Tsar Tank

Intended for 3d print.

Full model kit for the 1914-1915 prototype Tsar Tank, also known as the Lebedenko Tank.

Parts in kit

This model kit contains 10 individual model parts. You need 9 of them to build a complete Tsar Tank. The tenth model part is an alternate main turret with the imperial Russian coat of arms, and the name "Rasputin" stamped in cyrillic. The parts require glue for assembly. There is an image in the gallery you can use as guidance for assembling the kit, though you'll probably be able to figure it out on your own. The rear wheel, main turret and sponson guns can be turned in different directions, though you still need to glue them in place once you've decided on a direction. A detailed model parts list follows below:

• 1 Main Hull
• 2 sponson gun housings (left and right)
• 2 sponson guns (left and right. Insert them into the housing)
• 1 Rear Wheel
• 2 Front Wheels
• 1 Main turret
• 1 Main turret with decoration

Recommended scale

28mm. The models included in this product are also prescaled to 28mm. The tank can probably be printed at as small a scale as 15mm, but I make no guarantees for this.

History

With two gigantic, 9 meter in diameter front wheels and a much smaller rear-mounted third wheel, the Tsar Tank was technically not a tank at all. Where tanks traditionally had caterpillar tracks, the Tsar Tank instead resembled a giant's tricycle with spoked wheels large enough to cross World War 1 trenches. That was the idea anyway. Conceived by Russian engineer Nikolai Lebedenko, development of the vehicle was funded by an enthusiastic tsar Nicholas II. Testing went on during 1914 and 1915, but was cancelled when the Tsar Tank was deemed irredeemably unfit for purpose. While the front wheels were large enough to indeed cross trenches and other obstacles, the small rear wheel was not. Weight distribution also caused the rear wheel to sink into the earth and become stuck during operation. The front wheels were propelled by two separate engines, considered somewhat underpowered for such an enormous construction. The main turret -8 metres above the ground and non-traversable- had portholes for machine guns and heavier guns all around the turret, but most of them were obscured by the front wheels. Another two sponson guns were mouted on each side of the 12 metres wide hull. Finally, another gun was mounted on the underside of the hull. A crew of ten men were required to operate the tank and its numerous guns.The project was cancelled in 1915, and then forgotten completely after the outbreak of the Russian Revolution. The rusted husk of the Tsar Tank was finally dismantled for scrap metal in 1923, presumably having never left its testing area.

It sure looked cool though.

Operational period

1914-1915 (Never got past the prototype stage, and never saw combat)