I tried Google but I don't even know where to start.

So I figured I'd start here. 

Well, if the source can be trusted, it's real:

http://englishrussia.com/2007/06/07/977/

"Swimming Tank, 1965"

Vance, how did you find that site?  I mean what did you search for.  that is the exact picture.  I guess it's real (so far).

This would make a sweet kit.  I'd like to see more detail.

Google is my friend.

Go to Google - click on images without entering any text. When you see the search field, click on the little camera icon at the right of the search field. You get the option of adding a link, or uploading an image. They just started doing this 2-3 months ago(?)

Great tip Vance.  It works great.

I also found this....
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q3q0x4tS00Y/T-IonuU3KPI/AAAAAAAAAXc/6XuWwhFvPPw/s800/17.jpg  

Yes...

Manstein's revenge

Yes...

Half-hour late and $229 short....

Echo139er

 

Manstein's revenge:

 

Yes...

 

 

Half-hour late and $229 short....

That's what his wife says.

Take a look at this.  Also links to more photos.

http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showthread.php?7005-Russian-Swimming-Tank

The swimming tank & a whole lot of other weird & interesting tanks can be found at the Kubinka Tank Museum;

http://www.tankmuseum.ru/index_e.html

If I'm ever lucky enough to go to MAKS, I wouldn't mind a trip to this place - it's only an hour from Moscow...

If you put the tank's name into Google, you will find videos of it with people that will give you a sense of scale.  Youtube videos will show closeups.  Put the tank name in Google and hit "images" and you will even get a rear view of the tank.  If you are a great scratch builder, you got it all to make a model of this tank.  Apparently it was never meant to be a swimmer, but armor was like this to deflect hits.

It's the Object 279 experimental Soviet super-heavy tank.

Объект 279 (Object 279)
see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object_279

On 1960, Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union) strictly forbade any tanks with a weight of more than 37 metric tons to be adopted by the military, having thus written off the entire program of heavy tanks.

Great pics.  Note the round hole in the front is closed in the pic of the tank in trials.  Google pics and Youtube videos show more detail, and other side of the rear of the tank.  Really should be called a flying saucer tank rather than a swimming tank.  Would be a neat project for a good scratch builder.  But not me!

Great pictures and information.  thanks

fificat

Great pics.  Note the round hole in the front is closed in the pic of the tank in trials.  Google pics and Youtube videos show more detail, and other side of the rear of the tank.  Really should be called a flying saucer tank rather than a swimming tank.  Would be a neat project for a good scratch builder.  But not me!

Why scratch-build it? Also, there is this:

Alexandr Zaetc

You can download 3DStudio Max 2010 (*.max) files of Tank object 279 3D model from www.exchange3d.com. Direct link to the 3D model: Exchange3D media store

Does anybody make the Tsar tank kit? Those spokes are just calling my name...like the wheels on panzer IV

Also known as the Troyanov , who was the lead designer. Would be nice to see in plastic one day.

TomZ2

 

 

 

Why scratch-build it? Also, there is this:

 

What the ffff.........udge?  Really?   I need to find one!  I knew this was the place to ask.

Bam!  Here it is for sale...    http://www.freetimeaa.com/OKB72006-1.aspx

Gosh, I'm so tempted, it's such an awesome looking vehicle!!!

And yeah the Tsar tank was pretty awesome too in a crazy 'what the heck where they thinking' sorta way

The "round hole" would be the searchlight.  Standard item on Soviet tanks.  In the museum pictures it appears to be a dark IR lens (blocks visible light but passes near infrared).  In the field picture it appears to have a clear lens.

I would guess the armor is not so much to deflect hits, but to allow room for the inner set of tracks.  That would give it roughly half the ground pressure without the additional width (probably to facilitate rail transport).  A Mud&Snow tank, perhaps?

From Hyper Scale today. (28JUN12) Apparently there is a 1/72 out there.

www.missing-lynx.com/.../obiekt27972sz_1.html

Hi, It's not a swimming tank, it was a Atomic weather tank of 60'.