Soviet T-62M
Main Battle Tank
First seen in May of 1965, The T-62 was designed
to replace the older T-54/55 series. The -M version
was armed with a 115mm main gun and featured an
infrared sighting system and laser rangefinder
attached to the gun mantlet.
The ESCI kit was o.k., but needed work
to look more like a Russian MBT.
I wanted to depict an abandoned Iraqi tank,
battered, beaten and weathered to the hilt.
As inexpensive as these little tanks are (about $5)
I was fortunate to have two to work from.
One to build and one to cut pieces from.
Hatched were drilled out, as well as fuel caps,
barrels and sights. I simulated the IR sights
with red sequins and epoxy. I chipped
and cut at the plastic with an X-acto blade
and melted and bent one of the fenders.
The rough finish was achieved by literally scrubbing
the surface with a stiff oil painting brush.
Adding a tiny amount of light tan (almost white)
I dry-brushed the details out.
One of the big problems with this kit is the road wheels.
ESCI molds all of it solid, so I had to drill
out the spokes. Detail to the drive gear
also had to be drilled out.
There was also detail added to the large AA
gun mounted in front of the gunner's hatch.
You can see turret damage in this shot.
I also added straps to the fuel drums
on the back with masking tape. The shell
ejector door has been left open as well.
The track links are individual and well done.
This tank won 1st place in the
Pensacola Modelfest for small scale armor.
RETURN TO ARMOR INDEX
Back to Armor Page
