T-26B Model 1933

[Fitz]

To go along with the T-35s, T-28s, and the Experimental Heavy Tank Company's SMK for my Winter War Soviets, I need some smaller, more useful tanks. I have some Zvezda T-26s, but they're a much later model (1937) with the snazzy drop-forged turret — the same turret, I think, as was used on the BT-7.

So I fired up Blender and whipped up this very early version of the T-26, from 1933. It was of all-riveted construction, and the turret-basket was a little tacked-on affair. I don't know if there were any of these still around by 1939; this version was very much an interwar affair, soon superseded. However, in my fantasy universe there will have been, if only so that I can get them on to the wargames table.

By 1940 it had been superseded by newer models, with more welded construction and a turret with an integrated basket.

Since doing that test-print, I've added some tools to the track guards, and an old-style box-shaped jack to the engine deck. I haven't yet printed this version, but I don't anticipate any issues since there were no problems with the base model.

I've had to guess at the size of the jack from pictures, but its dimensions are correct in ratio, so it should be fairly close I think.

I've put the STLs online at https://www.wargaming3d.com/product/t-26-model-1933-early/

[scotty]

Very nice

[Fitz]

I've added a couple of versions of the later (much more common) drop-forged turret. In truth, this type of turret would be much more appropriate for my Winter War force.

From memory, I think only about one in ten tanks carried a radio, and troop control was carried out via signal flags. That ratio improved markedly later in WWII, but to begin with the Soviets lagged far behind pretty much every other belligerent nation in that respect.

As of writing, I haven't yet printed these turrets. I suspect that aerial will require quite a delicate touch with the supports.

[FramFramson]

Yep. Lack of radios was one of the most crucial contributions to early operational failures of the T-34 as well, and the T-34 was about as good a tank as anyone, let alone the Soviets, had for much of the WWII.