1:35 Carro armato L6/40 (tamiya)

The real subject

The Carro Armato L6/40 was an Italian light tank of the early 1940s. In its turret it carried a 20 mm automatic cannon, so against armored targets it barely managed, but it served all the more often for reconnaissance and for escorting columns. It fought in North Africa, in the Balkans and on the Eastern Front, and its chassis served as the basis of further Italian machines. A small tank has the advantage that on a finished model no detail is lost.

What the set contains

This is a supplementary set for a model of the L6/40 in 1:35 scale, prepared for the kit from the Tamiya brand. Which parts of the kit it replaces, where they are fitted and what has to be cut away from the original parts is given in the manufacturer's instructions; go through them before you start cutting anything.

Building and painting tips

Fit the parts dry and only then glue them, as the seating usually needs slight adjustment. Cut any excess material away with a sharp blade a little clear of the part and sand the remainder back. Choose the glue according to the material of the parts; a type meant for polystyrene need not hold. Before painting, wash the parts, degrease them and seal them with a base color. With Italian equipment from North Africa it pays to build the shade up in layers: sand color quickly lost its saturation through bleaching, metal showed through on the edges and the bottom of the vehicle disappeared under light dust. Paint the small accessories separately and fit them only at the end of the build.

Who it is for

The set suits modelers who want to take the level of detail on a small tank to where injection-molded plastic cannot reach. It is an accessory to a kit; the model itself, paints and glue are not in the package, unless stated otherwise.