1/72 T-20 Komsomolets Soviet armored tractor

Quite a while ago I mentioned that the Latvian company North Star was working on a prototype for a true 1/72 model of the T-20 Komsomolets Soviet armoured tractor. This little vehicle - akin to the British Bren Carrier - was quite prevalent as a light AT gun tow in the Red Army at the beginning of WW2, but most importantly considerable numbers of them were captured by the Finn's during the ill-fated Russian incursion during The Winter War (1939-40).

Well, wonderful news. North Star have now released this model and it's an absolute beauty!

Picture source: North Star models

Picture Source: North Star models

For saying that it's such a small and somewhat insignificant vehicle (in terms of it's importance and role in WW2) North Star have poured a hell of a lot of superbly and very finely modelled detail into this tiny kit. It is a mix of resin components with photo-etched fine detailed parts and is firmly aimed at the display modeller and collector - this is in no way a war gaming quality model (if you seek that I'm afraid you will still have to make do with the 20mm incarnations made by MMS, SHQ or Shellhole Scenics).

Naturally I am particularly keen to get my hands on a true 1/72 model, principally because the vehicle is so small anyway that using a 20mm (1/76) model next to my other 1/72 vehicles would make it look all the more insubstantial and a bit silly. And because it was a vehicle that is so synonymous with the Finnish Army in WW2 I am going to have to bite the bullet and pay the premium asking price of $42 for one!

It will be very interesting to compare the 1/72 North Star T-20 with the very nice 20mm version made by MMS. Bearing in mind that I need three of these tiny vehicles if the size difference turns out to be negligible then I may stick with MSS for the remaining models I require.

(By the way, the North Star kit comes with decals for captured German examples!)

Full details are available on the North Star website: https://northstarmodels.com/

Link to my previous posts on the other makes of model T-20s that are available:
- Keeping things in proportion - SHQ 20mm T-20
- Shellhole Scenics 20mm T-20 review
- MMS T-20 Komsomolet in 20mm - white metal done right!