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T-40 Light Swimming Tank (1940)

Background

When the supplies of the T-37/T-38 tanks got short, the T-40 light tank was designed by Buoyancy Tanks to replace them. The two-man T-40 was a bulky, but simple design. To be produced at the largest quantities possible, it featured many components from automobiles. Some examples were the transmission and engine.

The early version of the T-40 was armed with a 12.7 DShK machine-gun, the later version with a 20mm ShVAK cannon. The first T-40 tanks were used in Finland, a short time before the Finns agreed to peace negotiations. They showed to be very ineffective in Finland, being knocked out by small arms fire and the armor was upgraded. The T-40A was the first vehicle to appear and by the winter of 1941-42 an improved version, the
T-40S, appeared. It had even more improved armor protection, but the extra weight resulted in a total loss of its amphibious qualities. The T-40 projects were soon abandoned in favor of the T-60 light tank.

The Kit

The kit comes in a very sturdy tray and lid type box. The boxart shows a illustration of a T-40 from the rear (so you can see the propeller and twin-rudders. It is about to enter a river. There are 4 splashes in the water, like bullets had hit. So, it is a combat scene. Side panels and the end panels of the box give specifications about the vehicle in English and Russian.

Inside the box is an unsealed cello bag that holds 4 olive drab trees of parts and the decal sheet. The instructions complete the kit’s contents.

The instructions consist of a single sheet printed on both sides. The face side begins with a black and white illustration of the T-40 as a head-on image. This is followed by the T-40’s history in Russian only. There is a listing of part names in Russian and the address for Start in Moscow, along with their fax number. The reverse side of the instructions has the parts tree drawings in the upper left corner. Below these are some very busy exploded assembly drawings. These will have to be carefully studied so as to get things right. All wording on them is again in Russian.

The large olive drab letter A tree fits the box tightly, in all directions, both in length and width. It holds the hull top and bottom and link and length type track links. This tree is common to this kit and also to Start’s kit of the T-30 (reviewed elsewhere here). (36 parts)

Long and narrow olive drab letter B tree holds: road wheels, a shovel, drive sprockets, a horn, a hatch lid, a propeller, a storage bin, the turret base, return rollers, a 7.62mm machine gun etc. (30 parts) This tree is common to Start’s T-30 kit also.

Long and narrow olive drab letter C tree holds: the turret top and hatch lid, more road wheels, tow hooks, final transfer covers, short exhaust pipe, headlights, twin rudders etc. (34 parts) This tree too is common with Start’s T-30 kit. No clear lenses are provided for the headlights. These are open cups that need lenses. Bad move Start.

The small olive drab letter D parts tree is new to this kit. It holds: the mantle, trunion,
12.7mm main gun and a rectangular panel (4 parts)

The decal sheet is the same one found in Start’s T-30 kit. It has 2 different patriotic slogans, some turret stripes, a square with the number 2 in the center, a circle with the number 1 in the center and the number 60 all in white. However, there are no marking or painting instructions given in the kit. We are forced to wing it. Another bad move Start.

Conclusion

This is a neat little light amphibious tank. It only differs from Start’s T-30 kit with it’s amphibious gear: the propeller and the twin-rudders. Also with a different mantle and main gun. It does make a nice companion kit to the T-30 though. There is no interior detail provided to be see through the open turret hatch, nor any crew figures.

Recommended except for the few glitches mentioned above.

I bought this kit and Start’s T-30 in Voorhees, NJ while visiting my sister there years ago.