Iraqi M1A1SA/IQ tanks alongside T-90S tanks belonging to the Iraqi armored school

March 2022

From Xiaohongshu

After retreating to Taiwan with the Kuomintang, the Renault ZB light tanks inspected in Yilan in November 1951 was, according to some sources, equipped with a customized 7.92mm MAC-31 machine gun or possibly a 13.2mm heavy machine gun.

Here is the result after hours of modeling, printing, and painting. I’m in love with the Object 490A.

Don't you find these machines fascinating? I got so excited while researching them that I’ve designed at least 10 "Objects" from this secret program. The Object 490A is one of those cutting-edge Soviet designs; its unmanned turret incorporates an autoloader and offers maximum crew protection—though, sadly, it never made it past the drawing board.

Some of these models are already available in my Cults catalog, but with this Kickstarter campaign, I aim to create and offer collector's pieces that are otherwise hard to find—like the Object 477. It’s practically a legend, given the scarcity of documentation and high-quality printable models available for it.

The printable collection of secret Soviet tank prototypes is ready to go. During the pre-campaign phase, I’ll be showcasing print results and magnificent paint jobs by collaborating friends—such as the majestic Object 490A and its modernized, ERA-equipped version, which I designed myself and is unique on the market.

If this project interests you, your support would mean the world to me—and you’ll be getting a piece of Cold War military history. You can bring these models to life by printing and finishing them however you like.

History didn't let these machines endure, but now we’re fighting to change that!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/vbertz/secret-soviet-armored-program

the Marder III is absolutely not a tank. It’s actually a tank destroyer, and honestly, it’s one of the craziest examples of wartime improvisation. Early in WWII, German tanks couldn't pierce the thick armor of Soviet T-34s. Instead of waiting years to design something new, the Germans took the chassis of captured Czech Panzer 38(t) tanks, slapped a massive anti-tank gun on top, and called it a day. The cool part? It was incredibly cheap to make, mechanically reliable, and punched way above its weight class. The terrifying part for the crew? It had zero roof and barely any armor. It was basically a glass cannon — lethal from a mile away, but a death trap if infantry got close.