T28/T95 Super Heavy Tank
Model of the American WW2 super heavy tank prototype. Features full suspension, drivetrain with a subtractor, lights and advanced main gun control system.
Datasheet:
Completion date: 13/02/2010
Power: electric (Power Functions)
Dimensions: length 73 studs (including main gun’s barrel) / width 30 studs / height 16 studs (not including aerials)
Weight: 2.2 kg
Suspension: pendular bogies
Motors: 2 x PF Medium, 2 x PF XL
T28 was an unusual project. Started in Spring 1945, it was designed to break through German defenses and to counter German super heavy tanks such as Maus or E100 (none completed, fortunately). The designers focused on the armament and armour of the tank at the cost of its mobility, and they decided not to use a typical turret as it would not be needed against fortifications. T28 had one of the thickest tank armours in history, but it was driven by an V8 engine providing merely 500 HP – a very little power for a tank of such weight. It was also one of few tanks to move around on 4 tracks. The outer set of tracks could be removed for transportation by train. The tank could drive on a road on inner tracks, towing the outer ones behind.
Out of 25 planned T28s, only two were built. The war ended before they were operational, and in 1947 they were subjected to evaluation. It went bad – one prototype was completely destroyed by engine fire, and the other one proved that a 500 HP engine can barely move it. Both were supposed to be scrapped, but the undamaged one was found in 1974 in a back field at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. It is unknown where it was earlier, and it is unknown how a tank of this size can remain unnoticed inside a military base 🙂
The model is relatively simple on the technical side. It uses only 4 motors, two to drive and the other two to control the main gun. Just like in the real tank, the main gun has limited traverse and elevation. The drivetrain consists of a subtractor and two PF XL motors, one for drive and one for steering, on assumption that it takes quite a torque to steer a tank that wide and with 4 tracks. The model is not entirely accurate – one of departures include a V6 piston engine in the back, instead of fuel tanks. The real machine was driven by V8 engine, but only 6 pistons can be seen through a 8×8 grill, so I used a V6 engine. It has internal lighting, with lights pointed at each piston, and all the lights are coupled with the drive engine, so the faster tank goes, the brighter the engine is.
Another departure is the shape of the front of the hull. It was changed mainly to house the main gun control mechanism. The real tank had its gun mantlet attached to the hull, while the model’s mantlet is attached to the barrel and moves together with it, hence it needs a certain margin of free space around it.
The most challenging element of the model was its suspension system – not because it’s advanced, but because it’s so expanded. Each of the four tracks uses four pendular bogies, each with two road wheels. It sums up to the total of 16 bogies with 32 road wheels. Each track’s suspension is separate and independent, and each track consists of 123 tread links. Together with the spare track section on the armour, it sums up to over 500 tread links used for the model.
The model looked really well, and it definitely paid off to build it in dark grey instead black. It performed well, although the main gun’s barrel was a bit wobbly. It also seemed to experience problems with the drive motor – it could drive backwards and turn very well, but it seemed that driving forwards put more and more tension on the motor. The problem seemed to be getting worse over time, and it is possible that the PF XL motor used for drive was defective. Because of that, the model appeared very slow on the video, whereas given a properly functioning motor it should have been faster. Still, it was my first tank in dark grey, and came highly acclaimed for its look.
@Andrew
Sorry, your beliefs have NOTHING to do with facts. Seems like you have mistaken playing World Of Tanks for learning history. T28 and T95 are TWO NAMES FOR THE SAME VEHICLE. World Of Tanks lied to you, they made two tanks out of one. They removed outer tracks from the original T28/T95 (the real tracks were detachable for easy transport), changed its front armor and got a non-existent vehicle they called T28. This is just a game developer’s fiction. Learn solid facts here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T28_Super_Heavy_Tank
@Sariel
I do believe that the t28 American tank destroyer had only two tracks, one one each side. The t95 had 4 tracks, two on each side. Either way, this model is amazing and way out of my realm of creating. Great job!
@Sariel
The T95 was an American tank destroyer, which looks like the model you have made. The t95 had 4 tracks, two on each side, while t28 American tank destroyer had only two tracks, one one each side.
@SpeedyCraft51
To both questions: of course not.
Just awesome !
Have you made a guide or a shematic (with lego digital designer) to create it ?
Or do you sell it ?
I’m very interested.
@nitwity
I recommend you remembering that World Of Tanks is a game and not a history book.
My mistake, they both were real but this looks more like the T95, if you play world of tanks you can see a difference, the T28 is much thinner and doesnt have double tracks on each side and I recommend world of tanks anyway there is a ride variety of tanks and artillery you could copy @Sariel
@Nitwity
Only existed in blueprints? Explain this then: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kO5IsVHlTo
No, the T95 is an even bigger tank destroyer then the T28 (this) it was only a prototype or only existed in blue prints and this looks more like the T95 anyway
@Zachary
It’s soundtrack from 28 Weeks Later.
You have amazing builds, and this is personally one of my favorites.
I watched this video on youtube a few years back, and I was wondering what was the name of the song that you used in this video?
It compliments the tank perfectly.
@tyler
Yup, thats right because when i played WoT (WorldofTanks), i a little bit confused– but nice tank.!! 🙂
I like this it is well designed though i do wish I knew how to build it any who if you do tell thats fine i’d love to have my own T28. But there is one thing that puzzles me i looked up on google about the T28 and they said it was I quote “Called the T28 but during WW2 is was re designated as the T95 if you don’t belive me I looked up on wiki and in other online sources. Yet if you could tell me,give me tips, or instructions on how to build this I would love it!
@tyler
No mister. This is not T95. T95 was a medium tank from fifties. Also, it’s not directions, it’s instructions and I don’t intend to make or sell any.
oh ya can you make and sell directions for that
actually Sariel that tank is a t95
OMFG! You are truly an insane lego builder! You are my idol!!!!
@jason b
Sorry, I’m into mechanics, not into magic.
why not make it a challenge to get your vehicles with guns to actually shoot?
could be fun! =)
@NXTnut
Yes, and half of the comments at youtube will be like “FAKE!!!!”.
In the video for another tank, think you could take a video, cut a picture out of that video, add a flame into that picture, put it back in the video. Now for a split second, it will look like the gun fires live bullets!
@NXTnut
It’s a Lego barrel at the tip.
how do you do the very end of the gun barrel?
@NXTnut
Listen, this is American T28: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T28_Super_Heavy_Tank
and this is Soviet T28: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-28
All it takes is some 3 seconds of using Google.
I looked it up, it’s an American tank.
@NXTnut
You have to build them around some frame that will support them. There are pics of the building process of this model at my Facebook site, so you can see how it’s built inside.
I’m a lego builder, to but I have one question, how do you make the amour and side skirts? I have tried but failed on stability.
@NXTnut
Soviets called all their tanks T-number, so they obviously had their T-28 tank but it was something completely different. You could google it out easily.
Sweet tank as always! Although, I’m a bit confused, although you say it’s a American tank, one of my sources says it’s a Soviet tank. Can you please clear this up?
awesome! it looks soooooo niicee to drive it!
@NxT bUiLdEr
Polish.
@Sariel
excuse me, but what languages do you speak?
@NaturalBornuser
Ma 4 study a między nimi otwór na axla, więc lufa przez niego przechodzi, nie trzyma się na nim.
Z ciekawości – ten talerz, do ktorego przymocowana jest lufa ma jeden stud na środku czy cztery? Bo widzę, że mimo większych drgań lufa nie odpada. Jeśli chodzi o wygląd to Twój najbardziej dopracowany czołg.
it looks awesome, very menacing and wide. shame it wasnt ready for the tv appearance, but all good nonetheless
Great proportions! Looks massive .. that’s really aggressive man.
I like the idea of the lights with variable brightness. And what about all the details..
The armour looks like one of the StarWars series spaceships :)))
Super cool!
@Brian
Pendular bogies. See the pics.
And also in the first picture it says “more ar sariel.pl” I think you meant “at”. Sorry, but Im a bit picky like that.
AWESOME!
how did you build the suspension?
tell me!
I need to know!
:O -that says it all. I have to agree with you and think that grey was a good colour scheme. It is shame about that faulty motor though. Keep up the good work.
bravo sariel , tu es le meilleur , encore bravo !!!
It has a low build, it’s wide, it’s big, looks menacing. Congratulations, Sariel, this model was worth waiting for!
I’d say this is the most beautiful model youve ever made, but the task it can do (raise gun etc..) wont win the simple, yet great S-tank.
It was totally wort making this greay, i love how it looks.