Russian Assault Snowmobile

[Richard Bartrop]

It looks like a prop from a Bond movie, but apparently it's a real thing.  It would certainly make a cool model.

Edited May 14, 2018 by Richard Bartrop

[Mike999]

Search on the term "aerosan" and you'll find a bunch of them.  The Russians used several different versions in WWII. But I had no idea they were still using them.

Trumpeter and others make 1/35 kits of them.  The sportiest one is the RF-8, which was made of non-bulletproof wood.  Also notice the radiator is mounted right above the driver's seat. That could get interesting...

 

[Snake45]

I WANT one! Not a model--a REAL one! 

[SfanGoch]

34 minutes ago, Mike999 said:

Search on the term "aerosan" and you'll find a bunch of them.

Aerosans aren't snowmobiles in the traditional sense. They're prop-driven, running on skis as opposed to tracks.

The vehicle in Richard's post is a TTM-1901 "Berkut" snowmobile, built by NPO Transport.

Meet Russia's Gun-Toting Snowmobile

[vintagedragcrazy]

I built the Aerosan kit and it's really cool build!

vince

[Mike999]

The coolest aerosan ever (no pun intended).  Built around the GAZ M-20 "Pobeda" (Victory) sedan. There is a kit of it, but only in 1/72 scale, from the company Military Wheels.

 

 

[peteski]

39 minutes ago, Mike999 said:

The coolest aerosan ever (no pun intended).  Built around the GAZ M-20 "Pobeda" (Victory) sedan. There is a kit of it, but only in 1/72 scale, from the company Military Wheels.

I find it funny that a company called "Military Wheels" makes a model of an automobile which has no wheels.

[Bucky]

Opens up opportunities for a Sunday drive in the country!

[LDO]

Wow. An unarmed version of that would be awesome for...well, I'm not sure who. I guess hermits who live in the arctic is a pretty small market segment. But still, a snowmobile with an enclosed cabin is a pretty nifty idea. I'll bet they would be a huge hit at ski lodges or other winter vacation areas. 

[Richard Bartrop]

1 minute ago, LDO said:

Wow. An unarmed version of that would be awesome for...well, I'm not sure who. I guess hermits who live in the arctic is a pretty small market segment. But still, a snowmobile with an enclosed cabin is a pretty nifty idea. I'll bet they would be a huge hit at ski lodges or other winter vacation areas. 

Yes, it would, and Bombardier has been supplying that need for a long time.

[LDO]

Well that is pretty darn cool. I had no idea. Not much need for one where we run the a/c in December. 

[Mike999]

7 hours ago, peteski said:

I find it funny that a company called "Military Wheels" makes a model of an automobile which has no wheels.

Ha!  And most of their kits have treads, not wheels.  They're a Russian maker of "short-run" vehicle kits.  The plastic is of varying quality/colors and often riddled with sink-holes, short-pours and other fun features.  Tiny fragile parts on big thick sprues, etc.  But for years, they made the only 1/35 scale kit of the Russian modern "jeep," the UAZ-469 used all over the world.  AFAIK, that was their only 1/35 kit.  It had full engine/chassis detail but was a monster to get together. Trumpeter finally released a better kit.

The most interesting thing about MW is their choice of subjects.  A Russian X-series tram?  A GAZ parade car?  I'd love to see stuff like that in a bigger scale. 

 

[afx]

A micro car kit for the body and a snowmobile kit for the track and skis would give you a good start on scratch building one of these.

Edited May 14, 2018 by afx

[cobraman]

I built one of those old ones .