8 Nov 2014

Armour sighted!

Hello guys,

I didn't manage to paint another fireteam in the past week, but I did finish painting my T-90 tank. Tank is a Zhengdefu 1/48 plastic kit and is nothing to write home about. I did got it very cheap and Brummie, thanks again for picking it up!

I painted it using craft paints so the quality of work is not spectacular. Technologically advanced tank as T-90 is not something I would particularly need, but as it has tracks and a turret, it will be a proxy for any other tank on the battlefield.

 It's reflectors were actually modeled as closed, but I decided to paint them glowing as I think they really add to the model. Nothing else to add, really.



An "action" shot below, with SAF fire-team using it as a cover.
For those interested in some real life facts, Slovenian armed forces had/have a limited number of tanks that were left behind by the YPA back in 1991, namely Soviet T-55 and Yugoslav T-72, the M-84.

T-55 tanks were modernised into an M-55S. They go better guns, better fire control system and an upgraded armour. As T-55 is the most produced tank in history, these upgrade packages could be sold abroad, but for various reasons nothing happened. As cool as they look, these tanks were by now put out of operational use and were stored.


M-84 tanks, on the other hand, are still in use. They are old and the decision makers are not really sure what do to next. There are some ideas of simply not having tanks, as they are an expensive piece of kit and there are predictions that tanks would be "useless" in future. This, however, is a problem as even if purchase of tanks could be done relatively simple in the times of need, the knowledge of using them would die out. Canada had similar ideas and is now a tank-loving country again.


This is it for  this week. I will hopefully get my second fire team painted by the next week, or I will perhaps play another patrol scenario!

Thanks for looking,
Mathyoo

13 comments:

  1. Despite your misgivings about the model, Mathyoo, I think it is a mighty fine looking tank and your paintwork does it justice. I love the photo of your SAF fire team using it as cover.

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  2. It looks great mate and as Bryan says fits in with your troops. Even if it doesn't get used as its primary function. It will be a great looking piece of terrain or an objective perhaps.

    Tanks are weird they seem to get a lot of use still in the various 'current' wars that are going on.

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    1. Thanks!

      I think the sheer psychological effect that tank has on both sides is worth having tanks around!

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  3. I know exactly what you mean. It's nice to have but does have limiled use in a skirmish game. Having said that they do pop up on The Walking Dead. So I am sure you shell find a use for it even if only as table decoration.

    I do like you factual notes as well. Interesting and not that common knowledge here I think. Any more facts like that I would happily rad.

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    1. Thanks Clint, I'm glad you like them. I figured I'd put some notes in a post to avoid just having some photos in.

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  4. It's a tank !
    Despite your misgivings as to its quality, your paint-job has done it justice and it'll be an eye-catching bit of sceery even if not "in use" in a scenario (good cover too).

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  5. Great job Mathyoo!
    Whatever you think, it looks good.
    It would be great to run over zombies in too.

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    1. Hahaha, it would also be great to have zombies in it for any survivors that might think tank is a safe hiding place!

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  6. BOOM baby! This still looks good!

    And could double just as a terrain piece.

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    1. Thanks Johnny! It's huge enough to block a road!

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  7. Looks good- a night raid by a small group of guerrillas to destroy a tank with satchel charges always makes for a good game in my book.

    Cheers,

    Pete.

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