Takom has added NBC Commando to the 35th scale Object 279.

Object 279 with NBC Commando

From Takom

Kit No# 2188

1/35th scale

Dark grey Injection moulded plastic (+1 clear) + coloured P/E + cable

The Subject:
The Object279 was an experimental and extremely strange Soviet heavy tank that was developed from 1956 to 1959. We look at the CADs for the kit in our preview…

Object 279 with NBC Commando

From Takom

Design
Kit No# 2188

1/35th scale

Dark grey Injection moulded plastic (+1 clear) + coloured P/E + cable

The Subject:

The Object 279 was an experimental and extremely strange Soviet heavy tank that was developed from 1956 to 1959. This tank’s appearance is so bizarre that no one can agree on what it looks. The tank has been described as looking like a frog by some, a clam by others, or even a UFO. The tank was used for a strange purpose. The Object was built to fight and traverse on terrain that would have been impossible for any vehicle to access. The tank’s second and more well-known purpose was to survive a nuclear shock wave and fight in contaminated conditions, even those at the epicentre of a nuclear blast.

Development of the Object occurred in the Kirov Plant in Leningrad by L. Troyanov, an experienced and respected Soviet engineer. It was first imagined in 1956 and construction began in 1957. By 1959, a pilot tank was produced. The vehicle was a truly unique and bizarre creation, with superior capabilities for cross-country travel. This tank was propelled by a system of four tracks, two on each side. The tracks were mounted on a rectangular beam running in the longitudinal direction. The beams doubled up as fuel tanks. This tank was equipped with an advanced hydropneumatic system, which included a hydro-pneumatic converter and a 3-speed planetary transmission. Due to its track design, the vehicle has a large amount of ground in contact, providing it with reduced ground pressure. This allows the vehicle to cross over torn and boggy ground. This track layout also enabled the Objects to pass over fallen trees, and many anti-tank barriers. A 2DG-8M 1000hp diesel engine powered the 66 ton Object, allowing it to reach an incredible 55km/h. The four-wide tracks of this tank made for a very large turning circle. The armour on the turret was up to 330mm, and that of the hull around 270mm. Due to the steep slopes and extreme angles, the tank’s hull and its turret would have had a very high effective thickness and bounce. A thin elliptical armour shell was placed over the hull to protect it from shaped charges. Cast armour of different thicknesses was used to prevent the tank from tumbling over in case of nuclear detention. The armour of the tank.

Armour plates were placed around the hull and turret in order to shield the object from High Explosive Anti Tank (HEAT) shells. A CBRN protection system shielded the crew from potentially contaminated environments. This increased pressure in the tank slightly to prevent unwanted agents.

Kubinka’s Object before being repainted

The armament for the Object was a 60-calibre 130 mm M65 rifled gun. The ‘Groza stabilizer’ system stabilized the weapon on both axes, which allowed the tank to fire accurately while moving. The secondary armament consisted of a 14.5mm heavy machine gun co-axially installed with 800 rounds. The Object was able to fire 7 rounds per minute thanks to a semi-automatic system, an automated loading tray and stereoscopic rangefinder. The Fire Control system included an optical rangefinder, stereoscopic sight and an L2 searchlight with active night vision. The Object 279 was intended to have been under the Supreme Command Reserve, though it never entered serious production.

The Object 279 was never used in combat, and only 3 examples were ever created. It was a costly project that fell out of favor. The Soviet Union had shifted away from heavier tanks and towards smaller MBTs. This new kit from Takom:

The kit we made waaay back in 2013…This new kit does NOT include this figure in green – the older kits did.

This detail of the new Kit by CAD. First up, two variants, one with he long gun, and another with a bigger, wider cannon.

The choice of barrels, you can see it clearly on both illustration, as well as comparing to the photo above, which shows if Eventually, all Objects were scrapped except one, which survives in the Kubinka Tank Museum.

The choice of barrels, from this illustration and from the photo above of the completed kit you can see the large difference between them.