UM [Ukrainian Model Military Technics]

1/72 Vickers 6-ton Light Tank Model E [Version A]

Kit Number: 618

Reviewed by  Perry Downen, IPMS# 44000

MSRP: $12.50 Website: UM Models Available From: Hobby Terra HISTORY The Vickers 6-Ton Light Tank Mark E was a British tank designed as a private project by Vickers – Armstrong, Ltd. in 1928-1929. The company intended to export the tank to “second world” countries. As many as 12 countries bought and used the tank. The Soviets copied it almost exactly and called it their T-26. The British Army bought a few to use as training vehicles and as tractors to haul their large 60 pounder (127 mm) artillery guns. The tank was manned by a crew of three. Its 4-cylinder 80hp engine could push it down the road at 22mph. Two versions or types were manufactured. Type B was equipped with a single two-man turret mounting a single machine gun and a short-barreled 47 mm cannon. Type A was equipped with two turrets, each mounting a 7.7mm Vickers machine gun. It is Type A that is the subject of this review. THE KIT The kit comes in an end-opening box measuring 8-1/4”X5”X1-1/2.” On the bottom of the box is a crisp color three-view line drawing with color call outs. In the box is one plastic bag of dark green body parts on three sprues; one plastic bag containing gray track parts on two sprues; a small bag containing 36 copper photo-etched parts on two frets; and a set of instructions. There are no decals. For the most part, the moldings are sharp and crisp. A few of the 188 total parts are not used. The detail of the riveted steel plates shows up nicely. The engraved lines around the hatches and panels are a little large. Some of these are filled in to replicate the Type A tank. The ejection pin marks do not show once the parts are assembled. However, there were serious sink marks on some of the bogies. The instructions are on a single folded sheet containing 13 construction steps along with painting instructions. The assembly steps are depicted in the exploded view format and are very clear and well marked. The paint call-outs refer to Humbrol paints. CONSTRUCTION This is where we enter the world of the Lilliputians. All parts went together very well. The hull and turrets, approximately 20 parts total, presented no problem. The only taxing areas were the tracks, road wheels and the photo-etched parts. The difficulty is that there are so many very small pieces. For example, each set of road wheel bogies is made of 14 parts. Each track consists of 19 parts, 15 of them individual links that fit around the drive and return wheels. Extreme care must be taken to remove these cleanly. Fortunately, there are a few extra links molded on the sprues. The copper etched parts are very neat. Some are very small and require delicate handling, e.g., light brackets and hatch handles. Without the right tools for removing, bending and placing them, it would be a near impossible task to build this model as instructed. PAINTING This is the easiest part of the build. There is only one color scheme provided – dark green. The muffler gets a coat of rust and the tracks get a coat of steel. The model can be made more interesting with the application of some weathering and a little wear and tear. I was somewhat disappointed in that no decals are provided. Not all, but a number of Vickers tanks depicted on the Internet had at least a number or unit symbol. RECOMMENDATION This is a neat little kit and a great example of the tanks used between the wars. However, this kit is definitely not for everyone. The small parts make it a difficult build for the novice modeler. Likewise for the more experienced modeler without a magnifying headset, a good light, a quality PE bender, and several pairs of tweezers. For the experienced modeler with a penchant for the small, this is your kit. Again, I would like to thank HobbyTerra for providing this kit and IPMS/USA for allowing me to review it.