I found the link to the tank museum in Kubinka in the links section, and it sure looks like a great museum. They don't seem to want visitors that much, which seems pretty strange:


Access to Military-historical Sites is necessary for all foreign and Russian visitors.

Foreigners should note that the state special authority permission is required in 2-3 weeks before visit.

They particulary don't seem to like us:

The Russian military officials DO NOT LIKE the model makers (the regular violators of the museum rules)

Russian tank museum rules let make the USUAL NON-PROFESSIONAL photo- or VIDEO camera with YOU and the VEHICLE as the background ONLY.

Camera is qualified as PROFESSIONAL with any glass (non-plastic) lens more that 10 mm diameter. Send us the model and photo of your camera to check one [email protected]

Usage the non-authorized or non-specializing travel agency for the tank museum tour could be the reason why you can not visit the military museum

Any attempt to HIDE your model maker photo- (video-) aim could be the reason of your withdraw from your current and other military museums



Less than 10mm lens on a camera, that seems really small! Reading all this makes not want to visit the museum.

Have anyone here been there? How is it? Do they charge extra for breathing, looking, etc?

Oh, yes, and happy new year everyone!

Unfortunatly I haven't been there but I've heard it's one of the biggest military museums - they have a lot of unique vehicles as well as prototypes not seen anywhere else.

The rules are a bit harsh, but I think that's understandable. First, the rules aren't that bad for Russian citizens - though I can't see that foreign visitors would film old military equipment in order to have it reverse engineered by other countries. Second - there is a proving ground in Kubinka where they test modern vehicles and hold annual expositions. Third - I've been to Aberdeen Proving Grounds in US and they don't allow you to photograph the gate - seems strange, but these are the rules...

With all that said, I agree with you completely. With all those rare tanks you would think it's a great place for modelers, but you actually have to pay the museum photographers to get walkarounds of specific vehicles.

sounds like one long list of predjudice to me
i had planned a trip next year bit now its cancelled
i'll go somewhere else not a nice bunch !

Now wasnt Kabblinka originally a military base used by the russians to test captured equipment this may expalin the reasons behind the strict rules.

keith forsyth

could be mate !? but that list seems to be not just anti foreigner but mainly anti modeller

If you have a photo, then it is easier to plan how to get around security. Same with security in an airport........ Makes sense.

Patrick

yeah true but it kind of just makes it pointless going to !
unless you happen to have a really good memory :-)

Welcome to the Post 9/11 world on a military base.......... I was there..... and had a few strage looks while Photographing the "Mile" on the way to the museum from the gate.......

There could be other reasons, like Keith said, even we have places like that in the US. Down in Oklahoma I was going in to load bombs, and before you go in they hand you a few sheets of paper to read, of all the things you cannot have with you.

Cameras was number 1 on the list, no open lighters, or matches, firearms, emergency flares, and the list went on, well I had taken out my cigarettes, and lighters and give to the guard first thing, and said I was ready to go in.

Then one of the guards said do you mind if I search your truck, and I said knock yourself out, I got nothing to hide, well first thing right by my shifter he picked up my big pack with a strap on it, and he said, I'm in a lot of trouble. Then I said what for, he said for bringing in a camera. I started to laugh, and said if you can show me how to take pictures with a phone, then we both are in trouble.

See back then that was when cell phones first came out, and they had a big battery pack, and you needed almost a back pack to carry it. Now that thing they give me said nothing about phones, so after I showed him it was a phone, he finally decided not to shoot me.

Then he was so embarrassed, he didn't want to inspect my truck no more. Now this was one of our own storage bases.

So they might have other stuff close by that they don't want you to get near, that still might be used, and not museum pieces.
Kerry

I think it is the biggest tank muesum in the world. But the website sucks. They show you the rows of tanks but only have a few pictures of a few tanks. The pictures are crap too. The have the only maus, and you can see where the fired at it and some other cool stuff.

If you don't want to go to Kubinka (quite understandable...), go to http://www.jagdtiger.de/index2.htm instead! The site has some good photos from Kubinka.
Be quick though, the folks at the museum might start to harass the owners of jadgtiger for sharing pics from their precious museum. Their message seems to be "we have a museum packed with rare and interesting vehicles. Does it sound too good to be true? Yes, yes it does. Because we don't like you! Don't come. we don't want your dollars!"
Quite strange, I think.

i think that the only T35 in one piece that is alive is there also !!!!someone must go and get 1000000 pictures !!!!! LOL

It is indeed. While you're there, you could open all the hatches and see if we were right about the location of the fuel tank fillers. :-)

I'm sure if you bring a couple bucks with you and some other hard to get stuff to barter with you can get around these rules