It sort of would but as ever, it’s a lot of work - well - perhaps not that much actual work once one has acquired all the extras - but effort is what I mean, and I’m not always good at that(!)
I already have a plan to depict a JS3M advancing, you know the sort of thing, as if seen through a Centurion or M48 Gunner’s sight? Camouflaged, closed down with that “looking for a fight” air. It would be interesting perhaps to portray a T-74 in similar mode.
I’ve re-jigged the crew figures with Hornet Heads and details to the helmets; 'much happier with them now!
Detail painting on the T-74 done save the road-wheels which need an application of metallic silver or similar to replicate the polished metal wheels (no rubber rims on this one - or indeed, any other T-64 derivatives):
Unditching beam also secured to the model.
Crew just about done; a spot of dry-brushing over the black and that will be more or less, that. Obviously, I’ll apply a matt varnish once completed.
Also visible is a tank helmet which I plan to position on the hull as the dismounted crew tackle their lunch:
Excellent job on that crew Brian. Very interesting subject matter - if I didn’t say so already.
I’ve only recently discovered that the crew are depicted in the wrong uniforms for the time frame (mid 70s) so I’ll have to sand off some detail and apply Milliput - never my favourite task; two paces forwards, four back:
However, some progress on the base, shown here as it dries, and with the model and crew (still unmodified) tested in position:
For the base - which is an A4 cut piece of 12mm MDF, I apply tiling grout, with model railway flock added for texture, and track impressions made using spare track; the latter hasn’t worked as well as I’d hoped, but hopefully, I’ll still get the effect I’m after.
Obviously still to be painted, a bush added and one of those black and white marker posts one sees on Sov training areas of the time.
Well then, the fearsome T-74, which it’s designer, Morozov, opined would give NATO kittens - as indeed it might have!
However, it never even got beyond a model - and that was what Trumpeter have produced - a model of a model - so perhaps NATO would have breathed a sigh of relief, assuming they’d known about it in the first place.
I won’t reproduce the sort of narrative back-story I’ve done; that can be found over on “The Best Tank That Never Was” campaign section which this was obviously a project for.
So here it is, envisaged as to having got to prototype stage, after a hard morning thrashing all over the training area somewhere in the Western TVD. The crew are preparing their lunch; as I say, more details within Campaigns:
Over to you!
Excellent job Brian as usual! Great finish and weathering , and figures look great too.
Quite the interesting subject Brian- I’ve enjoyed watching this come together- you have crafted a fine display for it too.
Many thanks Karl - 'glad you like it. It was something quite different and gave me free range to imagine what it might have ended up like (coupled with the plausible of course).
Many thanks Richard. I always like to add figures if I can.
Lovely work. Thank you for drawing attention to this obscure proposal. It’s pretty interesting to see old ideas that failed due to limitations in technology or budget get revived much later with modern designs and techniques. I know many are familiar with the unmanned turret prototype from the 80s. It seems like that idea might go back in fashion.
Thanks Nigel; I do think it remarkable that the Soviets were so ahead of the game (though I think Morozov’s 450 fell foul of more political/military infighting than much else). But the follow-on projects - from whatever designer - are interesting too, given that most started life in the 70s or 80s. What is equally remarkable, to me, is that Trumpeter have bothered to produce them. See:
And it seems that most modellers avoid them, or perhaps they don’t know they exist? I’ve never seen any on the display tables that’s for sure. Mind you, I’ve enough in the stash not to wish to tackle any of the above, but they are not uninteresting.
Community Service, in case someone feels like building a collection of USSR experimental/prototype tanks:
The kits on the post above are, in order of appearance:
Object 490B, Trumpeter 09598
Object 490A, Trumpeter 09607
Object 477 XM2, Trumpeter 09533
Object 292, Trumpeter 09583
Good list Uncle Heavy, may have to check one of those out. I’ll have to clear out some room in the stash of course.
Ah yes, the eternal problem, how can I squeeze in one more kit …
Sorry Robin, I should’ve used pics of Trumpeter box tops. Thanks.
The sad thing is I don’t think modellers do want to amass a collection of Soviet experimental tanks(!) of course, they all fit nicely into the current campaign “The Best Tank That never Was”.
