The Soviet BT-7 was the final and most advanced model of the BT series of “fast tanks” developed in the 1930s, designed for high mobility and rapid manoeuvre warfare. Introduced in 1935, it featured improved welded armour up to 22mm thick, better protection than earlier versions, while retaining high speed thanks to its M-17T 12-cylinder petrol engine, which allowed speeds of up to 72 km/h (45 mph) on roads. The BT-7 was armed with a 45mm 20-K gun and a 7.62mm DT machine gun, giving it effective firepower against most light and early medium tanks of the time. It retained the convertible wheel-track system of earlier BTs, though in practice this feature was rarely used. The BT-7 saw action in the Spanish Civil War, at Khalkhin Gol (1939) against Japan, and during the early stages of the German invasion in 1941, where its light armour and vulnerability to modern anti-tank weapons led to heavy losses. Despite being obsolete by mid-war, the BT-7 played an important role in the mechanisation of the Red Army and directly influenced the design of its famous successor, the T-34 medium tank.
 
Multi part resin model.
 
Printed by Imperator Models on License from Wargame 3D.