RPM:s 1/72 Russkiy Reno

In 1919, during the Russian Civil War, when the Red Army on the southern front happened to capture a Renault FT-17 from the White forces, a decision was made to start to produce copies of the French tank. (Hence the name: "Russkiy Reno": "Russian Renault". It was never called KS-1.) 

After much difficulties - most due to total lack of experience among the people given the task - the first vehicle were tested in August 1920. As mentioned, in most respects it was a carbon-copy of the French design, with exception of the turret, where the people in charge had decided against choosing between MG or cannon armament, and instead mounted both! 

The result looked perhaps impressive, but the problem was that it made an already cramped turret even more difficult to work and fight in. (The tanks, that were in effect hand-made one by one, were also very expensive to build.) It is however an historical tank, as it was actually the Red Army:s first own design.

Now the Polish Company of RPM has issued a kit of this interesting little vehicle. (It comes as a part of their impressive wave of FT-17-kits, seven thus far, with three more planned! And it shares of course most of it's parts with the other kits in the series. ) 

Most of the comments regarding other kits in this FT-17-series, applies to this one as well. 

It is a really ambitious kit, with a colossal number of parts. (Click here for a scan of some of the parts.) This is said considering the scale, the size of the vehicle, and the fact that there (thankfully) comes with NO individual track-links - except for a few spare ones, intended as stowage. Most of these parts are used to construct the drive train, a VERY complicated task. (Click here to see a part of the plan and an overview of the sprues.) 

The level of detail is very good. All hatches can be shown in a open position, and it should be easy to add a full interior. (Notice that both the 37mm gun and the beautifully rendered Hotchkiss MG comes in full. And also notice that the building a full interior should be within reach of every modeller, as it was quite simple. Just go to the Interior pages of this site, where you will find material.) You get even tiny details like the cranking gear handle, hatch-handles and the equipment hooks for the sides of the tank. The plastic is light-grey, and rather soft, so take care when cutting the parts free, and when trimming them. The moulding itself is first rate: there were some ejection marks on the inside of the tracks, that will need a cover-up, but this will be easily done with some 1/72 clay. The tracks themselves comes in a black, flexible plastic, which has detail on the inside as well.

The kit doesn't come with the abundance of decal alternatives like many of the other kits in this series. It only contains two decal choices, one the original FT presented to Lenin himself - which, by the way, wasn't a proper Russkiy Reno. As you can see, neither is especially colourful, at least not when compared to some of the other tanks in RPM:s FT-17 great series, but there you have it. (Anyway, in such a tiny model, colourful camos tend to obscure the details, while plain ones let them come forward.)

This kit will not just fall together, the fit of the parts leaves a lot to be desired, and especially the drive train will need care and patience when assembling. But I must say I am impressed by RPM:s effort. It is a nice kit. (For a more comprehensive review of RPM:s FT-17 kits, discussing the problems in more detail, click here!)

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 guess that this will be kit more admired in the box than actually put together.

When it comes to on-line references, you should not miss the page of photos of a surviving FT-17, found on the WW1 cook-up. There is also an entire site dedicated to the FT-17, that you should check out.