1:72 Egyptian T-34 SPG 122 mm

1:72 Egyptian T-34 SPG 122 mm from Military Wheels

A plastic kit of the Egyptian self-propelled howitzer on the T-34 chassis with a 122 mm weapon, in 1:72 scale, from the Ukrainian brand Military Wheels. The subject is a typical example of the improvised conversions that Middle Eastern armies made out of surplus Soviet tanks.

The real subject

At the end of the 1960s Egypt had a large number of old T-34-85 tanks that could no longer be relied on in tank combat. The answer was a conversion: the original cast turret went away and a roomy welded superstructure of flat plates was seated on the hull, with a 122 mm howitzer mounted in its front wall. The result was a machine with the firepower of artillery and the mobility of a tracked chassis, but with limited traverse and weak protection for the crew. The Egyptian army assigned these self-propelled guns to infantry formations, used them in the Arab-Israeli conflicts as improvised tank destroyers as well, and withdrew them fairly early. A few were captured by Israel and stand in museums today.

Building and painting tips

The flat plates of the superstructure glue easily, but they give away every gap, so bond them on a flat surface and check the right angles. Sandy shades look flat until you add lightening of the upper surfaces and a darker wash in the welds. Dust pigments pay off on the tracks and the fenders, and careful rubbing on the grab handles and edges. Because the superstructure was often welded carelessly, a slight unevenness of the surface looks convincing here.

Who the model is for

• collectors of hardware of the Arab-Israeli conflicts
• modelers of improvised and converted machines
• anyone interested in the further life of T-34 tanks after the Second World War

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