T-26 Soviet Light Infantry Tank - T-26 Decal Sheet 180818

[EarlyWarGamer]

Finally, we have the T-26 M39 (conical turret) model.

T-26 Model 1939 (produced 1939-1940) (1,538 built without radio) (493 build with radio)
   How to recognize:
      One conical turret (same as Model 1938)
      Larger redesigned superstructure with sloped sides extending over track guards
      Different mix and placement of spares, tools and accessories attached to the hull.
      Whip antenna now used for all radios.
      Air intake for engine now protected by rounded (rumble seat) shield.
      Increased armor.
•   All were armed with a Model 1938 45mm 20K cannon
•   All were armed with one DT MGs (coaxial)
•   Some were armed with a second DT MGs (ball mount in rear of turret)

This last model is the one that uses the taller, wider superstructure (shown to the far right in the Rubicon photo on page 6).  Note that in the Rubicon picture, they have label an M-39 turret with the antenna around it. That is wrong. By the M39 version, they had moved to a whip antenna. So that is really an M38 with a horseshoe antenna on it.

Here is the top view of the M39:


There was one more variant known as the T-26E (or T-26S) which was built by bolting on additional armor plates to earlier versions of the T-26.  They did this to M33, M36, M38 and M39 models.  The plates were added to the very front of the hull, the front and both sides of the superstructure, and all around the turret. Only 80 were built, and they were initially sent off to fight the Finnish, but some were still around when Germany invaded.  The Rubicon kit does not include additional plates of armor we can use, so we cannot accurately built this version. But we can model it with some work.

The easiest one to do would be this welded one (using flat, not curved plates, and no bolts). This is a T-26S (of an M39 - note the larger superstructure):


Still, in the end, we have all the bits to build the M31 (both turret armament configurations), M33, M33RT, M38, M38RT and M39, along with the KhT-26, KhT-130 and KhT-133. That is 10 separate builds!

With some work, the M33 turret can be changed into the M36 and M36RT, giving us two more builds.

[Rubicon Models]

We have to thank EWG for his research work on the T-26, the Russian books are particularly useful and we have used them for references as well.

When we first published the initial line drawings and then the TS1 plastic models, our painters are very confused because there are just too many possible variants in a single kit from that two and a half sprues.  We did notice there are "labelling" errors but was too late to correct them after posting.  Here is a summary of what you can build with our T-26 kit:

- M31 with twin MG
- M31 with MG and 37mm gun

- M33
- M33 Command (Radio Tank)

- M38
- M38 Command
- M39

- KhT-26 Flamer Tank
- KhT-130 Flamer Tank
- KhT-133 Flamer Tank

That's a total of 10 variants!  We are currently in the last or second last test shot in mould making.  Hopefully will get the T-26 released before Christmas!

[tyroflyer]

Wonderful contribution EWG. I will be referencing what you've had to say here when building mine.

[EarlyWarGamer]

I am super tickled with the T-26 kit, and know what a pain it was to research! It didn't help that officially, there were only three versions of the tank: M31, M33 and M39.  I was running into captions and descriptions of the M33 that didn't match up with other photos and details I had noted. Took me a while before I found the differences and realized there was an M33, an M36 and an M38 (and the M33 could be further divided into a very early, early-mid, and late production turret and hull sub-division).

I mean, there was a nice photo showing a bunch of M33's on parade, and they all had two square hatches on top ... except one, that had a single, centered square hatch.  Where did that come from?  Eventually stumbled upon a reference to the very first turret design, which they scrapped almost immediately in favor of two square hatches. But a small number of turrets had already been made, so they used them.

Had to track down when the combat lights became a thing. Had to track down when they added the MG on top for AA. When they phased in (and mostly phased out) the MG on the back of the turret.

The one turret top that your kit doesn't have should be easy enough to model with thin sheets of plastic.

Your kit allows 10 freaking builds! That is amazing right there.  I will be getting a minimum of three kits: one for a twin-turret M31 (building three turrets, so I can swap out one with an MG for one with a cannon, giving me two tanks. One for an M33RT (cylindrical turret, and because horseshoe antennas are cool). And one for an M39 (conical turret).  That means I will have TWO extra cylindrical turret top pieces not in use. And I will model one of those to be an M36 just for the heck of it. Might get a fourth kit so I can use that, and mount some combat lights on it as well.

An amazing kit for my favorite Soviet tank!  You will hear no complaints from me!

[Rubicon Models]

Thanks for EWG further research and comments from other members, we have finally revised our summary guide for our T-26 kit.
Please feel free to update and comment on the subject.  We would like this to be as accurate as possible:



Enjoy!

[EarlyWarGamer]

I see a horn on the KhT-130. I don't remember seeing a horn provided on the sprue photos. Happy if you did provide a horn, but understandable if you did not. But if you did not, no point in showing it on one kit.

[Rubicon Models]

I see a horn on the KhT-130. I don't remember seeing a horn provided on the sprue photos. Happy if you did provide a horn, but understandable if you did not. But if you did not, no point in showing it on one kit.

It's included on one of the sprues...

[tyroflyer]

Rubicon's approach to the T-26 is evidence of it being the gold standard in 1/56 scale vehicle models.

[WeRT]

We are currently in the last or second last test shot in mould making.  Hopefully will get the T-26 released before Christmas!

Q3 Maybe?
I really need 3 to stop those damn IJA in Khalkhin Gol & Germans during Operation Barbarossa.
 

[ultravanillasmurf]

We are currently in the last or second last test shot in mould making.  Hopefully will get the T-26 released before Christmas!

Q3 Maybe?
I really need 3 to stop those damn IJA in Khalkhin Gol & Germans during Operation Barbarossa.
 

My count is four T26  for Tank War (versus the three Panzer 38(t)s).

[Rubicon Models]

Not having time to post much lately because of everyone at the studio is busy finalising all related material for our Q3/18 releases.
Here is the preliminary decal sheet design for the T-26 using our standard size format:



Enjoy!

[EarlyWarGamer]

Very Nice!

[ultravanillasmurf]

Lots of options.

[ripley]

Very nice