1:72 Finnish BT-42 Assault Gun

The Finnish BT-42 in 1:72 from Flyhawk

A plastic kit of the Finnish BT-42 assault gun in 1:72 scale. It is a machine that came about out of necessity and that is exactly why there is something to show on it: on a captured Soviet chassis the Finns set their own tall turret with a British howitzer. The result looks incongruous and it worked that way too, but it is precisely that incongruity that makes it one of the most interesting subjects of the whole northern front.

The real subject

The Finns built the BT-42 on the chassis of BT-7 fast tanks which they captured from the Soviet army. On top came a large angular turret with a British howitzer of 114 mm caliber, delivered before the war. The combination of a light fast chassis and a heavy weapon was not a happy one, however: against tanks the howitzer was of little effect and the vehicle was tall and easily hit. Only a few dozen were built and they did not prove themselves much in combat, which makes them all the rarer a subject today.

Building and painting tips

In 1:72 scale the parts are small, so work over a mat and with tweezers. Assemble and paint the running gear and the tracks before you close the hull, because after that you will not reach them. Create the base with a primer. Finnish camouflage tends to be three-color with soft transitions, which in a small scale are sprayed from close up and at reduced pressure. Finally unify the model with a wash flowing into the crevices and pick out the edges with drybrushing.

Who the kit is for

• modelers of military equipment in 1:72 scale
• anyone interested in the Finnish army and the northern front
• builders of unusual and captured vehicles
• more advanced modelers used to small parts

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.