Russian armoured vehicle MBW-2
GASSPE08
GASSPE08
Complete Russian armoured vehicle MBW-2 kit in 1/48 scale
Kit contains:
- Resin parts
- Brass rod to make the wheels mobile.
- Assembly instructions with parts list and color photos: Download instructions
You can also contact us to have this model assembled and painted with the camouflage of your choice.
Russian armoured vehicle MBW-2 history
Two rail track motor cars “Striemitielnyj” (Express) have been designed in 1935 and built in 1938 by the Kirov Institute of Leningrad. One 400 hp M17- T, gasoline motor enabled this rail vehicle a top speed of 120 km/h. The towing capacity was 120 tonnes.
The crew of four was at best shielded by 20 mm thick steel plates. The coordination and internal communications were made through an intercom system that had six terminals. These almost 18 metres long rail track motor cars packed tremendous firepower.
The main weapons -3 x 76.2 mm cannons- were housed in three electrically operated turrets along with one coaxial and one rear-sector Degtjarev Tankovyi (DT) 7.62 mm machine guns. Moreover one DT was located at the stern of the hull and four 7.62 mm Maxim machine-guns were fired from the sides of the vehicle. The AA issue was addressed via 6 machine-guns: the turret-roofs 2 and 3 were fitted with one Degtjarev M/27 each and one collapsible Maxim AA-quad mount was located between the turret # 2 and the observation and command post. The DTs and Maxims were respectively endowed with 10,926 and 22,000 7.62 x 54 mm cartridges.
When they entered service, these magnificent “rail cruisers” have been detailed with the rail units of the НКВД (the famous NKVD: Narodnyi Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del). Then, they both took an active part in the defence of the City of Leningrad whilst besieged. One of the two armoured rail track motor car sported the slogan “За Ленинград” (For Leningrad).