Interesting news, Jacques. I was browsing SAAM page the other day and saw some T-72 sets announced. Are they WIP or just 'maybe' list items?

Yes, there are some T-72 sets in the works, but I think they are for more of a mid-year release? Not sure. (sometimes these sets just pop up with no notice...)

New kits are out and will be posted soon ont eh SAAM webpage.

219 - T-80UD m88
220 - T-80UD m91
Both of these kits now have hollow turrets and many reworked parts BUT, sorry, no one piece upper hull yet.

221 - T-80U(M) m92/95/05
Comes with the one piece upper hull

Kit 207, the UR-77 mine clearance system, has reworked masters to make it more accurate.

and finally, a picture of kit 218, late style tow hooks, will be up.

Out of curiosity, if one is modeling a 1999 era Russian T-80U would #221 be the set to get or is #216 "T-80U m93/94" with upper hull still the best choice? If it's #216, and idea when it will be back in stock?

Thanks,
Matt

What do you mean by 1999 era tank? There were virtually no new T-80Us built since April of 1998, for RA's service anyway.
Edit: If you were talking about the picture of a tank standing next to Omsk'99 exhibition logo on the hangar(?) then set 221 is the right one. Although, master will probably feature 1A45T FCS as seen on T-80UK/UD and not the one featured on 'Omsk exhibit' tank.

Nope, there were minor tweaks around that are tough to pin down, so I jst want the set-up that will best mirror a representative T-80U serving in the Russian Army circa 1999.

Matt

In this case you would need T-80U'93 set since nearly all T-80Us in service with RA were built sometime between 1987 and 1992.

Cool, thank you!

Matt

No pictures up on the SAAM website yet, (I gotta sleep SOMETIME) but the main differences I can see is the m92/95 retain the old earflap windsensor but the 2005 has the mast-on-a-box setup. Also, the IR searchlight is removed in all 3 versions, with the extra ERA block.

I will try to get pics up on the websight ASAP.

As for all the m designators, it is mainly a Eastern European Modeller thing. I have also seen pictures taken in 2007 showing a m91, m92/m95, and a m2005 in service with the Russian Army at the same time. So you have some lee-way...probably the biggest being wether you want the IR searchlight or not.

Guys,

Re: SP Designs

This link:
http://www.track-link.net/gallery/6454
will take you to a completed PPRU-1 Sborka by SP Designs.

I do not claim to know enough about the vehicle to vouch for accuracy- BUT even the unpainted pic of the model looks pretty decent. Tomas Johansson did a really nice job on it.

More of this type of exposure will do wonders for SP Designs products.

Steve

Thanks for the note. I actually noticed Tomas' build the other day, I think he did a fabulous job.

Accuracy is pretty good for a vehicle that is not well documented in photos or drawings. It is a bugger to get good shots on the Command and Control Vehciles. Sergej knows them because he served in a ADA unit for his conscription.

The AT-4/5 firing post needs the tripod added as an option in case you want to build it stand alone/off vehicl..A stand alone tripod mounted Kornet launcher would be cool also.

There are apparently some communications issues with my e-mail. I am receiving e-mails but I do not seem to be getting out to people. If anyone is e-mailing me and not receiving my replies as they would expect, please check your junk/trash folder.

Any other issues?

I have several of the kits and really like them. Keep up the good work and I will keep buying them.
James

Any word on new BMP versions/variants?

Mike

What is the status of the M107/M110 US track sets? I JUST checked the website, and all I could find was a picture that said "OOS"? Are they still available?
Many thanks,
Rod

Ok, here is the deal: Sergej is switching over the vacuum casting from simple gravity casting. It is the "new big thing" in Eastern Europe and he is quite jazzed about it. It offers the ability to improve quality of casting, reduce miscasts, and is also safer than pressure casting. All that aside, he has to experiment and switch over, as well as the fact that I had to mail the pump and chamber to him. I think he just finally got the chamber today (Icelandic valcanoe played merry hell with airmail to Europe...)

So I have been selling out of a LOT of stuff...and there is not much new to report. Sergej is working on some T-62 conversions for the Trumpeter kit, and is waiting on any more conversions for the BMP and BTR lines to see what Trumpeters new kits look like, if/when they surface (we are still waiting on the BMP-3..)

There it is. More when it is known.

Hey Jacques, did you receive my email/PM?