T-84 "Oplot" – the Ukrainian medium tank

During the Soviet Union, Kharkiv was one of the largest and most important arms centers in the Warsaw Pact. The T-34, T-44, T-54, T-55 and T-64 tanks were produced in Ukraine. Later versions of the latter model were developed by the Kharkiv Morozov Design Bureau (TchKBM), and manufactured by the Kharkiv Malyshev Plant. In the mid-1980s, the Ukrainian Tank Center began production of the most advanced Soviet tanks at that time, the T-80. After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine dynamically entered the struggle for world markets. Already in 1993 the TchKBM decided to continue the development of the T-80. A year later, the first prototype of the T-84 tank was completed. Its name can be considered a reference to the Soviet-era T-64 produced in Kharkiv. The first version of the T-84 tank differed from its predecessor (the T-80 tank) in that, it had a new fire control system, a modified gun night sight system, and was equipped with a second blind lens - a ballistic computer data display. These improvements significantly increased the tank's ability to attack targets, including moving ones, using the night sight system. Changes to the armor configuration were limited to replacing the original “Kontakt-5” explosive reactive armor with domestic counterparts. New fuel tanks were installed on the sides and rear of the turret, which were unique to these tanks. The tank was equipped with a new 1,200-horsepower 6TD-2 engine. The main goal of all these changes was to replace the original Russian parts with local Ukrainian ones. According to the manufacturer, 98% of the tank's parts were manufactured domestically. The tank in this configuration debuted in 1995 at the “IDEX “exhibition in Abu Dhabi. In 1998 a prototype version of the T-84 entered a tender for a new main battle tank for Greece. The “Leopard” 2A6 tank won the tender, defeating the T-84, along with the French “Leclerc”, the British “Challenger”, the American “Abrams”, and the Russian T-80U. The T-84 tank was inferior to most opponents in terms of electronic equipment. However, the tank's mobility was rated relatively high. A secondary result of the lessons, learned in Greece, was the development of a new version. The vehicle was unveiled in 1999 in Abu Dhabi. The main goal of the Kharkiv designers was to further “Ukrainianization” the vehicle. A completely new turret, welded from rolled plates, was used. The use of high-performance armor steel and an increased thickness of the imported frontal armor significantly improved its resistance. New, Ukrainian-made explosive armor (“Nikolai’) was installed, and the hull sides and running gear were protected by increased surface area shields. The fire control instruments were modified. A system was also added to align the gun's axis with the sight's optical axis. A new thermal imaging sight was also installed. The armament remained unchanged – the 125 mm KBA-3 gun. The weight of the new version of the vehicle increased from 46 tons to 48.5 tons. As early as 1999, a new version of the T-84 entered service in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

A small, but well-designed and richly detailed small-scale model for medium-experienced and experienced modelers. The main difficulty, that prevents it from being glued by beginners and modelers with little experience, is precisely its high level of detailization - the tracks are given as strips and from separate tracks, there are many chassis’ parts, the entire tank is "full" of small details and complex assemblies. Even experienced ones will have something to get tired of!!! The model recreates a slightly "used" machine from maneuvers or training. There are no color reserves, no textual instructions, but who needs them, when the graphical one is the embodiment of all wishes: clear, meaningful, informative and perfectly readable!!!