10TP - the Polish fast tank

An unsuccessful attempt to buy tanks of the Christie design in the United States in the early 1930s of XX century led to orders to build similar tanks in Poland. The work on the design of the wheeled-tracked tank slowed down in 1932 due to the modernization of the "Vickers" (later 7TP) tanks. And only in 1937, the fast tank design work was again included in the rearmament plans of the Polish Army. Compared to the American competitor, the Polish tank had a wider body and differed in the arrangement of the frontal armor plates, which allowed to install a machine gun next to the driver, from which the gunner fired, and to install a rotating turret, that accommodated two crew members (the same as the 7TP). The prototype tank was ready for testing in July 1938. The tank uses many structural innovations, that allow the machine to run without tracks. One of the major disadvantages of the new tank was the weak engine, and it was not possible to buy more powerful ones. Tests of the tank in the Kampina Forest and various raids showed that driving "on wheels" was practically impossible due to the poor condition of Polish roads at that time. It was decided to abandon this function and dismantle the equipment for it. Fuel tanks and reinforced armor were installed instead. All this had to be implemented in the 14TP tank project. The fate of the 10TP prototype during the September 1939 campaign is unknown.

The model is not complicated and under the supervision of a more experienced colleague, even an advanced beginner modeler can glue this model perfectly. Only a considerable amount of small details requires appropriate attention and care, when cutting and shaping the details.