Esci T55 Progvev-T Conversion

Soeren R.
Ahh nice the mine blaster with a MiG engine 😄 Count me in!

Choppa Nutta
this is my little side build 🙂
do you know if there is more than this one picture ?

Soeren R.
Dont know. Im only aware of this one.

Denis Kuleshov
WOW! I would like to see this building. Very interesting.

Thomas Mayer
Not sure on this one, but such conversions have been / are used to get runways free from snow...

Soeren R.
Not this one Thomas.
This config was planned for destroying mines.
The heat of the engine should blow them up.

Michael Hickey
Isn't it a bit of overkill to clear some mines , you think putting a bulldozer blade out in front of the tank would do the job. A bit more cost effective too, but I do like their way of thinking.🙂

Choppa Nutta
...... and there was me thinking that this was their second attempt at a flying tank !!😉 😄 😄 😄

Soeren R.
Maybe it was at first, but after I didnt want to fly they thougt about this?! 😛
For a hair dryer it was obviously to big 😄

Stanley Carrier
i thought this was an attempt to put out fires from a safe distance at air bases

Holger Kranich
Höhö, a T-55 with a MiG 15 engine... Looks like a Maschinenkrieger! 😄

Choppa Nutta
would have made a great flame thrower !! 😄
at first I thought it was some kind of Ray Gun ....
it does look really sci fi though !!🙂

Choppa Nutta
"Looks like a Maschinenkrieger!"

now you've said it Holly it really does look very Ma.K. ! 🙂
best looking tank ever haha 😄

Choppa Nutta
So I am wondering how the turret works, does it all turn like normal and what the job of the M bracket is ?
is the "Turret" a fuel bowser for the engine and is the engine hinged on the M bracket so all it can do is pivot up and down ?

Looking at that M bracket it does look like it attaches somewhere close to the CG of the engine ...

of course, it could also be a transport resting bracket that folds down and forward allowing the "Barrel" to move freely, my suspicion is the former arrangement as making the turret strong enough to hold a Mig 15 engine under full power whilst pivoting about would add even more weight etc. even if it would be cooler 😄

I reckon the M bracket is an up and down hinge with a fuel bowser and the take does the turning, which would be the simple solution, the sensible and pragmatic solution and a very Russian solution. 🙂

Stanley Carrier
well wouldn't adding weight be a good idea as to not tip the thing over?

Choppa Nutta
haha, it was already 37 tons by the time they got this far 😄
also a Klimov VK-1 engine only kicks out about 2.65 tonnes of thrust.
it weighed about 870 kilos or so, according to wikipedia.

plus all that armour and frame work structure etc. I reckon that "gun barrel" might weigh 5 or 6 tons or more, that would need to be one strong turret to swing that about 🙂
and just think of the poor suspension and wheels ! haha 😄

re. the turret, perhaps it was an armoured crew compartment and the used where the crew used to be to store the fuel lower down in the tank which would help stability a lot....
My guess is the gunner and commander sat in that armoured hut turret, drive as normal....

any other suggestions ?
Please 😄

Burkhard D
Also useful as a snow-plow or for blowing out oil well fires.

Choppa Nutta
... I reckon it's just a cover story for the alien ray weapon it really is ! 😄 😄 😄

Burkhard D
Yeah, could as well be straight from a 1970s Godzilla movie.

Choppa Nutta
that's it, I'm calling it the Gprgpn Mecha 😄
well the Tank bit is almost built and ready for spraying 🙂
Think I've worked out how I'm going to build the Gorgon Cannon and what the rough proportions are.
Naturally I've been hunting for domestic scraps that will suit this build and I've got something for the central cylinder collar that will work, but I reckon it is about 10% too large but I can cope with this having a bigger gun 😄
Pics in due course of course 🙂

Choppa Nutta
nearly ready for paint, got the bits for the scratch build part sorted I reckon and a sketch outlining the approx proportions etc. 🙂

An interesting link on someone else's build of this kit (or very nearly the same kit)

kartonwork.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17806

[img1]

Choppa Nutta
a little upgrade 🙂

Choppa Nutta
Main cradle scratch built from only one spare Academy 1/48 tank hull, greeblies from the spare box next 🙂
and the M bracket at the front to mount the jet gun etc. 🙂

Bart Goesaert
Looks good so far...

Choppa Nutta
cheers Bart 🙂
got most of the M bracket and the side "shocks ?" done,
got a few greeblies for the main tray, pipes and pumps etc. 🙂
Also sourced some better bits for the main "gun" that are more in scale

Matthew A
Wow

Choppa Nutta
Cheers Mat, perhaps it's time for me to resurrect this build 🙂

Paul Hennessy
Nice job.

Choppa Nutta
Cheers Paul 🙂

Es-haq Khosravi
Interesting!

Rui S
Yes, I think a lot of mates are especting that ressurection 👍 I am😉

Choppa Nutta
All the warm encouragements are helping my motivation, thank you guys 🙂

Bart Goesaert
When is the first update then? 😉