Aloha everyone!!!

Just finished up my 2nd wheeled vehicle and looking forward to purchasing a REAL tank for a change! I'm looking at the Trumpeter's T-80B or BV and was wondering if ANYONE currently uses this version? If not its onto the Xact T-80U

Thank you in advance!!!

Kurt

The Russians have placed all their T-80's (all versions) into reserve(deactivated) status over the past few years. FYI, the Russians are the only ones that have the T-80 proper. The Ukrainians use an upgraded version called the T-84.


Erik

Hi Kurt,
Yemen and Uzbekistan seem to have received the T-80BV (see link). Cyprus and South Korea operate the T-80U.
Export T-80s
If you are going to build the T-80U, I recommend buying this DVD.
T-80U DVD

Good luck with your build!
Raul

Ha I forgot about the SK, Cypriot T-80U's. Pics of the SK ones are pretty hard to come by.



Erik

Greece and maybe some Turkey

Just to make sure we get this correct: T-84 is the T-80UD with a welded turret. Some modifications are specific to the country purchasing them (Pakistan has a very strong AC unit on theirs, for example).

While Russian T-80BV are in long term storage, they were not all fully pulled out of service until 2013.

And, the Trumpeter T-80BV is a beautiful kit...

Like these ?













H.P.

I cannot for the life of me understand why SK excepted these things. They got them as part of a debt repayment program but I think they would have been better served taking something else like T-90s. How many different MBT does SK operate now, 4?

Roy

I'm thinking the US probably persuaded the South Koreans to accept the T-80's and the BMP-3's for intelligence reasons. What better way to learn about a potential threat than to have an ally operate the same vehicle. The Russians never would have offered T-90's in my opinion, they were very rare at the time, and they were the pinnacle of Russian armor technology.



Erik

Wow this is awesome folks! Great discussion Hey John you mentioned Turkey is that a possibility? I know they were thinking about producing their own mbt but I have to think that would fit the bill to replace the M-60A3's still in service.......

The T-80U seen on Russian mobilization on TV Today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KGo2Vt5f_eM

Now that's timing!!!

I wonder if that was stock footage or are we to believe they pulled them out of storage that quick.

Roy

Just to make things clear...
Greece and Turkey don't operate any T-80.
Cyprus does, and are depicted in Frenchy's photos...
I didn't knew about South Korea either...

I don't think they were ever in that state, sum must be in reserve?


Net Photo

HMMM, I was under the impression that the last of their operational T-80s were put into storage in 2013. It really doesn't matter though, if they are out and about, they are out and about. That picture you posted though, that is the version I want to build. That just looks bad a-s.

Roy

Yup, figures. Just when we have had a discussion about what the Russians had put in storage...POP! Out come a few to screw things up. Putin giving us the finger.