Hobby Boss 1/35 Soviet T-30S Light Tank First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | June 2014 | Manufacturer | Hobby Boss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Soviet T-30S Light Tank | Scale | 1/35 |
| Kit Number | 83824 | Primary Media | Styrene, Photo-Etch |
| Pros | 100% new tooling | Cons | Nothing noted |
| Skill Level | Basic | MSRP (USD) | $44.99 |
First Look
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The T-30 series of light tanks were developed from the less-successful T-40 design but reusing the better parts of the design. One of the derivatives was the T-30S with the 'S' designating a non-amphibious version. There is little information online about the T-30 series as many references show the redesigned T-40 was rolled into the T-60 series.
The Hobby Boss kit consists of over 300 parts with eight trees molded in green styrene and seven trees molded in brown styrene (duplicate trees not shown). One fret of photo-etched details round out this kit.
Among the features and options in this kit:
- Simple construction
- Positionable turret hatch
- Choice of light cannon and coaxial machine gun or light and heavy machine gun in turret
- Optional metal barrel for light cannon
This would make a nice kit for the modeler who has little experience working with photo-etched parts and their use in this project is straightforward and would make a good project. There's probably a good reason why this class of tank didn't last long on the battlefield as this vehicle would be effective against German infantry, but would not likely last against German armored fighting vehicles and certainly not against any of the panzers that were heading east early in the Great Patriotic War.
If you're looking for a fun project to experiment with your painting and weathering techniques or simply want a nice project that isn't another Tiger tank, give this kit a try!
My sincere thanks to Squadron Mail Order for this review sample!