Does anyone make a kit of this tank? I know I saw a model of one built once. I would prefer 1/35 scale. The Arjun, BTW, is India;s indigenous tank program. Thanks. (If there aren’t any kits or conversions, I’m gonna scratchbuild this guy. I know I’m not that good, but the tank is pretty square and I think I can do it.)
i dont know of any conversions but if anyone brings one out, i would think Trumpeter would
I remember seeing this in my Janes reference, the book indicated that the tank was having so many problems that it probably would not be fielded.
Steve
That’s quite possible – last time I checked, it was continually being pushed back in development. I think they did manufacture a small number of them. Underneath the suared-off turret and the like is, if I recall correctly, a tank that is basically a glorified T-72.
Yeah it was having some trouble operation in the +115 degree weather it was designed to operate in. However, 30 or so have been built and it has been cleared for mass production. It does however, take second priority to India’s license build T-90S program. The engine is a German MTU diesel which is more reliable than the T-72. The internal mechanics I believe are superior to the T-72 and they are entirely Indian designed. The main ways it is superior to the T-72 however are 1) Protection, utilizing Indian designed “Kanchan” composite armor. 2) Extreme hot weather operating capacity. 3) Firepower- the 120mm rifled gun is more powerful than the T-72’s 125mm smoothbore. I must admit, the tank doesn’t have much in the way of looks, but I want one in my collection anyway.
Just did some research and the Arjun is apparently going nowhere fast. They are even trying to mate the Arjun turret to a T-72 hull, but the result left something to be desired – the recoil of the 120mm rifled gun was so great that structural integrity of the chassis became extremely compromised (translation: after 5 or 6 shots the tanks fell apart).
Here’s an interesting link on the Arjun. It seems to have a bit of a schizophrenia problem – a powerful western-style tank to counter Pakistan’s T-84s, it is overweight, apparently badly manufactured, too heavy for Indian roads, and way, WAY too expensive per unit.
here’s some pics BTW
True, I meant more that the Indians have most of their tank design experience from the T72. They love that tank. Even their own tankers prefer it to the Arjun! Even if they supposedly sat down and tried to blue-sky a whole new concept, T-72 kept crawling in there. Apparently, the fact is that under the boxy Leopard-II-ish look lies an overgrown T-72.
Yeah, the Indians cannot get enough of that tank!!! I myself love the T-72. I love the T-90 more though, and am glad the Indians are getting over 300. (Their tank fleet could do with the modern tanks). Even if it does have reliability issues, I believe they will produce it because it is somewhat a symbol of Indian military industry now. The project went askew, and produced a mediocre tank, but they want to produce it anyway. The T-72 has superior mobility and it is easier to operate. The Indian tank fleet is pretty large though. It has over 3000 tanks in service. Admittedly 500 of these are upgrade T-55’s but still…
Looks quite similar to the Japanese T-90, particularly with the turret shape.
It’s odd that there have been no model kit companies starting up in India like there
have been in China and Korea (Trumpeter, Academy, etc). If there were, I’m sure we’d see
some kits of the Arjun and probably some of the Indian-built aircraft too (such as the “Ajeet”
modified Gnat)
I seem to recall seeing a model, but it was probably a scratchbuild. I do not believe that there are any kits of it out there now.
The thing does indeed have some resemblance to the Japanese T-90. I think it was just some effort to move away from so much money spent on foreign tanks and have an indigenous program in place.
BTW, on that note, anyone know what happened to the Brazilian Osorio tank?
It does indeed look like a Type 90, which indeed looks like a Leopard 2. Very interesting vehicle.
I’ve run across sites for the Arjun many times as I’ve been researching my current MBT-70 project. Evidently, the Arjun is being called the Indian MBT-70, due to its myriad of technical and financial difficulties.
For those who don’t know, the MBT-70 was a joint project between the US and West Germany to build the world’s most advanced MBT back in the mid-late sixties. It was constantly plagued with design and technical troubles, as too much new technology was introduced all at the same time. Costs also skyrocketed, and the whole project was finally scrapped in 1970. Germany had actually pulled out a couple of years prior to that.
I don’t know the particulars of the Arjun’s woes, but I suppose they must be of a similar nature.
Too bad…like the MBT-70, it was a cool-looking tank!
That’s how the leopard 2 was born, right?
Does anyone have photos of the MBT-70?
I think the osorio is actually used in Brasil, but it’s primary goal, exportation, was never achieved.