Model Armour

BT-7(Mod.1935) Value Package

Manufacturer: ET Model

Scale: 1/35

Material: Photo-etch & Resin

Serial Number: S35-007

Price:  £10.07

Introduction

ET Model from China has a rapidly expanding catalogue of photo-etched and detail sets for a wide variety of kits in varying scales, together with a very prolific release schedule. This set is intended to fully detail the Tamiya 35309 kit.

Set Contents

The range of detail sets from ET Model prefixed with S as in this set is composed of value sets, each of which is comprised of two or more previously released separate sets. This set comprises E35-064 (Basic detail), E35-065 (Fender set) and EA35-039 (Searchlights). So if you already have those sets, then you already have this one....so to speak!

The set is supplied in on of ET Models transparent plastic wallets, stapled to a cardboard header, inside of which are five photo-etched brass frets (one of which is tiny) and two cream-coloured resin searchlight bodies. The instruction haven't been amended in any way and just consist of the separate instruction sheets from each of the three sets that are brought together, in total there are just over three sides of A4-sized diagrams.

Installation begins with the construction of the - well...have to be honest here. I'm not really sure what it is, although I can be fairly confident that many of you reading this will know. It's the large flat, circular hatch-like structure at the rear of the turret on the engine deck. It could just be an access hatch/vent structure for the engine compartment, although as I am totally unfamiliar with Russian armour and have no references on them, I'm not sure. What we're supplied with consists of a circular 1.5mm high mesh, surrounded by another photo-etched ring, solid except for a row of rectangular slots around the top edge of its circumference. To fit these parts requires some light surgery of the kit parts, although the large circular hatch from the Tamiya kit itself is used, and gets two new handle assemblies to replace the plastic moulded ones. The rectangular panel that the circular hatch is mounted on gets two new hinges too, and just behind this there is a new set of brackets for the rectangular jacking block. Further back on the engine deck there's a new large engine mesh supplied for fitting over the engine vent, consisting of the mesh itself, which fits underneath a photo-etched frame. Each of the two large rectangular vent blocks, one either side of the engine deck receive new grills either side, one long, one short.

All the various tools and pieces of equipment fixed at various points around the hull, receive new brackets and fittings, and there are working hinges supplied for where possible, i.e. if the hatch in question is supplied as a separate part, such as the two part turret roof hatch and the two part rear turret hatch.

Moving onto the instructions of the fender replacements, they're not as simple as you would probably expect, each consisting of multiple parts and brackets. They will therefore, require a little care and skill to install properly. Soldering would obviously be the preferred method of joining the separate elements, especially so if you want to impart battle damage, and let's face it, bashing them around a bit would more than likely be the reason to install these in the first place! The major section of each fender is supplied as one long rectangular part, devoid of texture. Onto these various long strips are fitted, along with a series of brackets onto their lower surfaces. The front and rear angled sections of each fender are supplied as separate parts, again with various other smaller detailed parts to be fitted to each of these in turn.

The two new resin searchlights included in this set are both supplied still attached to their pouring blocks and will need to be carefully removed and cleaned up. Inside of each there is a tiny bulb that has been moulded in-situ, and a clear acetate sheet is provided to be placed over the front of each. Over this a small photo-etched brass circular grill is fixed, and a photo-etched bracket consisting of a simple strip is provided for each. The instructions make a point of insisting that they are night-fighting searchlights. One would presume this is to differentiate them from the day-fighting ones that work on solar energy. :)

Conclusion

Modelling on a budget but still want to included photo-etched details sets? Then become an editor of a well known magazine or website! Alternatively, make use of these value sets from ET Model. Seriously....for what you get at the price they ask...they're a bargain!

My thanks to ET MODEL for the review sample.