„Renault R – 17 FT“ – the French/ Lituanian light tank

In 1916 the famous French colonel Jean Baptiste Eugène Estienne, then commanding an artillery regiment, admired modern weaponry, and when he came to Louis Renault, he tried to persuade him to make a tank from a "Holt" tractor, after arming the latter and putting on armor. Renault did not agree to take up the colonel's idea, but agreed to design the tank. Luis Renault outlined the parameters of the new product for his subordinates: no more, than 7 tons of weight, the ability to overcome trenches, the engine must not lose power for as long, as possible. In France at the Renault factory near Paris, over 3,000 FT light tanks of various modifications were produced. Another 950 tanks were produced in the US under French license M1917. A total of 1000 units were produced machine gun tanks, 1850 units tanks with cannons, 970 units with built-in howitzers, about 200 units TSF tanks with radio communication equipment. In August 1923 the Ministry of National Defense of Lituania bought 12 tanks of this type in France for the armament of the Lituanian Army. They, unlike all others, were equipped with 7.92 mm Maxim 0.8 machine guns. The tanks were divided into three companies and all had names. All of them were occupied by Lituania, although 10 were still usable.

A moderately complex, well-detailed model, that requires care and attention for modelers of all experience. Only those, with little experience and beginners, are recommended to work under the supervision of a more experienced colleague. Antiquarian publication.