In Box Review of Mirage 1/35th Scale T-26/BT2
Kit no. 35003
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION (copyright 1995)
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION (copyright 1995)
THE KIT:
Mirage is a brand based in Warsaw, Poland.
The kit came in a flimsy end opening type carton held shut with Scotch tape. My kit box was very crushed when I got it. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet find their way past the end flaps to become lost. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows two T-26/BT2's accompanied by infantry passing a knocked-out German Sturmgeschutz tank. The leading T-26/BT2 is in winter whitewash with a black slogan in Russian on the turret sides and a red flag waving above the turret.
The side panels of the box each have a small color repeat of the box art. One side panel has the statement that the kit is suitable for modelers over the age of 6, that the kit contains decals and instructions, but it does not include cement or paint. This is said in Polish, German and English, each language marked with the flag of the country that speaks that language. Then there is a caution about small sharp parts that may be injested by kids under 3. Mirage's address in Poland follows with MADE IN RUSSIA.
However, there are a couple tabs on two of the parts trees that say MADE IN POLAND.
On the bottom of the box is color box arts of 4 other AFV kits in 1/35th scale that Mirage markets:
1. A 7TP tank
2. A German Raketenwerfer 43 "Puppchen"
3. A Polish TKS tankette
4. A 7TP with twin turrets
Mirage is a brand based in Warsaw, Poland.
The kit came in a flimsy end opening type carton held shut with Scotch tape. My kit box was very crushed when I got it. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet find their way past the end flaps to become lost. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows two T-26/BT2's accompanied by infantry passing a knocked-out German Sturmgeschutz tank. The leading T-26/BT2 is in winter whitewash with a black slogan in Russian on the turret sides and a red flag waving above the turret.
The side panels of the box each have a small color repeat of the box art. One side panel has the statement that the kit is suitable for modelers over the age of 6, that the kit contains decals and instructions, but it does not include cement or paint. This is said in Polish, German and English, each language marked with the flag of the country that speaks that language. Then there is a caution about small sharp parts that may be injested by kids under 3. Mirage's address in Poland follows with MADE IN RUSSIA.
However, there are a couple tabs on two of the parts trees that say MADE IN POLAND.
On the bottom of the box is color box arts of 4 other AFV kits in 1/35th scale that Mirage markets:
1. A 7TP tank
2. A German Raketenwerfer 43 "Puppchen"
3. A Polish TKS tankette
4. A 7TP with twin turrets
No kit numbers are given for these four kits.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 11 chalk-white trees of parts in a sealed cello bag, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single sheet in 8 1/2" x 11 1/2" printed on both sides on poor-quality tan newsprint type paper.
The face side of the sheet begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, the history of the T-26/BT2 in Polish, the parts trees illustrations above the first 6 assembly steps. The steps are called out in Roman numerals.
The other side of the sheet continues with a grand total of 10 assembly steps, above a side view of the box art scheme.
The 1st chalk-white tree holds: the floor, sides, bogies, muffler, 2-man hand saw etc. (17 parts).
This kit contains 11 chalk-white trees of parts in a sealed cello bag, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single sheet in 8 1/2" x 11 1/2" printed on both sides on poor-quality tan newsprint type paper.
The face side of the sheet begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, the history of the T-26/BT2 in Polish, the parts trees illustrations above the first 6 assembly steps. The steps are called out in Roman numerals.
The other side of the sheet continues with a grand total of 10 assembly steps, above a side view of the box art scheme.
The 1st chalk-white tree holds: the floor, sides, bogies, muffler, 2-man hand saw etc. (17 parts).
The 2nd chalk-white tree holds: head lights, hatch doors, horns, fighting compartment sections etc. (12 parts).
The 3rd chalk-white tree holds: the fighting compartment roof, storage boxes, engine compartment top etc. (13 parts).
The 4th chalk-white tree holds: turret parts, main gun, machine gun etc. (15 parts)
Next is 2 identical chalk-white trees. Each holds: road wheels, drive sprockets, return rollers, idler wheels, fenders and their support braces etc. (95 parts per tree).
Finally, there are 5 identical chalk-white trees that hold individual track links. (56 links per tree).
The decal sheet completes the kits contents. It holds the Russian turret slogan and the red flag.
There are no interior details, nor any crew figures included.
There are no interior details, nor any crew figures included.