Snow Russian Arctic Tractors

[varmint]

A Russian friend who does environmental watchdog work just posted this photo from the Russian Arctic oil field area where she's trying to stay warm. Looks like some serious snow traction equipment! (and yes, that big tractor is BIG)

 

[LJH]

Neato! Is that her watch dogging outfit for or something she's observing?

Tell her to send us more pictures!!!

 

[varmint]

Here are a few more, mostly how the locals get around... She isn't into tractors, so what can I say... These were taken over the last few days. Looks like spring thaw is serious.

 

[RKJeepXJ]

Anyone else think the Russians build some of the ugliest machinery? Helicopters, trucks, snowmobiles, cars, etc......you can look at it and immediately know its Russian because its ugly. Interesting how much cultures differ.

 

[varmint]

Yup- I remember visiting the Nat. Air and Space museum, and the Russian space equipment looked like they had sourced the hardware and bits and pieces at their local Ace Hardware. Our stuff, of course, was all custom made from the finest materials. Both seemed to have worked, however.

 

[Egon]

Tractor trains were a common occurrence in the Canadian North.

 

[Cherokee140]

Yup- I remember visiting the Nat. Air and Space museum, and the Russian space equipment looked like they had sourced the hardware and bits and pieces at their local Ace Hardware. Our stuff, of course, was all custom made from the finest materials. Both seemed to have worked, however.

There is a difference, past the point of the US spending a million trying to get a pen to work and the soviets using a pencil. You also have to remember that the Russians stole the design for that pencil.

 

[k0ua]

There is a difference, past the point of the US spending a million trying to get a pen to work and the soviets using a pencil. You also have to remember that the Russians stole the design for that pencil.

They are pretty good at taking something apart, and building more like it. I saw a Russian built B29 that they built from a captured example. It was complete down to the Boeing logo on the steering yokes.

 

[Egon]

Be aware that the Russians are quite capable of their own design and build.

Some of their stuff seems crude but works extremely well in adverse conditions. Note the AK47 versus the AR 15.

 

[k0ua]

Be aware that the Russians are quite capable of their own design and build.

Some of their stuff seems crude but works extremely well in adverse conditions. Note the AK47 versus the AR 15.

Oh, I agree, I didn't mean to imply that many Russian in house designs are not very functional. I just brought up the case of the Copied B29 as an interesting side note, because they even copied the logo's on the steering yoke.

 

[doxford jim]

They are pretty good at taking something apart, and building more like it. I saw a Russian built B29 that they built from a captured example. It was complete down to the Boeing logo on the steering yokes.

I suspect they trained the Chinese too !

 

[adventure bob]

Yeah the Chinese are getting pretty good at developing stuff on their own. Give them 10 more years and they're going to be on par with the Japanese and Koreans in terms of R&D vice plagiarism and knock offs.

 

[breadtrk]

I can't really say how I know or why I know, but I do know I would put my faith in some of the very rugged and simple stuff the Ruskies built long before I would the overly complex and not so rugged stuff we produced in the 70's through the 90's. We are once again on the top in ruggedness but a lot of our stuff is still very overly complicated.

 

[cre10]

Cool!

 

[Egon]

I can't really say how I know or why I know, but I do know I would put my faith in some of the very rugged and simple stuff the Ruskies built long before I would the overly complex and not so rugged stuff we produced in the 70's through the 90's. We are once again on the top in ruggedness but a lot of our stuff is still very overly complicated.

Remember the antique valves the Russian's used in their military electronics. Turned out it was because they more resistant to EMF's than the modern chips.

 

[Cherokee140]

They are pretty good at taking something apart, and building more like it. I saw a Russian built B29 that they built from a captured example. It was complete down to the Boeing logo on the steering yokes.

My point exactly...don't forget the Rolls Nene engine as well....how many of those killed us.

 

[Cherokee140]

Yeah the Chinese are getting pretty good at developing stuff on their own. Give them 10 more years and they're going to be on par with the Japanese and Koreans in terms of R&D vice plagiarism and knock offs.

China....another country that does not foster thinking....but now that HK is theirs I think they are seeing the light, but trying to figure out how to keep things just like they are but allow changes.

I would bet a few more people need to be run over by tanks before that country steps up to making their own stuff.