Amodel – 72015-2 – Myasishchev VM-T “Atlant” & “Buran” Airframe

Description:

Myasishchev VM-T “Atlant” & “Buran” Airframe

The Myasishchev VM-T “Atlant” was a heavily modified strategic transport aircraft developed in the Soviet Union to support the space program, particularly the transport needs of the Buran space shuttle and components of the Energia rocket. It was based on the earlier M-4 “Molot” bomber design, specifically the 3M variant, which was significantly altered to carry oversized external cargo loads on its back.

To create the VM-T, engineers at the Myasishchev design bureau retained the basic airframe and engines of the 3M but made substantial structural reinforcements and added a distinctive dorsal cargo container. This giant fairing, mounted atop the fuselage, allowed the aircraft to carry bulky aerospace hardware like fuel tanks and the fuselage of the Buran orbiter itself. The vertical stabilizer was split into twin tailfins mounted on extended booms to ensure aerodynamic stability around the massive cargo. Additional modifications included an extended nose for flight control instrumentation and the removal of most original military systems.

The VM-T played a critical logistical role in the late 1970s and 1980s, transporting elements of the Buran and Energia projects from production sites across the Soviet Union—such as from the Tushino or Kuibyshev plants—to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Before the introduction of the Antonov An-225 Mriya, which later took over heavy air transport duties, the Atlant was essential in making the Buran space program viable by airlifting components that were too large for trains or road transport.

Though it looked awkward in flight, the VM-T “Atlant” functioned reliably and fulfilled its unique purpose. Only two were built, and both are now retired. Their legacy is closely tied to the massive scale and ambition of the Soviet space program during its final decades.

Some parts of this kit are made of fiberglass. This is massive in both parts and size and not aimed for beginners or average modelers.