This time, I will build the T-14 Armata, which is said to be the newest tank of the Russian Army. It was talked about a little during the war in Ukraine, and some of the tanks were used in actual war, though it was a test type. A while ago, it was reported that the T-14 Armata tank was more expensive than other tanks, making it difficult for Ukrainian and Russian forces to use it. The T-14 is superior in function, but the T-90M is easier to operate due to its price, and the T-14 may not be in mass production at present. The manufacturing cost is 3-4 times that of T-90, so they can’t get enough. However, it is an interesting tank with the latest mechanism. It’s released by a Russian plastic model manufacturer, so it may be a rather popular model in Russian-speaking countries.
The box is quite big, but when I look inside, there is a lot of space. There seems to be a lot of parts, but I don’t think they need to make the box so big. It’s hard for modelers who don’t have much space to pile up. Armata also means “weapon””in Russian. I think there was a better name. The same manufacturing platform also includes the T-15 infantry fighting vehicle in the Armata series. The parts are common and the manufacturing cost is reduced. But I think it is high price because it is the latest weapon series.
This kit has an unusual assembly procedure. It seems that the turret is made first, then the upper part of the tank is assembled and bonded to the chassis, and then the partially connected type of track is installed. If you prefer, it doesn’t seem to affect the assembly process in reverse.
The kit didn’t include metal barrels or etched parts, and included nylon mesh for the engine grille and exhaust cover. I’ve been avoiding making it for a long time because it looks big, but once I start to build it, it seems to go pretty smoothly.
The main gun is a 125 mm smooth bore gun 2A82-1M. There is no crew on the turret, and all shooting is done remotely from the cockpit at the bottom of the vehicle. Does that mean that it is impossible to put the crew on top of the turret? I was thinking that it was strange that there was no hatch on the turret in the assembly manual. I want to put a figure of a Russian tank crew somewhere, but I have to think about the position of figures like a near future weapon because it is different. Rather, I guess I should just put it on the front of the tank body.
(2025/04/02)
The turret of the Armata T-14 has been completed. The barrel is quite long and it looks like a powerful weapon. It looks simpler than the T-90 and T-80 series with fewer turret devices and additional armor.
Instead of the etched parts, the engine grille contained two types of nylon mesh. The actual size is written in the instruction manual, and it is a form of cutting by yourself.
The chassis is under construction. There are 7 rolling wheels on each side probably because of the long length. If I don’t keep the supports in a straight line, it will be troublesome later.
I think the width of the rolling wheel is thicker than the Russian tanks I have made before. Since the metal part itself is not so thick, I wonder if the mobility is increased by distributing the weight per ground area. But the T-14 isn’t supposed to be that heavy.
There are no tank crew in the turret, so I’m going to try to get a crew figure to peep out of either vehicle hatch. I think there was a resin figure or injection kit of a modern Russian tank soldier in a cardboard box somewhere.
(2025/04/05)
When I was straightening the supports of the rolling wheels, one of them broke. As it is, it cannot be bonded at all, so it is reinforced with thick brass wire.
The tank body assembly is almost finished now. I thought it would be bad because it was a Zvezda kit, but the parts fit well with recent kits. I’ve assembled a few old Eastern European kits, and I’ve always had trouble with them. Recently, I think Zvezda kits from about 10 years are very good quality. There may be old mold kits, but I wonder if the new package with the yellow box is easier to assemble.
This time, it is a partially connected type of track. What is unusual is that the assembling process of the track is completed by fitting one side of the drive sprocket at the end.
I was able to put it together without any problems. If it doesn’t fit, you can adjust it somewhere or cut the one track in half in an unnoticeable place, but it fit easily unexpectedly.
(2025/04/09)
The assembly of the vehicle has finally been completed. Overall, it looks heavily armored and highly defensive. When I installed it, I felt that the rolling wheel is thick and strong.
I thought the past Russian tanks, including WWII tanks, were characterized by their rounded shapes. This latest tank uses a lot of flat and straight lines, and it looks like a modern, near-futuristic, science-fiction vehicle.
It was very difficult to attach parts like the slit armor on both sides of the rear of the tank, which was attached at the very end. It took a little time to adjust the position because I was required to do precise work even though the accuracy of the parts was not good.
Since the surface area of the vehicle is large, it is desirable to paint it so as not to be monotonous. There are quite a lot of panel lines, so the washing will give it an accent. I can’t decide whether the tank body should be painted dark green as often seen in parade photos or camouflage paint. I think I’ll get tricolor camouflage paint.
There are quite a lot of cameras on the turret, so they can monitor the outside in all directions. I don’t know the enemy from above.
I bought a figure of a modern tank crew from MENG a long time ago, so I will choose one and put it on the front of the tank.
I visited the Science Museum in Ueno, Tokyo the other day. It is located in Ueno Park which is popular among foreign tourists these days. Taking photos in front of blue whales is popular.
(2025/04/13)
I underpainted it with black as usual. I carefully sprayed the inner part of the chassis and turret.
This time I painted it with tricolor camouflage. The instructions only showed examples of painting dark green, dark yellow, and red brown, but this time I chose dark green, sand-yellow, and tire black. The former is exactly the German army of WWII. At first glance, this paint will look like a modern Russian tank. Painting was harder than usual because the tank is large.
(2025/04/16)
Almata is finally finished. The best feature is that even with the 125 mm smooth bore gun, there is no crew on the turret and it is automatically operated.
There are basically three crew operated, but since all operations can be performed in the cockpit, it can be operated by one person. It can also be operated remotely, so it can be unattended. Is this true? I don’t know how much control it can do unmanned, but can it be like a large land-based drone? But the production cost per vehicle seems to be enormous, and it is not easy to operate a large number of tanks.
The crew can minimize human casualties by operating in the thickest capsule module at the bottom of the front, away from the ammunition compartment.
As a kit, it is a product released recently, so the accuracy of parts is reasonably good and it can be assembled without much trouble. It is not a kit that uses etched parts in particular, but I think it has a sense of precision.
I didn’t think about the war in Ukraine, but I thought it would be dirty in wartime operation, so I might have a lot of dirt in my finish.
Although the number of Armata units is small, it is said that it has been used in the war in Ukraine, but was it successful? This tank is said to have excellent survivability. It’s probably a far better weapon than the T-64 that was pulled from a warehouse that hadn’t been opened for years and overhauled. But I don’t know what to say here, but the T-64 looks better. Maybe my image of Russian tanks has already been formed.
The painting this time is a combination of three colors of camouflage that I like best.
I opened the front hatch, so I put a tank crew on it. It is a MENG injection figure, and it may have painted well even though it is not a resin figure. He looks like a soldier face.
I think the picture taken by swinging a long barrel sideways is pretty cool.
But I don’t know what the actual role of tanks on the battlefield is. If they were just targets for drones, they could do away with tanks and have infantrymen wear armed suits to fight. If it could be equipped with a large firearm with auxiliary power, it would be a near-future science fiction or space warrior.
This kit has no etched parts and has been replaced with nylon mesh, but the clear parts are used in various parts such as camera lens and headlight, which shows ZVEZDA’s enthusiasm. It is good that both the marking for the ceremony and the number decal for the actual battle are included so you can choose. I feel very good when it is completed with a voluminous tank.
(2025/04/18)
コメント