Hello model builders
Today we are building another model of Russian pioneer technology. It is the special vehicle IMR-1 based on the T-55 tank. The vehicle was developed in the mid-70s. The T-55 tank kit from Mini Art was used to build the model. Everything else was made by myself. I will show the construction process here. First a few pictures of the original vehicle and the kit.
so the construction began.
That claw makes it look like a logging vehicle.
Hello Dan
Yes, your thoughts are absolutely correct. This special vehicle was intended for precisely these tasks and for creating marching roads. It was only in the Soviet army’s inventory and was not exported to other Warsaw Pact countries. I think Finland was an exception. Here are a few more pictures of the vehicle’s use.
A great idea, your model looks great.
Construction of the model continues with the manufacture of the dozer blade. It is made from plastic material and profiles. The model should be able to show all the functions and settings of the blade, just like in the original. This means that the hydraulic cylinders must be built so that they can move. The transport and working positions must be shown. Attaching the brackets to the vehicle was a very big problem; they had to be placed in exactly the right place, otherwise the dozer blade could not be put down. Take a look at the pictures.
Fabulous work.
Great idea and vehicle Joachim, the detailing and scratch building is superb … looks amazing.
Holy cow ! Stunning work there!
Thanks to all the model builders who have responded to this topic. It’s great that you like the topic so much. The documentation continues with the installation of the dozer blade and the crane arm. As already announced, everything is to be built so that it can move.
Here is a construction drawing of the original
The dozer blade was attached
The crane arm has been attached and is made entirely of plastic.
The crane arm was completed and built to be extendable. Due to the weight shift of the extended crane, the suspension on the vehicle can be clearly seen. I built the suspension to be movable.
As far as references go , did you have anything other than that drawing to work from ?
Good thinking and excellent work.
Hello Seanmcandrews, yes, I used original documents for this vehicle, reference photos from the internet and my memories of the vehicle from the Cold War era. Today there is very good image material of this vehicle. In the 80s the vehicle was often seen, but it was not allowed to be photographed at that time. There is very good image material from the soldiers of the time who photographed this vehicle. These are real operational photos and not museum photos. The drawing helped me a lot during construction as it is very informative.
Now the construction continues with the completion of the crane arm and the gripper.
A few more original pictures
And now to the model
Thank you, really excellent work ! Another on I’d love to see a kit of, Takom or Miniart maybe ?
Thank you for your compliment, yes, there will be another conversion from MiniArt. It will be the MTU-12 bridge-laying vehicle on the T-54 tank.
Hello model makers
Today I’m showing you the finished model of the IMR-1 armored personnel carrier. It wasn’t an easy model to build, the construction time was 6 months of continuous work. The preparations, in terms of photos and technical documents, took several years. Here is the result of my work, the finished model.
Unbelievable work. You are incredibly talented.
