Friday 19 August 2016

Curious Five #1 / Tk - 3 Tankette /

Tk-3 tankette was third Polish construction based upon British MK VI light tank, approved by Polish Army in 1931. In next couple years approximately 300 vehicles of this type were built. Later, some had been modified and improved. The tankette was used during Blitzkreig campaign in September 1939 by Polish Army. September 1939 is a theme of this diorama, depicting Panzer IV crew curiously examining intact Tk-3 tank captured during fights. 


Panzer IV from Tamiya has already been assembled (Pzkpfw IV building post here), figures are from the kit, also from Masterbox and Dragon, tankette from RPM. At first I wanted to build TKS tankette, but size of hatches and visibility of the interior made me change my choice to TK-3 which instead of two, has one large hatch. Assembly started with the bottom hull and interior, made mostly out of card and paper. There is some reference available (TKS Tankette post) which I based the interior on. Without going mad with details, I built main engine block, seats, steering wheel and simple representation of Hotchkiss wz. 25 machine gun. With interior components ready, upper hull was fitted and chassis assembly started. Chassis is quite complex for such small vehicle, size of parts doesn't help either. Tracks provided within the kit are plastic, double or more linked sections, not easy due to the size. Assembled sections of chassis were not fixed to the hull yet. 

The main top hatch, available in the kit as separate part (so no surgery required), was replaced by one made out of card. Card is thinner than parts provided, also open position means folded flaps and plastic was just too thick. Before final assembly and positioning, scratch built hatch was kept closed for painting purposes, also to keep camouflage pattern consistent. Painting started with Tamiya light grey primer, followed by Hataka Polish Greyish Sand as base color. Hataka paints seem difficult to use, as there is no dedicated thinner, water or other branded thinners may cause difficulties with airbrushing  (UMP thinner seems to work perfectly fine though). Polish AFV Khaki Green was applied next, with final coat of Polish AFV Dark Brown from Hataka's "September 1939 Early WW2 Polish Army Paint Set"


With all subassemblies painted, the tankette was put together and remaining details fixed such as muffler, spare wheels, shovel, Hotchkiss gun (which was not fixed during painting stages), top hatch. Archive photos of TK-3 show shovel being mounted with blade to the right in the middle of front panel, RPM has made slots for the tool at the bottom of the same panel with blade to the left, what was more common for Tks tankettes. Difference in positioning was noticed after painting hence was left as suggested by manufacturer what may be incorrect. Vehicle hooks (two at front and rear) provided by manufacturer were only U shaped, when studying photos I found them being bent in an open loop. Tried bending the plastic using hot pin, but this method did not work so these are to be replaced with bent wire. What is left to do on tankette is weathering, oil paints and dust application to suit Panzer IV weathering. 

 
 



The base was created the same way as for my previous models, modeling foam core, shaped for purpose, with modeling sands applied for texture, edged with card and sprayed with Tamiya Light Grey Primer. Edging has been painted with Tamiya Semi Gloss Black (which also been oversprayed on base itself in most recessed areas to differentiate terrain color) and Tamiya Smoke. Tamiya Buff has been sprayed as main base color, followed by light green, color mix from previous builds, also Citadel washes applied in small areas. Base is to be simple, mostly green with section of sand, field road and larger grassy area with possible broken down wooden or wire fence. Next step is painting panzer crew... 

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