Hi all,
the full story about my Skif kit with some SP Designs upgrade elements.



Enjoy your visit
Olivier

Very Nice Ol!

Fabulous job on your "article" olivier.

Enjoy one on me!

Thank you Chris and Jacques.

I'm currently fighting with a MT-LB 6MA and its totally warped hull but I know I can make it

This kit comes in the "old" SP resin which is very soft and easy to work with. The hull is now assembled, the roadwheels arms are set and I think I'll work on the track assembly soon. Less air bubbles than on the T-80 but a huge gap at the bottom of the rear plate and tow large "holes" where the idlers must attach. This has been fixed with thick plastic card and some putty.
Pictures will follow.

Jacques, do you have pics of the turret rear ? Some show the SGD rack in the BTR-80 fashion, some simply don't. Which one is the most common ? I can't find any definite data about the fielding of this version. My guess, up to now, was that it is an "export exhibition" version. Am I right ?

Olivier

MT-LB 6MA refers to two prototypes, so far as I can find out:

1. MT-LB with BTR-80 turret

2. MT-LB with BTR-80 turret with Automatic grenade launcher

Neither of them are more than one-off's, presumably for export orders only. Neither turret has the behind-turret smoke grenade set-up, but if they had been purchased I do not see why they would not add it...

The MT-LB 6MB was chosen for Russian Service. It has the standard BTR-80A turret. The Russian Army has procured 50--60 so far.

I told about the back-turret SMD set up because I saw one picture with one set like this and the side of the turret looked up-armored.
I have it on my computer but can't find the website anymore.

It does not surprise me at all that there was a SMR (Smoke Grenade Rack - not sure if that is the correct designation, but that is what I will use.) As I said, it is a standard BTR-80 turret put on the back of a MT-LB. So far as i know, there are no electrics or hydraulics for the turret, its all based on muscle-power and bearings! It was also meant as a quick and cheap alternative plus use some BTR-80 turrets that were being discarded as they were upgraded to BTR-80A standards.

So I say, have fun. But it will probably only be a show-piece rather than a vehicle in military service.