BT-7 mod. 1935 command tank WIP

 

The Zvezda idler has five bolts, lined up with the reinforcement ribs. The EE idler only has three. The pieces are molded differently, which makes it hard to swap them. 

Front road wheels. The guide says that Zvezda is correct, and EE has the hub in the wrong place, but I can't tell the difference. 

Middle road wheels. Both Zvezda and EE variants are correct. 

Drive wheels in wheeled mode. Both Zvezda and EE are correct. 

Hull top. The EE kit is missing the opening for one of the fuel tanks. Zvezda hull is correct. Also EE has no opening under the grille. If I had an engine to put in, I'd have to cut it open. 

The hull and running gear so far. The fit so far is... questionable, at best. The very basic hinges were removed for photo etch installation later. 

Added the missing fuel tank cap. 

Added the steering bits. EE plastic is famously brittle, and each of the very small and thin pieces snapped while I was getting it off the sprue. 

EE omitted a whole vertical strip of rivets on both sides of the hull. Fixing that omission here. Also adding welding seams along the front of the hull. 

Original cannon and the Aber replacement. As you can see, neither is quite the same as the projection, but it will have to do. 

The turret doesn't quite match up either. I'll have to extend the bustle. 

After days of filling, sanding, and filling again, it's done. Never again, what a huge pain in the ass. I also added some of the photo etch. Congratulate me on my first workable hinge (although not workable after I glued it down). 

First round of PE is on. I managed to lose a lot of pieces 🙁 Live and learn, I guess. 

Getting started on soldering the fenders. 

Got the last of the PE on. What a pain.