Box Studio is a Japanese website specializing in producing paper crafts of palm-sized tanks (usually at a 1/48 scale). Paper Iconic has published several articles about the military prototypes of these models, which you can explore in the Military category on my blog. In this article, we will introduce the latest papercraft creation from Box Studio, which is a Polish 7TP light tank with a twin turret.
The completed paper model of the 7TP Dw Light Tank measures 96mm in length, 51mm in width, and 45mm in height. It only requires three double-sided prints. Similar to most of the designer's other works, it is relatively straightforward. Let's delve deeper into its prototype with Paper Iconic in the section below.
In 1919, Poland relied on French FTs light tanks and armored cars for defense. However, in 1931, a modernization effort began, considering various tank designs. They looked at the American M1930 Christie and British Vickers Mk.E designs. When the USA deal fell through, Poland chose the Vickers design, already of interest to the Soviets.
Poland signed a contract in 1930 for 50 Vickers tanks, but these had various drawbacks, such as an unreliable engine, weak armament, and high cost. The order was canceled in 1931, and Poland decided to develop its own tank based on the Vickers design.
The design work for the new tank called the 7TP, began in late 1932. The suspension remained mostly unchanged, with tracks composed of steel links. The twin-turret configuration was retained, but the engine was upgraded, and the hull was strengthened, with improved armor. The armament included two 7.92 mm machine guns, and the tank was powered by a reliable locally-built diesel engine.
The "dw" stands for "dwuwieżowy" (twin-turret), a feature from the original British design. Multi-turreted tanks were favored at the time. The tanks had good traverse and elevation capabilities for their machine guns. Four prototypes were built and tested, with the first one called "Smok" or "Dragon." After trials and further development, a total of 24 twin-turret 7TP tanks were produced. They were considered a temporary solution until a more powerful single-turret version could be introduced. Some were rearmed with heavier machine guns and equipped with radios for communication. These tanks were used by platoons, companies, and battalions as command tanks.
Download and build your own 7TP Dw Light Tank Papercraft (by Box Studio)
Photo: Box Studio
