This, I’m sure you will recall is the OKB Grigorov/Trimontium 3D printed model, which I obtained around a month ago. Whist I plan to log it within The Best Tank That Never Was campaign, I thought I’d also record it here, as not all those interested will necessarily visit the Campaign site - or at least that’s my theory.
To recap here are a few images (which I’ve already shown I think) but for the record:
It is so strikingly different, I think the trick will be to display it in as normal a setting as possible; to facilitate the abnormal appearing as normal, if you get what I mean.
There was only ever a wooden mock-up constructed as far as I can find out, so I decided to treat it as I did my Object 450/T-74 build, as though a prototype did in fact get built. This means I can enjoy adding fittings which might be plausible, which I find quite enjoyable. Purists may wish to build the thing as it is - and while there’s nothing wrong with that - I’ll venture down the lane of What-Iffery(!)
My concept of ops:
A tank, on exercise, trundling down a German road in, say, c.1959; what could be more normal than that?
I’ve acquired a few extras that might help me go to where I want to, and so far that has included some brass MGs - both the co-axial .30 Brownings, just visible in their sponsons, and the pod-mounted M85 .50.
I’ve Blu-Tak’d the hatches into position and realised that not only were there no vision devices for the Commander (or Loader come to that), but he - the Commander - had no dedicated cupola; I thought that might have been one of the mods a prototype would have so I’ve ordered a suitable one.
The kit instructions would have you fit the tool rack to the chassis, but I thought that it might get too filthy there so have relocated it to the turret rear. With no track-guards of any sort I imagine the chassis component would get dirty very soon, as would the underside of the turret; I can visualize the application of lots of Tamiya Buff there!
The white plastic piece of tubing Blu-Tak’d to the turret front is to help me visualise the Crouse-Hinds searchlight which I intend to fit there.
This shouldn’t take me that long - certainly not such a saga as my Berlin project; the kit is relatively simple and there’s no pesky tracks to worry about, as they are beautifully printed (which still seems to me to be a strange way to use the word).
I plan to install at least 3 x crewmen, and will utilise Hornet Heads for the figures, once I’ve devised them.
So - off we go. That said, I might relax a bit this weekend and commence Monday - I’m still modelled-out from the Berlin model(!)
