Kit Review: SDV Model 1/87 scale Kit No. 87 (unknown); Vyprost=92ovaci Tank VT-72B; 89 parts in green styrene; price CZ Kr 320 (approximately US$18.20) (Note: also marketed by Arsenal M in Euros with their own unique kit numbers)
Advantages: first model of this vehicle in plastic; nicely done recovery vehicle
Disadvantages: still has some rough areas; Czech vehicle with limited sales abroad may limit appeal
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all small-scale or HO Russian armor fans
The Russians =96 or rather the Soviets =96 took many years to realize the advantage of a combat-capable heavy armored recovery vehicle, and instead opted for only recovery vehicles that could mostly just tow damaged vehicles from the battlefield. It was not until they finally introduced the BREhM-1 where they gained a full-service vehicle with a crane and heavy winch combination.
The Czechs and Poles, being much brighter, beat them to it years before that with their VT and WZT series recovery vehicles. When the Czechs switched from producing T-55s to the T-72, they followed suit with the VT-72 series. Fitted with a 20 ton (19 metric ton) capacity crane and a heavy winch, it could fulfill many of the functions the Russian BTS vehicles could not. Right now the Tank Museum in Bovington has an ex-DDR one on hand which is now their preferred recovery machine for extracting =93ex ranges=94 vehicles for restoration.
SDV has just recently released a kit of the Czech VT-72B recovery vehicle, which is apparently so new it does not show on their website! Based on their yeoman T-72A/T-72M1 it adds a number of completely new bits along with a 10 part boom crane and the large capacity winch.
The hull is nicely done, with separate entrenching blade and braces as well as a separate engine deck; the rear air exhaust vents are a bit undersized and the fording covers are in place, but the rest looks very good indeed. The kit comes with skirts for the fenders as well as the 200 liter fuel tanks and racks.
The kit also comes with a suitable decal sheet with a number jungle and individual markings for the CSSR and DDR. One name is included but no information as to where it goes, but a photo of one in what appears to be FRG service shows it on the sides of the crane boom. It also comes with red and white safety warning stripes.
Overall this is the best of the recent T-72 based releases by SDV and a really good effort.
Cookie Sewell
Sources:
Stevens International, 706 N. White Horse Pike, P.O. Box 126, Magnolia, NY 08049; phone (856) 435-1555 fax (856) 627- 6274; e-mail: snipped-for-privacy@stevenshobby.com;
Fidelis Models, PO Box 1021, Poway, CA 92074; e-mail snipped-for-privacy@cox.net;
Howard Hookham, 11 Belle Vue Terrace, Blackwood Hall, Luddendenfoot, Halifax HX2 6HG, Yorkshire, Great Britain; e-mail snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com.
Direct from SDV at their e-store: