Kit Preview from Bronco Models
Skoda LT Vz35 & R2
"2 in 1 Kit"
1/35th scale
Product No# CB35105
Decals fo versions in Romanian, Czech , Slovakian & Hungarian versions
Well, it seems that Bronco are seeing all the 35t family in plastic now, with the "2 in 1" version of the 1/35th scale Skoda LT Vz35 & R2. This tank was used by the Romanian, Czech , Slovakian & Hungarian forces as well as the Germans, so there will be plenty of marking options available.
Not up to speed on this little light tank? Read on...
Skoda LT Vz35 & R2
Design work on the new tank started in 1934 and in 1935/36, Skoda’s LT(Light Tank) vz.(vzor-model) 35 entered service in small numbers and by 1937 it was the main tank of the Czechoslovak Army. LT-35 was comparable to other European tanks in service at the time, like the Polish 7TP, British Vickers 6 ton, Soviet T-26, Italian Carro Armato M 11/39 and M13/40 and German PzKpfw III tanks. LT-35 equipped four fast divisions of the Czech Army as of 1938. During its service with the Czech Army, LT-35 gained the reputation of an unreliable vehicle and considered it to be an "interim solution" before LT-38 – PzKpfw 38(t) will be fully developed and ready for production.
All of the pictures in this article are from the four nations depictued in this boxing.
LT-35’s reputation of being unreliable was due to its untested advanced technical design, but in 1938, its problems were solved and overall LT-35 proved to be a good tank. LT-35s were produced in different variants and were also known under different designations such as R-2 and T-11. Before the war LT-35 was also sold to Romania (126 tanks were sold in 1936 and were designated by Romanian Army as R-2). In 1938, British company Alvis-Straussler Ltd. was interested license building LT-35 in the United Kingdom. In 1939, S-IIa and LT-35 were tested by the Soviet Union at Kubinka. Also, an unfulfilled order for 10 T-11 tanks was placed by Afghanistan in 1940, but instead tanks were sold to Bulgaria.
Despite a Czech decision to phase the LT-35 out of production after 1938, it was extended until 1939, under the German supervision at the CKD (Ceskomoravska Kolben Danek) Works in Prague and Skoda Works in Pilsen (after 1938 both became part of Reichswerke Hermann Goring). Overall 424 were produced between 1935 and 1939 by Skoda (approx. 340) and CKD (approx. 84).PzKpfw 35(t) formed the bulk of the 1st Leichte (Light) Division during the Polish Campaign and then of 6th Panzer Division (former 1st Leichte Division) during the French Campaign and the Invasion of Russia.
In late 1941, Germans had better tanks in production and PzKpfw 35(t) was relocated to second line duties such as policing and antipartisan units. Some PzKpfw 35(t) were handed over (or sold) to the Slovak, Bulgarian (where they served until the 1950s), Romanian, Hungarian and Italian armies or were used by the German Police and the anti-partisan units. According to the German report from July 18th of 1942, there only 178 PzKpfw 35(t) in service with the German Army. Few PzKpfw 35(t) were still in service with the Slovak Army when they participated in the Slovak national uprising in August of 1944.
...and without tracks showing all the suspension.
The kit includes a fairly detailed partial interior if you like to show some visible innards on your kits.
PzKpfw 35(t)s took part in the Polish (1939) and French campaign (1940) and in the early stages of the Invasion of Russia (1941). During Operation Barbarossa, PzKpfw 35(t) was badly outclassed and was of little value under combat conditions. Under winter conditions, PzKpfw 35(t)’s mechanical components proved to be once again unreliable (e.g. clutch, brake and steering, all operated by compressed air). LT-35(t)’s construction was riveted and direct hits on its armour plate could tear rivet heads off and would kill or wound the crew.
Bronco's new 2 in 1 kit in 35th scale has many features we will show you now - firstly this is the CAD version of what the tank will look like.
The rest of the features of this kit were shown on their poster , and I will let them tell the story here, forgive the rough English on the CAD feature set pictures...
This kit will be available from Bronco Models Distributors we think early in the new year or maybe even late December 2016 if we are lucky.