BT-5 Soviet Fast Tank
Bring the speed and striking profile of the Soviet BT-5 to your collection with this detailed 3D-printed model. Introduced during the 1930s, the BT-5 was part of the Red Army’s “bystrokhodny tank” family of fast tanks and became an important forerunner of later Soviet armoured vehicle development.
Historical Role
The BT-5 was intended for rapid manoeuvre, reconnaissance, exploitation and support of fast-moving formations. Its combination of mobility and a capable 45 mm gun made it formidable for its time, although relatively light armour left it vulnerable as anti-tank weapons improved. BT-5 tanks served in the Spanish Civil War, at Khalkhin Gol, during the Winter War and in the opening stages of the Eastern Front campaign.
Distinctive Appearance
The vehicle is instantly recognisable by its tall, narrow hull, prominent cylindrical turret and large road wheels mounted on Christie-type suspension. Its pointed forward hull, exposed suspension springs and absence of conventional return rollers create a lean, purposeful silhouette. The turret carries the main gun alongside a coaxial machine gun, giving the compact tank a noticeably powerful appearance.
Variant Differences
Developed from the earlier BT-2, the BT-5 retained the basic convertible wheel-and-track chassis but introduced a larger turret armed with the Soviet 45 mm tank gun, replacing the BT-2’s lighter armament arrangements. The enlarged cylindrical turret and more substantial gun are the clearest modelling differences. These changes gave Red Army fast formations greater anti-armour and infantry-support capability without abandoning the BT series’ emphasis on speed.
Modelling Uses
An excellent choice for early-war Eastern Front dioramas, interwar displays and historical collections, the BT-5 also suits model railways, wargaming displays and collectors of Soviet armour. Multiple scales allow it to serve as a compact gaming piece, railway layout vehicle or detailed centrepiece.
Fun Fact
The BT-5 could theoretically run either on tracks or directly on its road wheels after the tracks were removed, reflecting American engineer J. Walter Christie’s influential convertible suspension concept. In practice, changing between the two modes was laborious.
Available Scales
1:87, 1:76, 1:72, 1:48 and 1:35.
Finish Options
Cleaned Resin Grey, Grey Primed - Ready for Painting, and Historical Base Colour.
Very small details may vary slightly depending on the scale selected.
