MENG French Renault FT Light Tank

Commonly considered by historians to be the first modern tank design, the Renault FT Light Tank was the first tank to feature a fully rotating turret. Over 3,000 models were produced from 1917 and were largely in service during the First World War (the US also built a tank based on the same design, the M1917 Light Tank, but they weren’t completed in time for use during the war). The turret was originally designed to mount an 8mm machine gun, but was later adapted to mount a small canon.

While a number of these tanks were deployed during the Second World War, they were all but obsolete. A popular myth surrounding the French’s capabilities during the Second World War suggested that they had no modern hardware – in fact, they had as many modern tanks as the Germans, but they were single turret models and didn’t hold up well against the German’s superior Panzers.

This is a wonderful little model of a unique and pivotal piece of history. The final model is small (it’s a small tank, so it should be), but comes with a choice of two weapons for the turret. With around 100 pieces to assemble, it’s more geared towards intermediate model builders, but an enthusiastic beginner could assemble it and be left with a beautifully detailed tank model ready for painting.

• Length: 14cm
• Ages: 14+
• Pieces: 100
• Scale: 1:35