RPM:s 1/72 Six-Ton Tank M1917
On the Real Thing
One of the nations that decided to adapt the famous FT-17-tank was the United States. But unlike other countries, they didn't make a carbon copy of the french design.
Specimen vehicles were obtained, and with manufacturers drawings these were shipped to the United States. Owing to the differences in the French (metric) and American engineering standards, it became necessary to carry out a virtual redesign, which also incorporated a number of improvements and changes. The steel-rimmed wooden idler wheels of French design were replaced with all-steel types, a bulkhead was constructed between the engine and crew's compartment, the Renault engine was replaced with a 4-cylinder Buda with the addition of a self-starter; and a new gun mount was installed that would permit the mounting of either a .30 cal machine-gun or 37mm gun. Other visible changes was an exhaust muffler on the left side and a somewhat different front at the drivers compartment.
Under the code name of Six-Ton Special Tractor initial orders were placed for 1,200 vehicles, this was later increased to 4,400. By 11 November 1918, a total of 64 vehicles had been completed, ten of which actually arrived in France before the war ended.
For more info on this tank, click here!
Review of RPM's 1/72 kit
In their fine and impressive wave of FT-17 kits, the Polish Company of RPM has now issued kits of these American FT-17:s. Two to be exact: one of the early version, without the shield, and one of the late variant with the shield. (see the boxart above.) At the same time, there is practically no difference between these two kits, save the box and the decals. (Click here for a look at the plans.) This follows the pattern of the earlier kits in the series.
This does, however, NOT mean that these latest two kits are identical to the previous. The sprues have been remodelled somewhat, introducing some new items. Still: these new sprues contain parts for all the kits in the whole series! (Including two different bodies.) With the late version, you get decals to build three different tanks, one of them a US Marines vehicles deployed 1927 in China, during the unrest in Shanghai. (See the box-art below.)
I can't see any harm in this. By this ploy RPM tries to increase somewhat the market of it's fine kit. And as for the individual modeller, you will surely get a lot of parts to drop right into your spares box - including some very nice Hotchkiss MG:s. So I am not complaining.
So what can be said of these two new kits. Well, nothing that hasn't been said before. It IS a good kit! The accuracy is very good. I can really find two faults: A.) The inner part of the mantlet is too big. It should be flush with the turret sides and roof, and B.) part 42 should not go all around the lower front track assembly: it should only cover the top. You can see this in photographs of the M1917.
But there ARE a number of obvious problems with this kit.
First: the tracks. I almost never deplore the abscence of individual track-links, and often find the full-length tracks quite useable. But in this kit, the full-length tracks are really problematic. They are made in a black rubbery material, that is difficult to glue and don't take paint too well - it flakes off after a minimum of provocation. And also it's a bit too thick. Well, most full-length tracks ARE, but in this case, due to the small size of the model, the tracks will make it sit too high. I will try to weigh my FT-17 down, but it doesn't really solve the problem. This kit CRIES out for a after-market track-link set. Next RPM FT-17 I'll build, will certainly feature resin track-links, even if this means that I will have to mould them myself! Another, VERY expensive solution, is to use the tracks that somes with Al.By:s FT-17:s, tracks that are just SUPERB!
Then there is an overly complex suspension: even the small trailing wheels at the top of the suspension comes as separate items, each divided into two parts, that you will have to glue together. (I understand that the reason for this, is that the kit is essentially just a scaled down version of a 1/35 kit, which makes the phenomenon understable.) The top trailing wheels assembly is VERY weak: mine broke a number of time, making me almost desperate, and forcing me to cries of desperation. I'm not kidding.
Another problem, is that the sprues are already beginning to show flash, and some parts were actually not completely moulded. I don't know if this is due to some glitch in the moulding process, affecting just his batch, or if the mould are already showing signs of wear. In the last case, the RPM offering should be treated as short-run kits, meaning that they will not be around for ever. Also, many parts are attached to the sprues in a rather akward way, forcing you to trim them free with utmost care, sometimes losing detail in the process, sometimes causing the tiny parts to break - the plastic is soft and fragile. Beware!
But
the
biggest problem, in my eyes, is that many of the parts actually don't fit
together too well! Fit is NOT great. Assembling the hull is a chore: you will need to do a lot of
dry runs, sand the parts, dry run again, do a bit of careful carving, test once
more etc. And then you will still need filler - which is also a problem, as you
don't want to lose the wonderful rivet detail. And then you turn your
attention to the running gear, which is also VERY taxing to get together.
The final verdict: few kits have
left me with a reaction so schizofrenic. On one hand: the level of detail is
absolutely FABULOUS! Everything is here. Nothing is missing. On the other hand:
it is a HORRIBLY complicated build. After you tried one, it takes a lot of
resolve to do another one
I recommended it, with with the warning, that it will not just fall together in your hands. It will require a lot work. But still: Well done Andrzej Gomela of RPM! (You can mail him, if you have comments or praise.)
