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!

Wish list - Fox One 1/144 Finnish Lysander Mk. 1

I intend to have three aircraft in my Rapid Fire! rules inspired Finnish air force. A fighter (Me109), a bomber (JU-88) and a observation aircraft. The rules are slightly different for the recce plane, whereas one fighting aircraft model represents six 'virtual' aircraft in the game the single observer denotes just one plane. Plus that plane must be unarmed.

I checked up to see what reconnaissance aircraft the Finns used during WW2 and as usual they flew anything that was available short of a hot air balloon  But among the specialist military observation planes they used were the British made Westland Lysander Mk. 1, so I went on a search to see if I could find a 1/144 kit for this attractive little single engined plane.

Above: Internet Modeller's Fox One Lysander build review

Well, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that a Japanese company called Fox One does make both a resin kit version of the Finnish Lysander, the bad news is that this is a premium collectors item which costs around £24!

This is a bit of a shock after just paying a mere £4.99 for my 1/144 JU-88 kit. But it would be wonderful to have a Lysander in my Finnish air force, so I am in a bit of a quandary (particularly as pay day is coming up). I have never paid £24 for a kit as yet, and the fact that this price would be for what may be the smallest kit I make has me squirming a bit.

...But look at the photo - she looks so lovely!

The Fox One Finnish Lysander kit is available from Radjapan at a cost of 3,500 Yen (£24)...Should you be as mentally damaged as I obviously am.