piece of armor on your display shelf, then this is a kit for you. Thanks to its small size, it will not take up a ton of room and will be something that will add to any collection.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OT-130

June 2014

Thanks to Squadron Products for the review kit. You can get yours at this link.

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and fairly quickly, please contact the editor or see other details in the Note toContributors.

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