'NI' Odessa Tank(ette), 1/35th scale

[Story]

The Reality

Didn't find anything previously posted on the Odessa or STZ3 tractor, so have some background readings

https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/soviet/soviet_NI_Odessa_tank.php#google_vignett

All the footage available

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2FPtd0eR_o

The beauty of this is that due to the lack of documentation, it's ripe for WIFFery (particularly in armaments)

NI-1 Diagram:
1 — armoured hull,
2 — side armour,
3 — engine compartment,
4 — turret,
5 — fenders,
6 — track armour,
7 — machine gun armour,
8 — DShK machine gun,
9 — hook,
10 — toolbox,
11 — exhaust pipe,
12 — chassis beams,
13 — chassis front,
14 — tow hitch,
15 — idler,
16 — support roller,
17 — driving wheel,
18 — roller,
19 — DT machine gun

Note that the prevailing theory is turrets being salvaged from upgraded T28s.
This is the standard DP fitting.


And these are 37mm alternatives.


In one memorable episode, the tanks entered a village occupied by German troops and while under fire were able to tow away 24 German guns.[citation needed]
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/NI_tank

Umm.. time to drop an implied meme.

The Model

Everybody's favorite Steve Zaloga on the Odessa and the Vulcan Models' STZ3 tractor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNxbh-fruV8

So there's been some old (as in old in the 90's) Soviet/Russian model instructions when I got the build sheet show in my pic below).
This one strikes me as being a resin kit.  The Russian illustration above seems to be from a scratch-build instruction sheet.

[Story]

So I've had this 2019 3D Rendering from THINGVERSE in more-or-less 1/35th scale sitting around for a few years.
Pretty simple, like a scaled up ROCO MINITANK (one of my first loves)
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3398171

My original intent was to build it up as a circa-1944 remote control vehicle slaved to a T35 Command Tank and armed with a rack of Panzerfausts, but it's better suited as a 2023 Christmas gift to a buddy with Ukrainian roots.

I knew I'd need barrels for the Dshk and DP LMG, so those were taken from the spares box (ESCI level quality matching the 3D print).



First fitting, with our cigarette smoking crewman courtesy of the 1970's TAMIYA. He'll go out the door as a flat-black dummy, since the predictive audience will need something scalar.


Rather than mess with the factory settings on the DP-armed T28 turret, I did a test-fit of the Dshk in the hull gunner's position. Looked like it'd fit.

[Story]

Primer and emptying old green spray cans experiment.

[Frank3k]

Looks good! The STS-5 tractor is/was available from Vulcan Models, but this print is cheaper and much easier to put together. The printing artifacts on the hull look appropriate for a tank build with maybe some torches and vodka.

Put some mud on the bottom of the tracks and you're all done!

[Buzzbomb]

One out of the box. Be tiny and looks a bit like the New Zealand Bob Semple tank in shape.

Great use of a thingiverse print though

[robunos]

So I've had this 2019 3D Rendering from THINGVERSE in more-or-less 1/35th scale sitting around for a few years.
Pretty simple, like a scaled up ROCO MINITANK (one of my first loves)
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3398171

Thanks for the Linky . . . I've downloaded the files, I will print one at 1/72nd scale, should look good.

cheers,
Robin.

[raafif]

Wonder what a wider & longer version with 3 bogies per side & cannon turret would look like ?  Most WW1 combatant countries came up with large tanks.

[Story]

Finally got around to finishing up the blank spots, Flat Black dry washes and model railroad flecking sealed on with an ancient can of hair spray.

The only markings is the Ukrainian Trident (Tryzub, from the decals spares envelope) and a white aiming stripe for the commander's 7.62.

[raafif]

  the 3D casting-lines actually add to its look.

[Frank3k]

It came out great!

Alliances and enemies in WWII Ukraine are hard to separate, but with the Trysub, I think the Soviets would have been tempted to shoot at this tank before they shot at the Germans/Romanians.

[Story]

the 3D casting-lines actually add to its look.

Agreed.

And thanks all for the compliments.

If I were to do it again (which I won't but one of youse might), I'd have just given it a few coats of primer, detailed the tracks and explored the plethora of armament potentialities as detailed here.

https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/soviet/soviet_NI_Odessa_tank.php

I'd also suggest Naval Infantry for crew


Frank - note this line pulled from the site above: The Odessa Tank has been a true symbol of Soviet / Ukrainian resistance against fascism.

Considering that statement and it's intended home (see first post, where Ukrainian-type folks unfamiliar with obscure military statements could see it), the Tryzub seemed period appropriate.

Cleaned off some of the excessive flecking and primed the monochromatic scalar crewman.

Packing for delivery

[Old Wombat]

Brings to mind this little Kiwi offering;


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Semple_tank

[Frank3k]

Wow - the N-1 article is basically a cloud of uncertainly. Perfect whiff material. You could probably make an N-1 "Sempleski" tank and no one would be able to dispute its existence.

[Story]

Wow - the N-1 article is basically a cloud of uncertainly. Perfect whiff material. You could probably make an N-1 "Sempleski" tank and no one would be able to dispute its existence.

Isn't it wonderful!?!?!?!?!

After all, this is all about creating artwork from between the pages of the history books.

In it's new home