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Evolution

Trumpeter's T10 and Tamiya's venerable classic IS 3 make up a diorama set circa 1959 during muddy spring exercises. A local babushka looks on with irritation as an IS 3 rumbles past, disturbing the normally tranquil village atmosphere. Two officers share a bottle of hooch 'donated' by a patriotic local while two crewmen of the T10 watch their aging ancestor, probably with a degree of sympathy for their fellow tankers, as it passes by. Neither tank was popular with their crews, being cramped, unreliable and difficult to operate. Despite this, both tanks at the time of their initial deployment had the best armour protection and most powerful guns in the world. The rapid pace of technology soon rendered both obsolete, the smaller and lighter T54/55 a more effective solution to soviet army tactics and requirements.

Matt took the opportunity to display both these visually impressive tanks together to demonstrate the interesting evolution of the IS3 to the ultimate T10. The T10 was built out the box, while the Tamiya kit required a bit of extra photoetch and aftermarket tracks to lift the rather basic detail to a decent level. Figures are a mix of Verlinden, Stalingrad, Evolution and Alpine.