Fall of Saigon
The day of South Vietnam's surrender was captured by photographers when, on 30th April 1975 the North Vietnamese army tank No. 843, a Soviet-made T-54, hit the locked iron gates of the Saigon Presidential Palace, knocked them off their concrete pillars, accelerated through the palace gardens and stopped in front of the palace entrance".
(Picture Life Magazine)
Indeed it seems that the official explanation does not exactly fit what hapened that day before the press agencies pictured it. As seen on the picture on the right, taken from Inside the presidential Palace, the T-54 numbered 843 missed the door and hit the pillar of one one of the main gate and the Tank Commander jumped out of its machine an run with a flage to the palace doors.
The 843 entered the Presidential palace on April 30, but maybe not the first one. After doing some research, I realize that most of the most famous pictures were not taken at the time, but the scene was probably reenacted afterwards (it remains nevertheless beautiful pictures) especially the one of the box art, which is in fact inspired by a picture of another machine, moreover not a T54 B.
A tank numbered 843 has been installed on a base in the palace to commemorate the event, but it is not the authentic 843, it’s a re-furbished T54B, and the marking are diferent (no stars on the 843).
The T-54 B Mig / Ammo, which has been released for some time now is just perfect! it's the first time that is produced in 1/72 a T54 (and even T55) not only accurate (the T54 ACE is), but also of quality, easy to build and not requiring deep improvements, or the use of parts that would not be in the box. Therefore I hope that the company will release a T55 of a similar quality. Nevertheless, it is obviously possible to turn this T54 into a T55, with minor modifications.
The kit corresponds perfectly to the 843 shown on the artbox, but beware, many machines have been photographed that day at the presidential palace in Saigon, and are not all of the the same model of T54.
The kit was easy and fast to build, the modifications (listed below) are aiming to match the operational conditions of the 843 when he was pictured that day at the Presidential Palace.
Turrets:
- The Luna IR light is missing, likely removed or damaged).
- Handles replaced by copper wire (the one in the kit could almost be used)
- headlight in front of the left turret hatch missing
- Addition of the impedimenta, visible on the pictures of the 843
- Spare tracks will be inserted in the handles after the decals will be applied
- The Dushka will be mounted after painting (By the way I used the revell one, don’t ask why)
Hull :
- The water protaction blade on the front plate is removed (its location is marked" to be visible)
- The 4 small convoy lights are redone (glued on a L in aluminium sheet).
- Left headlight missing, probably damaged
- Mobile part of the front fenders are missing, and the front part is deformed.
- Missing front left boxe (on the front mudguard)
- First auxiliary fuel and oil Tanks missing on the front right, but connection hose visible
- Rear tank hoses redone + mudguard attachment system
- Missing or deformed rear sludge guards
- Addition of impedimenta, as per 843 pictures
In the end, its pilot will end up bringing the 843 in front of the main door of the palace, where it will be widely photographed from every angle...