Hi all,
I'm considering if the kit of T-80 UD of Skif still lying in my attic worths to be built, or not.
I've read somewhere that it is a reasonably accurate model, but a first comparison between the kit


and a photo of what is commonly intended as T-80 UD


shows a complete difference in the arrangement of the additional reactive armours on the turret.

I would like that someone makes me clear the reason of this difference, that is too evident to be simply an error of the Ukrainan firm.

Besides, comments and suggestions by anyone that has experience of this kit are welcome.

Thank you for any help.

Regards
Massimo

The first one can be a T-80B or BV.
The secend is a UD.

Viktor

Very early examples of the T-80UD still had the ERA package that SKIF is trying to represent. The new ERA package, which is portrayed in your second pic, wasn't used until 1988.

Have no clue on how the kit goes together though.

The SKIF kit represents a prototype T-80UD. All production T-80UD had the K-5 ERA. Better to build it as a prototype at Kharkov than to spend the money to fix it. If you need a accurate T-80U, buy Xact Scale's kit...it is much better. If you absolutely NEED a T-80UD, I suggest looking for the SP Designs conversions to make one from the SKIF kit, usually seen on eBay from time to time.

Hi all,
thank you for your suggestions.
Jacques, I've seen your page at http://mmfs0.tripod.com/reviews/t80/.
Interesting page indeed.
Here you write that there were about 10 preserie tanks with this configuration. Is this still actual, or does the kit reproduce a prototype only?
Regards
Massimo

I really need to update that T-80 primer!

I understand the confusion. Essentially, the Kharkov factory MAY have produced up to 10 T-80UD with K-1/3 ERA. There are photos of at least one. But...

...the SKIF kit engine deck depicts a pre-production version. The deck would have to be rebuilt to make the kit anything but a pre-production vehicle housed at Kharkov.

I was looking through my old conversions in my pile and I have a SP Designs T-80UD conversion I would be willing to sell. PM me if interested. (I will be putting it up on eBay otherwise).

Hope that helps clear it up a bit for you.

Hi Jacques,
thank you for your answer.
About your offer of a conversion set, I think that Chinese firms are releasing new kits in such quantity that any conversion or scratchbuilding work will be obsolete within two years.
Regards
Massimo

Yes, I agree that there is a very good chance to see a T-80UD kit soon. It will not help you make the SKIF kit accurately though.

It's true, but I've the attic full of kits waiting to be built and this is a period in which I've found time to make some. So I prefer to give the priority to less problematic ones.
I've recently bought some new ones on Ebay, including a T-80 BV of Trumpeter that has a visual impact similar to the prototype T-80UD of Skif. I would like the look of the wide armors on the turret of the T-80 U/UD, but the price of Xact kits is very high if compared to other Trumpeter and even Meng interesting offers.
Regards
Massimo