In Box Review of Commander Series Models 1/35th Scale
Soviet AT-1 Conversion For Spojnia 7TP Kit
Kit no. 2-058
Copyright: 199x
MSRP: Back then $14.00
Copyright: 199x
MSRP: Back then $14.00
HISTORY:
The 7TP (siedmiotonowy polski - 7-tonne Polish) was a Polish light tank of the Second World War. It was developed from the British Vickers 6-ton. A standard tank of the Polish Army during the 1939 Invasion of Poland, its production did not exceed 150 vehicles. Its chassis was used as the base for the C7P artillery tractor. A twin-turreted version of the 7TP, pictured occupying Trans-Olza in October 1938 following the Munich Agreement.
The 7TP was the Polish development of the British Vickers 6-ton Mark E tank licence. Comparing to Vickers, the main new features of 7TP were: a better, more reliable and powerful diesel engine, a 37 mm anti-tank gun, thicker armour (17 mm instead of 13 mm on the front), modified ventilation, the Gundlach tank periscope, and a radio. About 132 tanks were produced between 1935 and the outbreak of the war, plus four iron prototypes. The designation 7TP meant "7 Tonne, Polish" (in fact its weight increased to 9 tonnes after the initial prototype).
Although the 7TP is often claimed to be the world's first (production) diesel-powered tank, this distinction actually goes to Japanese Type 89B I-Go Otsu, produced with a diesel engine from 1934 onwards.[1] Barring that, the claim of a first purpose-designed diesel-powered tank is tied with Type 95 Ha-Go, whose series production also commenced in 1935.
Like its British predecessor, the 7TP was initially produced in two variants: twin turret version armed with 2 Ckm wz.30 machine guns, and a single turret version, armed with 37 mm Bofors wz. 37 gun. After initial tests, it became clear that the twin-turret variant was obsolete and lacked firepower, so it was abandoned in favour of the more modern single turret design.
Prior to the outbreak of World War II most of the twin turret tanks were converted to single turret versions and only 24 twin-turret types remained in Polish service (as opposed to roughly 108 of the other type). Twin and single turret variants had no specific designations. In some modern books they are unofficially designated "7TP dw." and "7TP jw." (Polish abbreviations for dwuwieżowy – dual turreted; jednowieżowy – single turreted).
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Light tank
Place of origin: Poland
Used by: Poland, Nazi Germany (captured)
Wars: World War II
Produced: 1935-1939
No. built: 149 (+13 9TP prototypes)
Variants: Twin-turret 7TP, single-turret 7TP, 9TP (prototypes only)
Mass: 9.9 tonnes
Length: 4.6 m (15 ft 1 in)
Width : 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in)
Height: 2.27 m (7 ft 5 in)
Crew: 3 (commander, gunner, driver)
Armor: 17 mm maximum
Main armament: 37 mm Bofors wz. 37 gun
Secondary armament: 1× 7.92 mm Ckm wz.30 machine gun
Engine: PZInż.235(Saurer VBLDd) Liquid-cooled inline, 6-cylinder 4-stroke direct injection diesel engine of 110 hp (80 kW)
Power/weight: 11 hp/tonne
Suspension: leaf spring bogie
Ground clearance: 0.38 m
Operational range: 150 km (93 miles)
Maximum speed: 37 km/h (23 mph)
The 7TP (siedmiotonowy polski - 7-tonne Polish) was a Polish light tank of the Second World War. It was developed from the British Vickers 6-ton. A standard tank of the Polish Army during the 1939 Invasion of Poland, its production did not exceed 150 vehicles. Its chassis was used as the base for the C7P artillery tractor. A twin-turreted version of the 7TP, pictured occupying Trans-Olza in October 1938 following the Munich Agreement.
The 7TP was the Polish development of the British Vickers 6-ton Mark E tank licence. Comparing to Vickers, the main new features of 7TP were: a better, more reliable and powerful diesel engine, a 37 mm anti-tank gun, thicker armour (17 mm instead of 13 mm on the front), modified ventilation, the Gundlach tank periscope, and a radio. About 132 tanks were produced between 1935 and the outbreak of the war, plus four iron prototypes. The designation 7TP meant "7 Tonne, Polish" (in fact its weight increased to 9 tonnes after the initial prototype).
Although the 7TP is often claimed to be the world's first (production) diesel-powered tank, this distinction actually goes to Japanese Type 89B I-Go Otsu, produced with a diesel engine from 1934 onwards.[1] Barring that, the claim of a first purpose-designed diesel-powered tank is tied with Type 95 Ha-Go, whose series production also commenced in 1935.
Like its British predecessor, the 7TP was initially produced in two variants: twin turret version armed with 2 Ckm wz.30 machine guns, and a single turret version, armed with 37 mm Bofors wz. 37 gun. After initial tests, it became clear that the twin-turret variant was obsolete and lacked firepower, so it was abandoned in favour of the more modern single turret design.
Prior to the outbreak of World War II most of the twin turret tanks were converted to single turret versions and only 24 twin-turret types remained in Polish service (as opposed to roughly 108 of the other type). Twin and single turret variants had no specific designations. In some modern books they are unofficially designated "7TP dw." and "7TP jw." (Polish abbreviations for dwuwieżowy – dual turreted; jednowieżowy – single turreted).
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Light tank
Place of origin: Poland
Used by: Poland, Nazi Germany (captured)
Wars: World War II
Produced: 1935-1939
No. built: 149 (+13 9TP prototypes)
Variants: Twin-turret 7TP, single-turret 7TP, 9TP (prototypes only)
Mass: 9.9 tonnes
Length: 4.6 m (15 ft 1 in)
Width : 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in)
Height: 2.27 m (7 ft 5 in)
Crew: 3 (commander, gunner, driver)
Armor: 17 mm maximum
Main armament: 37 mm Bofors wz. 37 gun
Secondary armament: 1× 7.92 mm Ckm wz.30 machine gun
Engine: PZInż.235(Saurer VBLDd) Liquid-cooled inline, 6-cylinder 4-stroke direct injection diesel engine of 110 hp (80 kW)
Power/weight: 11 hp/tonne
Suspension: leaf spring bogie
Ground clearance: 0.38 m
Operational range: 150 km (93 miles)
Maximum speed: 37 km/h (23 mph)
THE KIT:
Commander Series Models, model kits and accessories is an old prolific model manufacturer of resin, metal and plastic kits in assorted subjects. They are based in Rochester, N.Y.
This kit comes in a navy-blue, tray and lid type box. The box art is a color photo of the model made up, on a sheet glued to the lid of the box.
Commander Series Models, model kits and accessories is an old prolific model manufacturer of resin, metal and plastic kits in assorted subjects. They are based in Rochester, N.Y.
This kit comes in a navy-blue, tray and lid type box. The box art is a color photo of the model made up, on a sheet glued to the lid of the box.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 17 tan resin parts, in a staple-bound clear cello bag and a zip-locked clear cello bag. They are cushioned in clear bubble-wrap.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet, that is printed on one side.
This kit contains 17 tan resin parts, in a staple-bound clear cello bag and a zip-locked clear cello bag. They are cushioned in clear bubble-wrap.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet, that is printed on one side.
It shows what area to remove from the Spojnia Brand 7TP kit, how to add the conversion parts and their names:
1. Storage box (left)
2. Storage box (right)
3. Gun recoil
4. Gun
5. Gun sight
6. Machine gun
7. Commanders port
8. Muffler
1. Storage box (left)
2. Storage box (right)
3. Gun recoil
4. Gun
5. Gun sight
6. Machine gun
7. Commanders port
8. Muffler
The upper hul front and rear are molded in one piece with rivet detail, hatches, etc. all molded onto the part.
The engine deck is also a one piece casting with finely reproduced lovers, rivets, hatch covers, etc.
Ron Hansen did the master for this conversion.
Commander Series street address, in Rochester, NY is supplied.
I looked on Wikipedia and all over the web, but I cannot find anything about an AT1 variant for the 7TP. I have 2 other Commander Series variant kits, that suffer the same problem: no info on the variants they do.
Detail is excellent.
Recommended.
Commander Series street address, in Rochester, NY is supplied.
I looked on Wikipedia and all over the web, but I cannot find anything about an AT1 variant for the 7TP. I have 2 other Commander Series variant kits, that suffer the same problem: no info on the variants they do.
Detail is excellent.
Recommended.