In Box Review of RPM 1/35th Scale
Czolg lekki Ft-17 Wieza Berliet Turret Kit
Kit no. 35232
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1997
Out of production
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1997
Out of production
HISTORY:
The Renault FT (frequently referred to in post-World War I literature as the FT-17, FT17, or similar) was a French light tank that was among the most revolutionary and influential tank designs in history.[citation needed] The FT was the first production tank to have its armament within a fully rotating turret.
The Renault FT's configuration (crew compartment at the front, engine compartment at the back, and main armament in a revolving turret) became and remains the standard tank layout. Consequently, some historians of armoured warfare have called the Renault FT the world's first modern tank.
Over 3,000 Renault FT tanks were manufactured by French industry, most of them in 1918. After World War I, FT tanks were exported in large numbers. Copies and derivative designs were manufactured in the United States (M1917 light tank), in Italy (Fiat 3000) and in the Soviet Union (T-18 tank).
The Renault FT saw combat during the interwar conflicts around the world, but was considered obsolete at the outbreak of World War II.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Light tank
Place of origin: France
In service: 1917–1949
Used by Various operators
Wars: World War I, Russian Civil War, Estonian War of Independence. Turkish War of Independence, Polish-Soviet War, Warlord Era, Rif War, Great Syrian Revolt, Brazilian Revolution of 1930, Brazilian Constitutionalist War, Chinese Civil War, Spanish Civil War, Winter War, World War II, Franco-Thai War, 1948 Arab–Israeli War (reportedly), Soviet-Afghan War (reportedly)
Designed: 1916
Variants: Char canon, Char mitrailleuse, FT 75 BS, Char signal, FT modifié 31, US M1917, Russkiy Reno
Mass: 6.5 tonnes (6.4 long tons; 7.2 short tons)
Length: 5.00 m (16 ft 5 in)
Width: 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Height: 2.14 m (7 ft 0 in)
Crew: 2 (commander, driver)
Armor: 8 to 22 mm (0.31 to 0.87 in)
Main armament: Puteaux SA 1918 37 mm gun or 8 mm Hotchkiss machine gun, Reibel machine gun (FT 31)
Engine: Renault 4-cyl, 4.5 litre, thermo-siphon water-cooled; Gasoline (petrol) pump; Engine oil pump; Zenith preset carburettor; Magneto ignition of 39 hp (29 kW) at 1500 rpm
Power/weight: 5 hp/t (3.7 kW/t)
Transmission: sliding gear; four speeds forward, one reverse. One main clutch plus two subsidiary clutches (one for each of the two tracks) used for steering the tank.
Suspension: vertical springs
Fuel capacity: 95 litres (about 8 hours)
Operational range: 60 km (37 mi)
Maximum speed: 7 km/h (4.3 m)
The Renault FT (frequently referred to in post-World War I literature as the FT-17, FT17, or similar) was a French light tank that was among the most revolutionary and influential tank designs in history.[citation needed] The FT was the first production tank to have its armament within a fully rotating turret.
The Renault FT's configuration (crew compartment at the front, engine compartment at the back, and main armament in a revolving turret) became and remains the standard tank layout. Consequently, some historians of armoured warfare have called the Renault FT the world's first modern tank.
Over 3,000 Renault FT tanks were manufactured by French industry, most of them in 1918. After World War I, FT tanks were exported in large numbers. Copies and derivative designs were manufactured in the United States (M1917 light tank), in Italy (Fiat 3000) and in the Soviet Union (T-18 tank).
The Renault FT saw combat during the interwar conflicts around the world, but was considered obsolete at the outbreak of World War II.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Light tank
Place of origin: France
In service: 1917–1949
Used by Various operators
Wars: World War I, Russian Civil War, Estonian War of Independence. Turkish War of Independence, Polish-Soviet War, Warlord Era, Rif War, Great Syrian Revolt, Brazilian Revolution of 1930, Brazilian Constitutionalist War, Chinese Civil War, Spanish Civil War, Winter War, World War II, Franco-Thai War, 1948 Arab–Israeli War (reportedly), Soviet-Afghan War (reportedly)
Designed: 1916
Variants: Char canon, Char mitrailleuse, FT 75 BS, Char signal, FT modifié 31, US M1917, Russkiy Reno
Mass: 6.5 tonnes (6.4 long tons; 7.2 short tons)
Length: 5.00 m (16 ft 5 in)
Width: 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Height: 2.14 m (7 ft 0 in)
Crew: 2 (commander, driver)
Armor: 8 to 22 mm (0.31 to 0.87 in)
Main armament: Puteaux SA 1918 37 mm gun or 8 mm Hotchkiss machine gun, Reibel machine gun (FT 31)
Engine: Renault 4-cyl, 4.5 litre, thermo-siphon water-cooled; Gasoline (petrol) pump; Engine oil pump; Zenith preset carburettor; Magneto ignition of 39 hp (29 kW) at 1500 rpm
Power/weight: 5 hp/t (3.7 kW/t)
Transmission: sliding gear; four speeds forward, one reverse. One main clutch plus two subsidiary clutches (one for each of the two tracks) used for steering the tank.
Suspension: vertical springs
Fuel capacity: 95 litres (about 8 hours)
Operational range: 60 km (37 mi)
Maximum speed: 7 km/h (4.3 m)
THE KIT:
RPM is an old prolific model company based in Warsaw, Poland. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped, flimsy and blousy end-opening type box. It is 3” too long and 2” too wide and easily crushed, as mine is.
I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows 3 side-view illustrations of FT-17 turret variants in overall grey. These are with various weapons: The Puteaux 37mm, the Hotchkiss 8mm and the Pz.Kpfw. Ft-17(F), with a line drawing of the Puteaux 37mm turret as a head-on view.
These are against an all white background, similar to how Tamiya does the majority of their box arts also.
One side panel of the box shows repeats of the Hotchkiss 8mm turret and the Puteaux 37mm one and the name of the kit in Polish again.
RPM is an old prolific model company based in Warsaw, Poland. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped, flimsy and blousy end-opening type box. It is 3” too long and 2” too wide and easily crushed, as mine is.
I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows 3 side-view illustrations of FT-17 turret variants in overall grey. These are with various weapons: The Puteaux 37mm, the Hotchkiss 8mm and the Pz.Kpfw. Ft-17(F), with a line drawing of the Puteaux 37mm turret as a head-on view.
These are against an all white background, similar to how Tamiya does the majority of their box arts also.
One side panel of the box shows repeats of the Hotchkiss 8mm turret and the Puteaux 37mm one and the name of the kit in Polish again.
The other side panel shows the Puteaux 37mm one again, followed by: Model kit suitable for modelers age 10 to adult. Contains instructions for assembly. Paints and plastic adhesives not included, in Polish, German and English. Each language is labeled with a color illustration of the flags of those countries. RPM’s street address in Warsaw, Poland is provided.
The bottom of the box shows 4 black and white box-arts of other AFV kits that RPM manufactures in 1/35th scale: A Schneider 1897/36 Cannon, a Schneider 1897/38 Cannon, a Renault FT-17 Tank and a T-26T Tank. No kit numbers are provided for these.
A parts layout guide is in the box as well.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 2 identical pale-grey parts trees. They hold the turret parts and the 3 different guns.
This kit contains 2 identical pale-grey parts trees. They hold the turret parts and the 3 different guns.
I have put the two turrets together. One is shown here. It is the Puteaux 37mm one. It needs to have the gun barrel drilled at the muzzle a little, as it is molded shut. I don’t remember what I did with the other turret, but I used the Hotchkiss gun on it.
The trees each hold 23 parts per tree. The trees are not cello bagged.
Nice petite detail. Highly recommended.