I agree, it is one evil-looking beast, though the barrel-like commander's cupola looks abit off. Is that for deep-water wading?

The commanders cupola is not in that position but it looks as if it has something to do with wading. The CAD-images indicate that the trunking can be shown in two different positions Commanders cupola is forward to the right relative to the trunk. Hangs from the rear of the turret when not in use. I would guess that the box structure fits over the two intakes (brass mesh behind the turret) and the smokestack thingy over the exhaust (grille at the rear end, between the brackets for fule drums) / Robin

Is this a new tool? Or is it a Xact Scale re-pop? We have seen nor heard much from Xact Scale since 2013. I am curious if they went under.

Going by the parts breakdown it's new tool. And I'm pretty sure Xact are defunct. I did read on the Gur Khan Attacks! blog speculation that some of the people involved in Xact are now with RPG, but I don't know if that's true.

Going by the parts breakdown it's new tool. And I'm pretty sure Xact are defunct. I did read on the Gur Khan Attacks! blog speculation that some of the people involved in Xact are now with RPG, but I don't know if that's true.[/quote] I'm pretty sure that Xact is dead as well but apparently someone from the company is still employed and sending vendors updates on their T-80UK kit. . .

I've noticed HLJ are still listing it under their future releases as an October release. LINK It's been on there for about 3 years and the ETA just keeps rolling forward. I'm beginning to suspect it may not be coming...

Ordered.

I've noticed HLJ are still listing it under their future releases as an October release. LINK It's been on there for about 3 years and the ETA just keeps rolling forward. I'm beginning to suspect it may not be coming...[/quote] I emailed back and forth with HLJ (as an aside, what a great and responsive company they are!) and they have been continually updated with a release date from them. I just happen to think it's BS and the kit isn't coming, which stinks as the T-80UK is a much more handsome design than the vanilla T-80U.

Looking at the parts shown here: LINK and comparing them to the same parts in my Xact T-80u you can see this is a new kit. The roadwheels on the new kit have the molded lines on the rubber while on the Xact kit the lines are recessed. The turret has better covers on the openings for the cheek armor than the Xact T-80u. Lots of little things are improved. And lotsa brass, much more than the Xact, want this kit too.