Zvezda 1/72 TBMPT T-15 Armata IFV - Inbox Review

[Dave Ward]

Zvezda are a Russian manufacturer, who from being a maker of pretty crude models, have become a top-line maker, over only a few years.
The Armata T-15 is a heavy infantry fighting vehicle, it's based on the Armata MBT, with the engine moved to the front. It can carry 9 infantry in addition to the three crew. The unmanned turret carries a 30mm cannon, coax mg & 4 Kornet Anti-Tank missiles. First seen in 2015. This was new tooling in 2019.

Comes in a post office proof box-in-a-box note number of parts - 145.
Sprue shots

Sprues are clean & crisp, with no sign of flash, or sinks - after all it's new tooling.

The decals are just generic - the tracks are a stiff polystyrene, scored in areas where they bend round the wheels/sprockets/idlers.


It's a pity that there is only the one side view of the camo version - a top view & the other side would save guessing.
Instructions - A4 fold out sheet - line diagrams -reasonably clear, but a bit busy

Part 2 for detail shots & comments

[Dave Ward]

A few detail shots:
You can just see the scoring on the inside of the tracks, where you have to bend.............. how well this works remains to be seen.
Due to it being a comparatively new tooling model, the parts look very good. As with any 1/72 model, with small parts, the ingates look big, but careful removal & clean up shouldn't be a problem. There isn't any PE, but with the fine detail, I don't think it's needed. Due to the large number of small parts, it wouldn't be suitable for a beginner. Unlike a lot of the Zvezda 1/72 AFV kits, this isn't an easy assembly, glue-free model this will take a fair amount of time, but for a 1/72 model,it's big! You'll need to do a bit of research on the full camo pattern.
Availability? Yes, prices just over the £15 mark ( + p&p )
Dave

[outrunner]

That is quite a lot of model for the money and like you I am a Zvezda fan.

Andy.

[Dave Ward]

That is quite a lot of model for the money and like you I am a Zvezda fan.

Andy.

Andy,
with the way things are at the moment, I wouldn't be surprised on a total ban on goods from Russia.
Dave

[Jim R]

Hi Dave
An interesting vehicle. Nice to once again hear good things about a newer Zvezda kit. I'm a bit worried about the tracks. A strange way of doing them but it may work really well - you'll have to make the kit and let us know.
Jim

[Mini Me]

I would think a bit of warming first with a hair dryer, would soften them just enough to allow bending without any ill effects. Beautiful kit and crisp details.

[outrunner]

Looking through the internet I found pictures of this vehicle with a desert splinter camo scheme, I might just have to get me one! :smiling5:


Andy.

[Tim Marlow]

Looks great, but I’m afraid its not for me at the moment :worried:

[Dave Ward]

NOT the time to post about anything to do with Russia, I'm thinking
Dave

[Mini Me]

Amen Brother.......and here we are with a "Rooskie" GB Right in the middle of it all Rick H.

[David Lovell]

Nice review Dave you only have to look to see what a beautiful kit it is , for all thoes with manufacturers and the track phobias we ask why ,thoes tracks are absolutely fool proof (check out my 72nd Zvezda builds) they are pre scored to just simply wrap around in the correct place and you can only join them in the correct place ,as for Zvezda everyone has to start somewhere dragon early kits weren't all that trumpeter have done some right howlers ,ok the early stuff wasn't great but blimy not unbuildable where the mind set of holding up a crucifix at the mere mention of Zvezda comes from is a mystery.
Dave I've got the 72nd Bumberang? sat about ill do a review on that ASAP think I only opened the box to put in a bit of etch up date .
Sad and as worrying as the current situation is it wasn't the ordinary Russian person that told putin to start this we all hope common sense somehow prevails and stops all the unnecessary killing ,I've just had my finger on the back button for a long time trying to put down a few words but politics isn't what we want here ,as I tried to point out Mrs so and so packing kits at the Zvezda factory didn't start this or have any bearing on it ,she's just trying to feed her family . Dave

[Tim Marlow]

Agree with everything you’ve written here Dave.

“Edited by me to take out an inadvertent adversarial comment”

[Guest]

trumpeter have done some right howlers ,ok the early stuff wasn't great but blimy not unbuildable

They were if you didn’t use the glue supplied in the kit …

(The very first Trumpeter kits were T-54/55 variants in 1:35, moulded in ABS rather than polystyrene. Normal model cement doesn’t work on ABS so they had to include a tube of ABS glue in each kit.)