Dear Readers! This is the second part of the review devoted to the civilian versions of the BRDM-2. The first part is located here: The second life of the BRDM. Scouts in civilian life. Part one.
A dream dressed in armor
Oleg Makarov. Weapon shop of the "Trunk" chain, Kiev.
Oleg Makarov from Kiev has always dreamed of a device that can rush along the road or without it, cross soggy fields diagonally, drive along the river or across, climb in search of adventure to places where an ordinary SUV will sit on the most tinted windows. To avoid an elm in a meter-long snowdrift, I effortlessly jumped a trench 1, 2 meters wide and was not afraid of a 30-degree rise. But why reinvent the wheel when the BRDM exists?
Oleg's tenacity, similar to fanaticism, was finally rewarded, and he found the cars in perfect condition.
After going through numerous bureaucratic procedures and approvals in various departments, we received a "self-propelled vehicle based on the BRDM-2" (this is exactly what it says in the data sheet), or, more simply, a tractor with Kiev numbers, which is allowed to move everywhere, except for places that prohibit the movement of tractors. In Kiev, this is the historical center of the city.
Then the most interesting thing began. The whole family was involved in the process of creating a super SUV, and by joint efforts, two models of cars were born, the main concept of which is a comfortable rest outside of civilization.
BRDM is a platform for unlimited creative tuning for every taste. It took nine months to create the machines, which is very symbolic in itself. During this period, experience and a team of like-minded people appeared - as a result, two such different SUVs were born. What was considered as a hobby at the very beginning of the project, has now grown into a small-scale release for people keen on hunting and fishing. Those who are too small for the size of a hunting jeep and boat.
Now (December 14, 2009) several machines are in operation, during the construction of which the tested and run-in projects were taken. and "S. O. V. A." technical solutions.
The price varies, depending on the configuration, from 50 to 80 thousand dollars.
The first car: U. M. K. A. - a versatile mobile amphibious camper. U. M. K. A. It was designed as an off-road camper (a house on wheels), intended for long-distance expeditions of hunters, fishermen, lovers of extreme and family recreation in isolation from civilization.
This is a real self-propelled yacht that can sail to any shore anywhere. A full deck is equipped upstairs, and the solid frontal armored glass gives an excellent view from the driver's seat. Armored doors and hatches were cut in on the sides, and their locking units were modified with valves, like on a submarine. To increase the interior space of the crew compartment, the roof was raised by 500 mm. In the spacious and light interior, two leather seats each face each other on the sides. In the center there is a square book-table that can be folded out in three positions. The first basic position is the table. Raising it to the second position, unfold the left and right sides - bunk beds are ready. In this case, the raised part of the cabin serves as the lower tier, under which the lockers are located. In the extreme upper position, we get a platform for shooting and viewing through the upper hatches.
Above the engine compartment, wooden sliding cabinets are fixed, equipped with everything necessary for cooking.
Opening them in different directions, we get access to an additional external trunk with a volume of 1.5 cubic meters. m. You can also get there through a hatch outside the camper.
A built-in, cork-lined pull-out weapon cabinet allows for four carbines and ammunition. The salon is designed for comfortable movement of four hunters in winter clothes and with weapons. Full load - 6-8 people, not counting the driver and navigator.
U. M. K. A. (explanations by Oleg Makarov).
The upper module is removable: either a boat (up to 4 meters), or 2 two-axle ATVs across, or 1 three-axle along. As options - snowmobiles, jet skis. The upper module is removed / placed on the water / land using a folding davit with a 3-ton winch (on the starboard side). The rear module is a motorcycle. The most important! Go for vodka or gasoline …
[center]
The car is on "Kiev numbers". Tractor. We drive around the city wherever tractors are allowed. Prohibited only in the historic center.
We are swimming. The original BRDM-2 has positive buoyancy due to its double bottom and sealed aft compartments / tanks. In UMK, by raising the roof of the hull and increasing the interior volume of the cabin, the windage increased, which slightly affected the maneuverability on land.
On the other hand, this is a big plus on the water. The seaworthiness has increased and a full-fledged upper deck has appeared, being on which you do not need to wipe your face from the splashes that fly at you when the water cannon is working and the feeling of being on a yacht penetrates deeper and deeper into the body relaxed in the sun.
The original BRDM on the water is almost invisible - for the sake of camouflage on the water, and our U. M. K. A has improved its seaworthiness at times. A bit visually angular on land, on the water it looks like a full-fledged motor yacht. An armored boat - for sure!
We swim at the expense of a water cannon. We installed water sensors in the cabin and automatic pumps from "bourgeois" boats. The standard manual activation was also left, but changed to a more powerful one with an armored personnel carrier. We leave the problem (unsteady) shore, having thrown off the tire pressure.
We leave ashore with a steepness of 35 degrees …
We accelerate on water to the maximum, turn on both bridges and the lowered one - and the car just jumps out onto the steep bank!
Machine body. It is completely sheathed from the inside with different finishing materials according to the “sandwich” principle. We paid special attention to the inner lining of the vehicle body, since in the primary version it is a tin can made of armored metal. To begin with, we processed the entire interior of the machine with American liquid thermal insulating ceramics (up to 500 degrees C), which completely excluded the possibility of heating. Then, layer-by-layer, with the help of special means and technologies, isoprene, isolon (for noise, vibration isolation) and the final finishing layer, which in turn is also protective, were laid.
Depending on the internal location of the finishing layer, we used: corrugated aluminum, rubber-based carpet, natural cork or imitation reptile leather imitation leather. Thus, noise and vibration in the cabin disappeared, and the thermos effect made it possible to maintain a comfortable temperature in the cabin. In summer, at the peak of the heat (over 35 degrees), it is quite comfortable in the car without even turning on the air conditioner.
The original armored car in this heat is a sheer gas chamber: half an hour inside the BRDM, and heatstroke is guaranteed to the pampered city dweller. As a result of sound insulation in the conveyor U. M. K. A. you can talk normally while driving without tank headsets, as in the BRDM. And you don’t worry that you’ll break your forehead against the armor!
Glass. Frontal armored glass 60 mm thick "holds" a shot from SVD and PKM from 50 meters. Lateral - 20-40 mm, and "hold" a shot from SVD and PKM from 50 meters. Side - 20-40 mm, and "hold" a shot from the AKM point-blank. Glasses were the main element of maintaining the ideal weight distribution of the weight on the axle: 50 to 50. The whole package of bulletproof glasses is very heavy: how much metal was welded on the stern (trunk, etc.)so much bulletproof glass was added to the nose and center. The 50-50 weight distribution on the axle is very important for any "correct" jeep, and even more so for a floating one. Also, bulletproof glasses serve as protection when working with a winch (it is controlled from the passenger compartment). In the original BRDM, when working with a winch, the armored curtains must be lowered onto the glass. This is done so that the torn cable does not cut the crew in half. We have increased the level of protection of the crew with 60 mm bulletproof glass.
Well, and, seriously - what glass, if not armored, should be on an armored car? The side armored glass was made sliding, while maintaining the tightness from the oncoming wave.
Cabin. The original BRDM-2 is good for everyone - an SUV of all times and peoples … The permeability is monstrous: you can cut the forest. But the comfort of the driver was not among the tasks assigned to the designers. The more I am tuning armored cars, the more I am convinced that the driver of the original BRDM is a man one and a half meters tall, with six arms, like the Indian deity Shiva.
As for growth, it is clear - a tall one can break his forehead against armor. As for the hands, I'll explain: the control levers are made almost around the driver's seat. We've moved all the rods and levers to an intuitive left-handed seat. And they also changed the angle of inclination of the frontal armor plate and increased it in height. Now the height limit is 2, 05 meters, and the levers are simple and convenient to operate.
The ideology of the cockpit was changed: the place on the right (commander's) is now a multifunctional navigator-jaeger post. There is a three-position seat. The first position is fastened to the starboard side. This is a convenient passage for the driver to his seat (still better than the old-fashioned way through the hatch from above). The second position - the seat is folded back, the back is lowered. This is the driver's table. The third is the main one. Navigator and ranger seat.
In front of it are a winch control unit, a navigation panel with a shock-resistant Hammerhead computer (Hammerhead), an echo sounder, GPS, night vision devices, an external light control and an electronics control unit operating at 220 volts (using a 3 kW car voltage inverter, the onboard 24 are converted into 220).
The camper is equipped with: refrigerator, microwave oven, coffee maker, power station, audio, video system.
The control of external lighting devices is also duplicated from the driver's side. Between the driver and the navigator, on the ceiling, a panel from the Toyota Land Cruiser 100 was mounted like an airplane. There are "glove compartments" and a light control in the cabin. The driver's seat, like all other leather seats, are seats taken from the Nissan Pathfinder. The dashboard, redesigned with new options, was covered with leather. The second (new) full instrument panel is to the left of the driver. Old Soviet toggle switches and levers on the panel were replaced with modern ones, with backlighting and additional fixation.
Salon. In the spacious and bright interior of the camper, on the starboard and port side, facing each other, there are 2 leather seats borrowed from the Nissan Pathfinder II. A similar seat is located in the driver's and navigator's seats (folding). Between 4 vertical pipes-handrails, going from the base to the ceiling in the very center of the cabin, there is a square transforming table-book, which has 3 positions. The first basic position is the table. Lifting the table along the guide pipes to the second position, unfold the left and right parts, fix the tabletops with the clamps and get the second tier of the bed.
In this case, the central raised part of the cabin serves as the first tier of the bed, under which the lockers (boxes) are located. The length of the lower tier of the bed is 250 cm, and the upper tier is 200 cm with a total width of 150 cm. By lifting the table through the guide pipes to the uppermost, third position, we get a platform for shooting and observation through the upper hatches of the camper. When fixed in the upper, third position, we get access to the floor lockers and the transmission hatches located under them. Above the engine compartment there are wooden sliding cabinets (lockers) equipped with kitchen and picnic accessories.
Pay attention to the "mezzanine": a hatch is visible in the ceiling part - in order to use the trunk from the outside. And the wall cabinets (lockers) for the "mezzanine" can be simply removed or replaced with ordinary doors.
Cabinets (lockers) are removable, fixed on hinges welded to the inner body of the cabin. Opening them in different directions, we get access from the salon to an additional (hidden) trunk, which can be used as a refrigerator for game (with a volume of 1.5 sq. M). The refrigerator compartment can also be accessed through an external hatch outside the camper.
The built-in pull-out weapon cabinet is corked and allows you to place 4 carbines and ammunition for them. A stationary shelf with a rim located at the top of the cabin allows you to store small personal items at arm's length. The salon is designed for comfortable movement of 4 hunters, taking into account winter clothes and with personal weapons. The full load is designed for 6-8 people, excluding the driver and navigator.
Removable galleys. The standard partition (with removable access hatches) between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment was completely dismantled. The new structure consists of a support frame, welded to the hull, to which the galley containers are attached with hinges. For their manufacture, heat-resistant steel 12 mm was used. On the outside and inside, the galley is covered with American insulating ceramics (500 degrees C). Inside the galley containers are sheathed with reflective thermal insulation "Alyufom" (isolon with an additional layer of foil) and equipped with a refrigerator for 26 liters (12/24/220 volts), an oven (heated to 60 degrees C), a coffee maker - a thermos for 1, 8 liters, (220 V), a tap with drinking water is removed, the tank (s) with which are located on the expeditionary trunk. (Volumes of tanks: U. M. K. A. - 120 l, S. O. V. A.-- 2x 90 l.)
An inverter with a power of 3 kW is installed in a special niche in the galley to convert the on-board voltage (12/24 to 220 V), sockets are removed, which makes it possible to connect household appliances, the dependence on which is brought up in us by the metropolis.
The refined hinge design to which the galley containers are attached allows the galley containers to be easily removed from the hinges, thus providing quick access from the passenger compartment to the engine compartment. On the side of the passenger compartment, the opening giving access to the engine compartment has increased by 300%, the galley structure can be easily dismantled in parts by one person (the driver). The created partition with thermal insulating containers is an excellent thermal vibration and sound insulation between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment.
Frame. The multifunctional expeditionary roof rack with a load of up to 1 ton is a one-piece welded structure connected to the body of the machine. 4 special sand trucks made of airfield steel plates (when used as bridges to overcome ditches, they can withstand the weight of the car) are laid on the luggage rack fasteners. The sand tracks placed on the rack are used as a transport platform for the ATV or snowmobile.
Each machine has quick-release rails (skis) for mounting a motor boat or water scooter on them, and fasteners with a shock absorber for the outboard motor. For the lowering / lifting of the vehicle mounted on the trunk, there is a davit with a 3 ton winch. On the model of W. M. K. A. it is located folded on the upper deck of the superstructure, along the hull, in a horizontal position. The lowering / raising of an additional vehicle located on the trunk can be carried out in the “amphibious” mode (afloat).
Lateral folding ladders of various designs are attached to the trunk.
On the model of W. M. K. A. there are 2 of them, and they are located on each side of the side, are used to access the trunk and to climb to the upper deck / superstructure.
On the trunk, in the niches between the sand tracks (transport platform), there are removable metal baskets for an autonomous power plant (3 kW), an autonomous removable diesel heater, as well as canisters, camouflage nets, tents, awnings, lifebuoys, anchors, etc. etc. Attached to the sides of the trunk are a hinged entrenching tool (Fiskars, Finland), a reel with an additional cable for a winch 50 m long. At the stern of each machine, there is a mount for an Enduro class motorcycle (removed by a davit).
The car has tanks for drinking water with an outlet to the salon, to the galley.
On the model of W. M. K. A. there is one tank, with a volume of 120 liters, it is located behind the external trunk-refrigerator for game.
The complete set of each machine includes an electric pump for quick filling of tanks and a portable shower. Depending on the goals set for us, we complete the expeditionary luggage rack with the necessary equipment. Armored doors (BTR-70) and solid armored hatches from the BTR-60 are embedded on the sides of the hull, the same hatch is cut under the roof in the direction of the nose. Locking units for hatches, hatches and doors have been modified in a naval manner: like on submarines.
Fictional author: Ivan EVDOKIMOV
Technical details and photos: Oleg MAKAROV
Read in the following article about the second car of Oleg Makarov: S. O. V. A. - Super Hunting Amphibious SUV!
