Review: Kit preview – MiniArt’s 1/35 Ball Tank Sharotank w/Interior
I can't help but smile at MiniArt's newest 1/35 armor kit, the hypothetical Soviet Ball Tank “Sharotank”.
Do you?
What is it
MiniArt 1/35 Soviet Ball Tank “Sharotank” Interior Kit no. 40001
Injection-moulded kit. One clear sprue for light lenses.
Decal sheet with 6 marking options
The concept is, well... as weird as it appears. Tracking the existence of a real ball tank is like researching into the Nazi flying saucers. A mysterious ball-shaped, single-person armored vehicle is indeed on display as exhibit no. 37 at the Kubinka Tank Museum outside of Moscow. Its origins are shrouded in mystery, but it even has earned a name "Kugelpanzer" and has an entry in Wikipedia. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kugelpanzer)
The rest is really up to your imagination.
I like the cheek-in-tongue attitude displayed in this kit. It features a fully detailed interior (!) and will be followed by a captured German version aptly named Kugelpanzer 41(r). Have fun. I'm sure we will see many of these ball tanks rolling at the modeling shows of 2019...
(All photos by MiniArt)
Not so hypothetical, Martin.
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
🙂
That would be really cool done up as a "Steam Punk" vehicle.
Ralph
I just marvel at what can be done with computer graphics. Cool film. If there is a real kugelpanzer, why not make a model of that rather than invent a new one? Not sci-fi enough? Don´t think the little wheels would take long to knock off unless they only support the machine while being still. Can see it in anything from Caunter camouflage to SWAT, LAPD colours with bubble gum machine or Santa red with tinsel.
Found this website with some interesting ideas http://showmefact.com/interesting/sferohod-and-sharotank---a-rare-and-original-military-equipment.html#
Very creative thinking regarding that interior. I just might have to put one of these in the stash. 🙂