Renault FT-17 1/100 Scale R & P Models

[gomidefilho]

Well friends, after some time without making any armored vehicles in the 1/100 scale, I present two Renault FT-17s. The FT was one of the first light armored vehicles to be developed during World War I. The basic design of 1915/16 was widely used by the French army from World War I until the disaster of 1940, and could be equipped with a Hotchkiss machine gun or a 37mm Poteaux cannon. Many nations copy the design like M1917 in the USA, Fiat 3000 and T-18 in the USSR. More than 3000 units were produced that were used in practically all interwar conflicts. R&P papercraft models reduced to 1/100 scale, represent a French Army FT-17 in 1940 with hexagonal turret and equipped with a Hotchkiss machine gun and a 37mm SA-18 cannon and an FT-17 equipped with a circular turret and armed with a Hotchkiss machine gun or MG-42 used by the Luftwaffe to protect airfields against partisans (huge amounts of French equipment fell into German hands when France fell, obsolete equipment was used in police roles such as the FT-17 which it was called the Pz.Kpfw.17R 730(f)).





























Both tanks:







Size comparation:

[rifleman]

outstanding build at that scale well done

[CharlieC]

That's a great build for such a small scale.

The Renault FT was, arguably, the first modern tank with a rotating turret and reasonable suspension. The designation was FT - FT-17 was something English speaking writers came up with after WW1. The French Army archives initially called the tank "automitrailleuse à chenilles Renault FT modèle 1917". The "FT" doesn't mean anything Renault used two letter project codes. e.g. "EG" was the WW1 Renault heavy 4-wheel drive truck

The turrets on FTs were a bit of chokepoint for production. The original turret was cast steel and circular but could only mount a Hotchkiss MG. The hexagonal riveted turret was designed by Berliet and could mount the 37mm gun or Hotchkiss MG but was more expensive to build and finally Girod produced a circular cast steel "omnibus" turret that could mount either weapon.

The FT was the basis for a number of vehicles - 4 different self-propelled guns with 75 and 105mm guns, an assault gun with a 75mm short howitzer, bulldozer with cable hoist on the blade and an anti-tank version with 47mm gun mounted on top of the hull.

[Texman]

Awesome work my friend! Very clean

[Don Boose]

Superb FTs!

It is hard to believe that these detailed models are in 1/100 scale.

Don

[georgerutherford1861]

Great detail at that small scale!

Doug

[Brent]

Very nice, great build of this little tank.

Brent

[gomidefilho]

Many thanks my friends!

Charlie thanks for great explanation about FT, in fact I not great expertize about technical history about AFV.

But Renault FT is first tank used in Brazilian Army arrived in Brazil in 1921 and used here in 1924 Revolution. In local military museun in my city are a FT very well preserved inclusive the tank working and used in paredes on other promotional military events.