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Introduction
The BT-42 is a Finnish modification of captured Soviet BT's. The light
tanks were fitted with a new turret with a 114mm British howitzer.
Only 18 were modified in 1942/43, ten of which survived the war and
served until 1950.
Contents
The real vehicle was based on the BT-7. This kit is also based on
UM's earlier releases of BT-7 tanks.
It shares the same hull, wheels and tracks as kits No. 310, 311
and 312. There is one new sprue with parts for the turret and some
boxes on the fenders. The PE parts are slightly different from other
kits, because the muzzle brake of the 114mm howitzer is photoetched.
Accuracy
UM's series of BT tanks is really good and this kit is no exception.
There is only one omission. Finnish BT-42's had shortened fenders,
which is not shown on the box-art, nor mentioned in the instruction.
See pictures of real vehicles for more details.
Markings
This the worst part of the kit. Instructions are confusing and decals
are wrong.
There are three marking options: a 3-color wartime Finnish vehicle,
an overall green post-war Finnish machine and one overall green vehicle
captured by the Red army. For the wartime vehicle, instructions asks
you to put different registration numbers on front (706) and rear
(712). What is worse, the national insignias are useless. The decals
provide you with blue swastikas instead of correct black ones. If
you want to build a wartime BT-42, look for Aleran AX2 decal sheet.
The postwar Finnish vehicle is problematic, too. It carries the Ps.511-19
registration number, but it seems, that this vehicle was captured
by the Soviets and it is unlikely that they gave it back. But at least,
you can use the Ps.511-19 number for a wartime machine in a 3-color
scheme.
References
http://www.andreaslarka.net/ps511008/ps511008.html
http://www.geocities.com/finnmilpge/fmp_ps_camo.html
  
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