I posted this build of the Trumpeter Voroshilovet's tractor over in the Soviet Armor section, but I thought I should give a "heads up" here, since some of y'all probably never go there.

Nice one Bill....yup, I'm one that missed it completely as I rarely wander over to that forum
Beautiful job, especially on the preshading and finishing of the tarp.

Thanks, James. Actually, the tarp is styrene and comes with the kit, so all I did was enhance what Trumpy gives us. I decided to break most of the windows. I don't know if they were glass or some form of flexible plastic, but I opted for the former, as the Soviets seemed to go for "fast & cheap" in their production methods. I shredded some of the "canvas" edges" to show wear & (lit.) tear.

Hmm!
This one would look really great towing a german gun. Did these things have enough power to pull a 100mm or 150mm howitser? Or maybe only a 88mm?
Jacob

Used for towing these so those are easy peasy.



Alan

P.S. Hey Bill, check out what's in the background.

OK, point taken! Thanks.
By the way, what IS it with Bill and those trams?
Jacob

Tram, tram, tram, tram, tram, wonderful tram (sung to Monty Python's "Spam.").

Thanks, Al, for that very cool picture. You get a special gold star!


Jacob, that's a good question. For one thing, nothing says "Europe" like a tram. America got rid of most of its trolleys right after WW2 (General Motors bought up the Red Line in Los Angeles in the 40s and promptly put it out of business so people would be forced to buy cars). When I go to Europe, I always try to ride the trams as they are a lovely way to see a city.

Trams also bring home the horror of war, since they are a symbol of life in peace time, so a tram in a wartime photo or diorama evokes the pathos of civilians caught up in conflict.

Sorry for the long-winded explanation, but I'm really hoping MiniArt is going to follow-up their tram cable supports set with a real tram in styrene. I would buy several and have them burned-out or overturned for use as an ambuscade.

Here's one :



HTH

Frenchy

It looks like the rear seat(s) has/have been removed to make more room for stowage. That's a good variation to model with this excellent kit.

Here's another one, apparently towing 2 guns with limbers or maybe 1 gun and 3 limbers... :



Frenchy

Interesting alternate grill over the radiator (or perhaps it's the naked radiator without the grill cover?).

Wow! It's a lot bigger than I first expected, when I compere it with that 150mm. howitzer from the first picture. It's like a russian FAMO....
Bill, I actually think, that we had Trams in use right until the late 60's or early 70's. I think they were yellow and white, and had a small bell, which warned people to get out of the way. But you're right, it could be so nice to have one in plastic (and less costly!) Maybe Trumpeter will give us one, they seem pretty hung up on train-thingys, and goes in a lot of different directions, so maybe, just maybe....
Jacob

There was a resin tram kit that was heinous expensive ($150+) which would KILL me to trash and burn for a diorama in Berlin or Budapest 1945. Trumpeter hasn't indicated anything so far, but there are rumors about MiniArt coming out with one in styrene.

Talking about tramways, did you see the Soviet one released by Military Wheels in 1/72nd scale ?


Maybe you could scratchbuild an enlarged, 1/35th scale version ...It would surely speed up the release of a styrene 1/35th one

Frenchy

Frenchy

Frenchy, that photo won't load on my computer, but I have a constitutional aversion to scratch-building. With so many kits in my stash, it's INSANITY!!!!

OK Bill Anyway here's a review of the MW kit I was talking about :
http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/misc/hobtram.htm

Frenchy