Výroba vlastních obtisků

Introduction

Released in mid-2002, I believe these 1/72 scale kits are Mirage’s first small-scale offerings, and my first impression is very, very positive. Mirage has offered a number of 1/35 scale AFV models already, concentrating on Polish, German and Soviet vehicles.

The approximately 140 dark gray, styrene parts are molded crisply, with no flash. I have rarely seen such small parts such as the grab handles, molded so small and delicately. At present Mirage offers four related kits sharing four common sprues: the single-turret 7TP (kit 72601), the twin-turret 7TP (kit 72602), the twin-turret Vickers E (kit 72603) and the single-turret Vickers E (kit 72604). Each vehicle has two additional sprues to make one of the four tanks offered. All four kits share the same tracks, wheels, hull sides and bottom.

Vehicle History, For The Modeler

In the early 1930’s, the British company, Vickers Armstrong, developed a rather successful 6-ton weight, light tank known as the Vickers E, or Vickers 6-ton. Though only a few were used by the British, for training purposes, the Vickers E was exported to Poland, the USSR, Finland, Greece, China, Japan, Estonia and other nations. In Poland the tank was developed further and produced as the 7TP in machine-gun and cannon-armed versions. An interesting feature of the Polish 7TP tanks is that they were powered with a diesel engine. This is one of the first uses of a diesel engine in an AFV I am aware of. The Vickers and T-26 were gasoline powered. The USSR developed the Vickers tank into their T-26 (produced by Skif in 1/72 scale) also in cannon and machine-gun armed versions.

The Vickers and 7TP tanks were a bit obsolescent by the battles of September 1939, but were superior to the German Panzer I and II. One on one it could manage on equal, or near-equal, terms the Panzer III and the Soviet T-26 and BT-5 tanks. Poland lost all its Vickers tanks in September. Some 7TP’s survived and were used by the Germans for internal policing duties and as tow vehicles.

Finland used their machine gun and cannon armed Vickers successfully in the 1939 Soviet Winter War invasion, and during the 1941-1944 Continuation War. A number of Finnish Vickers tanks were modified with captured Soviet 45-mm guns and a bustle in the back similar to that of the T-26 and 7TP turrets. One source I have read states that the suspension of the Italian M11/39 and M13/40 tanks were inspired by, or borrowed from the Vickers 6 ton.

Instructions

The first page of the instructions gives historical and technical information on the tanks in Polish, English and German languages.

As seen in the scans, all four kits share very similar complete and very detailed line drawing instructions. Changes are made to to the instructions to reflect differences in the hull superstructure and turrets between the four kits. All parts are denoted alphanumerically by the sprue letter and part number, for example: P4 is the engine deck of the 7TP.

The fourth and last page covers painting instructions and markings placement. These are in black and white but are well done. The excellent box art of all four kits gives all the information needed for choices of colors and is suitable for framing!

Kit Parts

All the parts are amazingly thin, sharp and delicate for styrene. Revell and Tamiya have great competition here! The sprue attachments are very thin so removing the parts from the sprues will no be a problem. Not much mutilating the parts to get them off the sprue!

Sprue A is of the fenders and suspension. Sprue B is of the wheels. Sprue D has wheels, the floor and the two lower tank sides. A sprue of dark gray, soft rubber contains the two tracks and a nicely done tow cable. These four sprues are common to all four tanks.

Sprue P (P for Polish?) contains parts for only the two Polish 7TP tanks. What Mirage has done is mold the 7TP superstructure, (common to both 7TP tank versions) in the center of Sprue P. On the right side of P in the box for the kit #72602 are the turret and guns for the machine-gun armed

version. On the left side of Sprue P in kit #72601 are the parts for the single-turret 7TP and gun. Note that you do not get parts for both turret types in each box. If you buy the single-turret tank kit, all you get is the turret parts and gun(s) for the single turret tank.

The above information is the same for the Vickers tank kits. The center of Sprue V (V for Vickers?) contains parts for the Vickers tanks. The right side of Sprue V has parts for two machine gun turrets in kit #72603. In kit #72604, the left side of Sprue V holds parts and gun for the single cannon-armed Vickers E turret. You do not get both turrets types in each box.

All these tanks were of riveted construction, which Mirage duplicates well. The only problems here are with the turret sides: no rivets due to the molding limitations. I will try and solve this problem with Archer dry transfer (rub on) rivet detail. My previous experience with Archer is very positive, so I will later update this review after I try them.

7TP 7TP double-turret Vickers E MkA Vickers E MkB

Markings

Each of the four models come with their own particular water set decals, with markings for two to three different Polish tanks. I understand that Polish armored units did not commonly use many markings during the September 1939 mobilization and short war with Germany and the USSR. The markings appear sharp and opaque. After I assemble several kits I will update this review with my personal experience using the kit decals.

Conclusion

Overall I am very impressed with Mirage’s four kits. Detail, molding and instructions are very good. At this time I cannot say anything about fit and assembly. I hope to assemble and finish several soon, along with a 1/72 Skif T-26 tank for comparison since the Vickers E, T-26 and 7TP have almost identical suspension. I hope Mirage next tries a Polish C7P artillery tractor which is based on the 7TP light tank, and also a Finnish Vickers E variant.

For references I recommend the following websites. There are books available on the 7TP and Vickers tanks as well though I am not familiar with them at this time.

IPMS Fi-1877 website. This excellent website features detail photos of Vickers E and Soviet T-26 tanks at Finland’s Parola Museum. http://www.geocities.com/~fi1877/

Polish Armor of 1918 – 1939, a very well done website full of photos and information on the 7TP and all types of Polish AFV’s and softskins. http://www.scalemodelindex.com/armref.htm

RUSSIAN BATTLEFIELD. Another excellent website from Russia with coverage of the Soviet T-26 tank. http://www.battlefield.ru/

Stephen Brezinski, Portland, USA