I’ve seen pics of them in NATO-flage, but not sure if more than a few got that treatment…
2 Likes
Men, somebody sent me this link to an East German video on transporting armor. Some nice close-ups of the rail cars.
4 Likes
Nice video. Thanks for posting it.
I wanted my DDR train layout (all Piko equipment) to feature something like that, but the 1/87 T-62s of the day were horrid. I don;t know if they’re any better now, but wow did they stink.
3 Likes
Cool to see the tanks just rumble off the side of the flat cars like that, thanks !
4 Likes
In 1/87, SDV makes a T-62. You can find reviews of SDV models on Armorama. (Not the T-62.)
Artitec does not T62 or 64s, but they make really nice T72s, and I think T55.
1 Like
Great video! Would this have been from the 50-60s? I take it the shiny suits the tankers were wearing are NBC suits? Interesting how they drove their tanks right off the side of those flat cars into action.
2 Likes
This truck,
the Robur LO1800A, was introduced at the Leipzig fair in 1961, add a few years for it to get into service with the NVA.
Edit, I should have written this instead:
add a few years for it to get into widespread service with the NVA.
2 Likes
Aha; I remember seeing these, normally some way off, whenever we visited the Inner German Border back in the day. They always looked slightly odd, so different, but that only added to a certain sinister recognition, because I suppose it was “enemy” kit.
I believe Balaton do one in 1:35; I really must get one. Just so redolent of that time then.
1 Like
Balaton make the Robur 2002 with a more “modern” front end design
Also as ambulance …
The LO1800 is available in 1/72 and H0 scale
I think they do look odd due to the wide overhang of the body (narrow track width), similar to, and more pronounced than, the Bukhanka
1 Like
That would probably still do for my purposes; those visits to the IGB always seemed to be in misty autumn - so atmospheric! Close up there’d be Grenztruppen photographing us, and someway back, say on the crest of a small hill would be a truck, amidst the endless wire mesh fences, raked earth and fortifications. When the British Frontier Service briefing officer wasn’t looking we’d throw over cigarettes; we sort of felt sorry for them I suppose.
1 Like
About cigarettes and catering to the needs of border guards …
An acquaintance visited some Warsaw pact country (Czechoslovakia, Hungary or Yugoslavia) and started thinking about the border crossing hassle. After confering
with the people he was visiting they figured out that glossy magazines with scantily clad females were forbidden items (and therefore Hard Currency, better than ciggies, jeans or other western products).
So they bought some of those magazines and placed them visible on the rear seat of the car. Border control check point, grim looking border guard spots the “forbidden items” that these decadent westerners are trying to bring into his country and promptly tells them that those are forbidden and may not be brought into his country and he will have to report it, there will be fines, they will be turned away and not be allowed to enter, yada, yada, yada …
“Oh deary deary me, what shall we do” says the westerner, “Could we solve this issue if the items were confiscated here at the border?”
“That would be acceptable” says the border guard and happily confiscates the “forbidden items” …
They didn’t attempt to bribe him so that he would not check the rest of the car, oh no. That would be a crime with severe consequences …
4 Likes
I know I’ve posted this before, but it may have been on the old forum.
Back in the day when driving through the DDR, you would stop at Check Point Alpha or Bravo and a Soviet Guard would stop you. You’d go into a tiny little building with Gorbachev’s photo hanging on the wall (which I was sorely tempted to steal more than once) and slide your flag orders* and military ID into a little slot. You couldn’t see the guy on the other side. After they were done photographing your ID for nefarious purposes, you’d get it back after an indeterminate amount of time, The time of departure would be stamped on your flag orders. You had a certain amount of time to get to the other border. You also had a minimum time. If you showed up early they would get you for speeding.
Sub anecdote: I got pulled over once by a VOPO whose car was in a hull down position on the side of the road. I nearly hit him when he jumped out in front of me with his flashing wand. After he found out I was with the US Army he sent me on my way as we did not recognize their authority. He would have had to call the Soviets to come, which he was of course loathe to do. He informed me that here in the Worker’s Paradise we only drive on the right side of the road, and only at 100 Sachen. I thanked him, burned out, and left him standing there in my smoke.
But I digress:
I would always arrive at the border way early. I’d park my bike about 100 meters short of the checkpoint and just chill. Too bad there were no smart phones back then. When enough time had elapsed I rode up to the checkpoint. There the game would begin. The Soviet quard pointed to the emblem on his hat. I’d shake my head. Then he pointed to the one of the enameled badges on his chest. I’d shake my head again. Then he pointed to his belt buckle. I nodded and left a carton of tax free Marlboros on my seat. When I returned from having my orders stamped again the smokes were gone, but there was a brand new belt with buckle on my seat.
That is how we played the game back then, I played it a little differently as a civiian, but with pretty much the same results.
4 Likes
Aha! I see!
Demolishing the Soviet Army one lung cancer at the time 
Was the belt buckle nice?
1 Like
I have the LO 2002 ambulance kit and it´s NOT nice. A lot of work and elbow grease needed.
I encountered massive problems when building the frame and installing the wheels.
Reminds minds of an Elite Modellbau kit.
I am not sure if a Volkspolizei truck can be used for Grenztruppen. I wish for 2025 some injection molded GDR trucks like Robur LO 1800A, Robur LO 2002A and IFA W50.
Tamiya or Takom, do you read this?
f
2 Likes
GDR NVA took the thread of a western NBC attack very seriously. Even the train drivers have their NBC suits at hand.
1 Like
If you dig into my RMP Berlin 1961 thread you’ll see my Elite Modellbau MUNGA problems; I’m getting there (by combining it with CMK’s version) but any pleasure in the process has totally eluded me, so I feel your pain!
I’m merely assuming that the Grenztruppen used Roburs so just envisaged removing the Vopo bits and pieces. Having been almost beaten by resin I must admit I’m now not too sure about getting one just yet - the Robur that is. Sadly, I think the species is just too specialised for any of the larger manufacturers to even consider any in injected plastic.
1 Like
Could it be more speciailzed than a Wehrmacht Paper Panzer?
1 Like
A moot point?
1 Like
The UAZ-3909, Bukhanka, is available in styrene …
OOP from AMG and in production by Zvezda.
Who knows, it might turn up someday …
1 Like