Flyhawk – FH3018 – Finnish BT-42 Assault Gun

Description:

Unassembled plastic model kit in 1/72 scale of a Finnish WWII assault gun BT-42.

The BT-42 was a uniquely Finnish assault gun developed during World War II, born out of necessity and improvisation. It was based on the Soviet BT-7 light tank chassis, dozens of which had been captured by Finland during the Winter War (1939–1940) and the Continuation War (1941–1944). Rather than scrapping these vehicles, Finnish engineers decided to convert them into assault guns by modifying the turret and installing a British 114 mm (4.5-inch) howitzer, specifically the QF 4.5-inch Howitzer Mk II, which Finland had received from the UK during the war.

The new turret was a large, boxy, locally manufactured structure that gave the BT-42 its distinctive silhouette. It was spacious enough to accommodate the howitzer and its recoil, but added significant weight to the relatively light BT-7 chassis. The BT-42 was intended primarily for infantry support, with high-explosive shells suited for bunkers and fortified positions. However, it lacked effective armor-piercing capability, which severely limited its use against tanks.

The BT-42 saw limited and largely disappointing combat service. It proved especially ineffective during the Soviet Vyborg–Petrozavodsk Offensive in 1944, where attempts to use it against heavily armored Soviet tanks like the T-34 and IS-2 failed. Its slow reload time, inadequate armor, and poor mechanical reliability underlined its shortcomings. As a result, the BT-42 was quickly withdrawn from frontline service.

Despite its limited success, the BT-42 has become something of a cult icon, both due to its rare status as a purely Finnish wartime vehicle and its unusual appearance. Only 18 units were built, and a few have been preserved in museums, including the Parola Tank Museum in Finland. It remains a notable example of wartime ingenuity and the challenges of improvising armored vehicles under resource constraints.

This kit is a modification of kit Flyhawk – FH3016 – BT-7 Fast Tank Model 1937 as the real subject, with new turret parts. Kit include PE (photo-etched) detail parts and metal tow cable. Decal sheet include Finnish symbols and numerals.