T-80UD MBT questoin

[Finity01]

Greetings all,
Was wondering if anyone could help me out with this. I have two conflicting sources here about the origins of the T-80UD. The FAS Military Analysis Network http://fas.org/man/dod-101 claims that the T-80UD is a Ukrainian built version of the T80 with a diesel engine instead of a turbine, while a book I have states that the T80UD entered produciton in '87 in Russia.
Obviously the T80 is a Russian MBT in origin, but was the T80UD produced soley in the Ukraine, Russia, or both? Does Russia use the T-80UD, or just the other variants?
And is the T-80UD the only version of the T-80 that has a diesel engine instead of a turbine?

Reason I ask is because I purchased a 1/35th scale T-80 UD model and I need to know for accuracy of markings and equipment...

..and a thank you in advance :)

woops, don't mind the typo in the title >.<

[LaoSexMachine]

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/ukraine/t-80ud.htm

[Finity01]

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...ine/t-80ud.htm (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/ukraine/t-80ud.htm)

So according to that, the T-80UD was a largely Russian design built in the Ukraine...

[GazB]

So according to that, the T-80UD was a largely Russian design built in the Ukraine...

Soviet Design manufactured in Ukraine. When SU split up Ukraine got dibs.

[StukaJr]

T-80UD is Ukranian
T-80U is Russian

Zvezda makes T-80U with Kontact-9 era and older T-80BV "Bereoza" with older ERA, SKIFF makes T-80UD (Ukranian) with older ERA as well... Zvezda kits have better detail, but both BV and UD suffer from innacurate/too crude ERA representation and it's incredibly hard to line up the blocks accurately - SKIFF kit has an edge but not by far... I've started 2 Zvezda kits and one Skiff kit - all failed due to innacurate position of ERA :( Hope you have better luck.

These are fun kits though - I had lots of fun building small details and additions to included parts.

Added: While adding numbers/letter to a vehicle name tends to show improvement over the original, T-80UD is not an improvement of T-80U... Took a while for me to realize that :D

[GazB]

T-80UD is Ukranian
T-80U is Russian


They are both Soviet. The UD is a cheaper U (ie gas turbine replaced by a diesel and older simpler ERA etc etc).
The T-80UD was created before the Soviet Union dissolved and was in production when the SU split up. The factory that made the diesel engines and the UD tank were in Ukraine so when both Ukraine and Russia started to build new tanks the Ukrainians based theirs on what they had and so did the Russians. From memory the UD had an 1100hp diesel and it took till the late 90s before there was a 1,000hp diesel option for Russian made tanks (like the T-90M). Wonder where the Baron is... he'd probably have better knowledge on the matter.

[Finity01]

T-80UD is Ukranian
T-80U is Russian

Zvezda makes T-80U with Kontact-9 era and older T-80BV "Bereoza" with older ERA, SKIFF makes T-80UD (Ukranian) with older ERA as well... Zvezda kits have better detail, but both BV and UD suffer from innacurate/too crude ERA representation and it's incredibly hard to line up the blocks accurately - SKIFF kit has an edge but not by far... I've started 2 Zvezda kits and one Skiff kit - all failed due to innacurate position of ERA :( Hope you have better luck.

These are fun kits though - I had lots of fun building small details and additions to included parts.

Added: While adding numbers/letter to a vehicle name tends to show improvement over the original, T-80UD is not an improvement of T-80U... Took a while for me to realize that :D


I myself bought the 1/35 scale Zvezda kit, I don't suppose they sell 3rd party ERA kits for T80s, do they?
For all practical purposes, I'm gonna model this as a Russain UD, since it seems apparent there is little or no difference between the T80U and T80UD.
StukaJr, you got any pics of your models?