T-55A + KMT-5 mine clearing device (East Germany)

The T-54/55 tanks are the most produced tank in history with an estimated productions numbers between 86,000 and 100,000. Having debuted in 1958, many T-55s are still in service today. During its very long service life, the T-55 has of course been upgraded may times (see the T-55AM2 here). Mechanically simple and robust, having a good mobility and easy to operate, the T-55 was also very cramped underarmed and under amored  facing its counterparts in the 80's. Nevertheless the T-55A were still the main battle tank of the East German Army in 1989.

First introduced in the 1960s the KMT-5 is a Soviet tank mounted mechanical mine clearing device designed to disable anti-tank mines by plowing up or mechanically breaking them from the lines in front of the tank tracks. It can be mounted to T-54/55, T-62 and T-64.

The models are the HobbyMaster, just needing some repainting and small additions to go to the tabletop. The KMT-5 come from the Trumpeter kit and to give more flexibility in its wargaming use it based separately. (made 2016)

9P148 Konkurs (USSR)

The 9P148 Konkurs is an Anti-Tank Guided Missile launcher vehicle based on the BRDM-2 reconnaissance vehicle (see here). It is armed with 5 wire-guided 9M113 Konkurs (AT-5 Spandrel)  mounted on a retractable external launcher that the crew can reloads through a small hatch located behind it. The 9P148 can carry a total of 14 AT-5 or, in latter version, a mix of 10 AT-5 and 10 AT-4 Spigot (9M111 Fagot).

Above a destroyed Ukrainian 9P148 armed with a mix of AT-5 and AT-4

The kit is from S-Model, nice and easy to build. (made 2015)

WIP Scenery

Something different... I decided to get some new houses done to add to my German village scenery.

 

Raketenjagdpanzer Jaguar 1 (West Germany)

In service in the Bundeswher and based on the same chassis that the Kanonenjagdpanzer (JPK in Belgian service see here), the Raketenjagdpanzer Jaguar 1 was the result of the modernisation, between 1978 and 1982, of the earlier Raketenjagdpanzer 2 equipped with the old French-made anti-tank missile SS 11. The new Jaguar 1 was equipped with the French HOT second generation anti-tank guided missile system. The new vehicle was at the same time fitted with add-on armour with a significantly improved level of protection. 316 Tank Destroyer were converted that way. The new HOT missile maximum range is 75 metres to 3,800+ meters and operates on the principle of semi-automatic guidance.

The kits are from Artitec but these are unfortunately no longer available, the brand having apparently given up on 1:72 and focusing on other scales. Easy to assemble and just in need of some painting, opening of hatches and addition of crew. It's a shame because, although rather expensive, their resin models, which were available to assemble or already assembled and painted, were of very high quality. (made 2018)

MT-LBu MP21 (USSR)

A bigger and unarmed version of the ubiquitous MT-LB artillery tractor, the MT-LBu was used as the basis for many specialised vehicles. Fully amphibious and lightly armoured, the MT-LBu offer at the rear a volume of 13 m³, behind the crew - driver and commander - compartment  at the front of the vehicle and the engine behind it. The MP21 to 25 versions are vehicles that belong to the automated field command set "PASUV" developed since 1972. All models are equipped with a 8 kW generator, an antenna mast AMU and several other types of antennas. The MP21 is destined for the division commander and his staff, the NBC defence section or the intelligence cell.

The kit is one more little gem from Red Tank Miniature from Poland. By their perfectly mastered 3D creation and printing process and by the originality of their subjects, this small Polish company is taking a well deserved place of importance in the "little" world of 1/72 scale, particularly for Soviet vehicles lovers 😎 Thank you Jaroslaw 👍👏 (made 2021)

T-55AM2 (East Germany)

The ubiquitous T-55 was the main battle tank of the NVA (East German army) which, from 1975, received some 1600 of them from Czechoslovakia and Poland. Starting in 1986, 291 were upgraded to the AM2 standard, receiving notably a new version of the engine, improved suspension, additional armour to the hull and turret for increased protection against the mines and anti-tank missiles, a thermal jacket for the gun, 8 Tucha smoke grenade launcher system and a new sighting and firing system coupled with a laser rangefinder mounted over the top of the mantlet. Furthermore 50 were modernised to the AM2B standard, receiving a new guided armament complex enabling the tank to fire the 9K117 Bastion through the gun launched ATGM, thus providing the tank with a way to accurately engage target from 500 to 4000 metres.

The kits are from Revell and with some additions and modifications give a very good result. I made the first (left) in 2017 and the second one (right) in 2021... resulting in more attention to details and a better painting result for the latter 😉

2021 one...

and 2017 one...