T-64

[Rich H]

Finally managed to finish this thing...  its taken a while!
T-64 in various mod states for Empress
Still a few tweaks needed and another mod needed too...

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Very cool.
With the flip out shields!

[Rich H]

Great in a frontal assault I guess... but not going to last long in woods!

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Great in a frontal assault I guess... but not going to last long in woods!

Too true, or down narrow lanes.

[CapnJim]

As an M1 tank platoon leader in West Germany in the mid-80s, I could never figure out what purpose having them swing out like that served.  You still aimed center-mass, and still hit the tank itself...and as mentioned above, it opened up its flank...heck, I still can't figure out its purpose...oh well.  Color me daft perhaps...

[carlos marighela]

Very nice! Been waiting for this.

Will we get the resin-fabric side skirts and Tucha smoke dischargers as options for those of us who want a more 1980s looking vehicle?

[carlos marighela]

Oops closer look at the first drawing shows the smoke dischargers.  My bad.

If you include the GTN-12 antenna box as an optional extra, then it can be modelled as a T-64B, with the gun-missile system. probably not the hardest thing to create with plastic card even if you don't

[carlos marighela]

As an M1 tank platoon leader in West Germany in the mid-80s, I could never figure out what purpose having them swing out like that served.  You still aimed center-mass, and still hit the tank itself...and as mentioned above, it opened up its flank...heck, I still can't figure out its purpose...oh well.  Color me daft perhaps...

Not daft at all. I think they were meant to provide a standoff screen against HEAT projectiles from a three-quarter frontal hit to the sides. Seems like an overly complex solution to a relatively insignificant problem but then over-engineering tanks is hardly a Russian only thing. Apparently they fell off or were ripped away at an alarming rate in service, hence their replacement with the side skirts.

[Rich H]

Oops closer look at the first drawing shows the smoke dischargers.  My bad.

If you include the GTN-12 antenna box as an optional extra, then it can be modelled as a T-64B, with the gun-missile system. probably not the hardest thing to create with plastic card even if you don't

There are still a few more bits and pieces to add.  It's been hard to work out what is what as they have been chopped about and modded loads of times!

Which is the GTN-12 antenna?

[carlos marighela]

It's essentially a 'D' shaped metal box in front of the commander's station.

Here's a photo of one on a T-80. Identical unit, pretty much identical placement.

[carlos marighela]

And here's a side view on a T-64, albeit a BV version with the Kontakt 1 reactive armour fitted. No difference to the Kobra sighting unit of course.

[Rich H]

Ok so it's sat on top of the right hand rangefinder aperture?

[carlos marighela]

Well, where it would have been. The coincidence rangefinder had been replaced by a laser range finder on the T-64B. They were fielding laser rangefinders by the early 1980s. At least that's what Mr Zaloga tells us.

[AKULA]

Great work as always Rich 

[CapnJim]

My Russians only have a few BTRs and a T55.  I may need to get them an upgrade....