1:35 Soviet Object 292 Experienced-Tank

Object 292 in 1:35 scale - a Trumpeter kit

An injection-molded plastic kit of the Soviet experimental tank Object 292 in 1:35 scale from Trumpeter. The English wording Experienced Tank used in the name is a literal rendering of the Russian term for a trial, that is an experimental machine. The model is supplied as a set of plastic parts on sprues and is intended to be glued together and painted. The contents of the box, the number of parts and the presence of photo-etch or steel cable are given on the box and in the enclosed instructions.

The real subject

Object 292 was a development prototype created at the close of the existence of the Soviet Union as a test platform for a gun of larger caliber. It was based on the chassis of the T-80 series and carried a new turret with a 152 mm smoothbore gun - against the then standard 125 mm caliber that was a marked step. The aim of the program was to establish whether a heavier weapon with greater recoil could be integrated into the existing chassis and turret at all without a fundamental rebuild of the hull. The machine stayed at the prototype stage, never reached series production or service, and is technically interesting above all as evidence of the search for the next step in tank armament. A characteristic feature of the model is the unusually sturdy turret with its bulky barrel, which looks markedly different from ordinary production.

Building and painting tips

Work in the classic way from the bottom up: first the running gear, the wheels and the torsion bar suspension, and only then the superstructures. Leave the tracks until the hull is painted - they are easier to paint separately. Glue the plastic with thin plastic cement and small accessories with super glue. Spray the whole model with primer before painting. A uniform green finish over a large area needs breaking up: use a lighter overspray into the middle of surfaces, a dark wash into the welds and pressings, a dry brush on the edges and finally pigments for mud and dust effects on the running gear. Do the metal rub-through on the tracks and on the edges of the fenders with a graphite pencil or a dark steel paint at the very end.

Who the model is for

• For modelers with experience of building tracked vehicles in 1:35 scale.
• For collectors of experimental and prototype machines that never reached production.
• For anyone interested in the development of tank armament and in the T-80 platform.
• For modelers who want to practice weathering, dust and mud effects on a running gear.

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.