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Scale models
Besides visiting border markers in real life on their own spot, I started to make out of wood scale models 1:10 of the Sovjet style border markers.
Although very time consuming, it's a relaxing activity to spend long winter nights.
It also takes some research: what for example are the exact measures of the border markers and the paintings on them?
How to find the right coats of arms and the right font for the numbers? Many times it's trial and error and my special toolbox for border markers is
well stocked now.
These Sovjet style border markers you will find on many former Sovjet Union borders.
And still on all borders between Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and their neighbors.
Strange enough you find them as well between Poland and Germany.
Only Estonia developed an alternative design on their east border with Russia. I achieved to make a scale model of these as well.
Most common is the situation with two markers per border: on both sides of the border one marker,
usualy about two meters from the border. The real border itself is marked with a small stone. Not much varity in those stones and for me too easy to make.
There are also combined markers. So one marker on the border itself, with on both sides a different decoration.
I made models of both variants.
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Norway / Russia 40 - 211 On the border between Norway and Russia you will find these yellow markers. In the earlier days they were made of wood but in the early 2010's they were replaced by alluminium copies. The red-green Russian copies are made of the same material. The numbers 40 are located in National park Øvre Pasvik The numbers 211 are located on the only border crossing between these two countries: Storskog Grensestatsjon. |
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Norway / Russia 99 Number 99 is, like number 111 a special one. It's a single marker for both countries made of concrete. It's located on the Skogfoss Dam of the power station owned by Pasvik Kraft. Here the yellow Norwegian side is in Norway, the Russian red side is in Russia. So looking from the Norwegian side of the border, the marker shows you the Norwegian side. At other borders where 'combined' markers are placed, there are examples of the other way round (for example Lithuania - Russia, Latvia - Lithuania). Main question is: what do you want to see approaching the border: your own coats of arms and own colors or those of the neighboring country? |
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Norway / Russia 99 The real one, pictured from the Russian side. I haven't been there, but some IBRG-members were there in 2024. Their guide who works on the power plant, made this unique picture for Barry Arnold, the man in the middle. Also to be found on Barry's excelent website: https://barrysborderpoints.com |
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Finland / Russia 147 - 315 I never visited this border although it's one of the longest in Europe, 1340 kilometer. It's hard to get permission to get close to the border. On some place in Norway (for exampleKirkenes Airport) I found copies of them in monuments with border markers of FI-NO-RU. Nevertheless I made some markers of this border as well. In the field there must be thousands of them. For the scale models, I used radom numbers. The Russian copies on this border are the same as on the Norwegian border. |
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Estonia / Russia 80 - 346 Estonia used an alternative model for border markers on the border with Russia. In fact they copied it from their markers on the border with Latvia but without the square block on top. These markers on the RU-border were only placed between 2015 and 2017. Before that the border was only covered with markers on the Russian side. The models I made, refer to easy to visit places, at least, in the time the border crossings between these countries were open and the relation between the two countries was better. BM 80 on the border crossing Luhamaa BM 346 on the border crossing Koidula with the bridge over the river Piusa. A famous border crossing as captured spies are usually exchanged here. The Russian copies are quite old and made of concrete. Notice the iron pin on top of the Russian copy. I only saw it on the EE-RU border and although I don't know the background of it, I assume it's there to prevent birds to s(h)it on it. |
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Estonia / Russia I made a lot of them: 538 is the last one on the South side of lake Pikkva, so the last one the land border about 5 kilometers north of Värska. 682 is the last one along the river Narva in the small city Narva Jõesuu, where the river flows into the Gulf of Finland. |
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Latvia - Russia 387 Next one on the row ist Latvia - Russia. I was there in 2015 when it was already problematic to visit the border area even with a special permission. Still I succeeded to visit some interesting places. |
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Latvia - Belarus 006 Also visited during the Baltic Border Tour in 2015. Border markers 006 are located at the very small local border crossing Meikšānu. It's in the middle of the woods close to the tripoint RU-LV-BY. I remember two very friendly and helpful female Latvian Border Guards guided me to the border markers. |
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Lithuania - Belarus 1796 BMs 1796 is the last pair before the tripoint LT-LV-BY. In 2015 it took me much preparation and patience to visit this area from Lithuanian side. |
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Lithuania - Belarus 0592/1 and 0654/1 On this border there are also some single intermediate markers with on each side the coats of arms and colors of each country. The order is different than on the NO-RU border. Coming to the border you see the symbols of the neighboring country. |
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Tripoint Lithuania - Belarus - Poland This tripoint which I visited in 2015 contains three special border markers. They have no number, just the name of the area in the three different languages. It used to be a beautiful spot with a view on all three markers but nowadays it's literaly an iron curtain. |
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Lithuania - Russia Moving west now to the LT-RU border. I was there in 2015 when both countries cleaned up the border and placed border markers. Before there were none. The border agreement including the position of the markers was first signed in 2017 When I was there on the stretch between the tripoint LT-RU-PL and Kybartai not all Lithuanian markers were covered by a Russian copy yet. Moreover, they didn't contain a permanent number yet. These new markers are made of aluminium. The edges of the Lithuanian markers are straight. |
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Lithuania - Russia 56 and 64 On this border there are also a few single markers with on each side the coats of arms and colors of each country. Their design is totally different from the traditional markers. It was not so easy to make a scale model, but I succeeded. In particular the 'и' and the 'я' were difficult. Coming to the border you see the symbols of the neighboring country. I guess there are no pictures available from the original markers taken from Russian side, so containing the country name 'Lietuva'. At least, I couldn't find one. The original border agreement includes a drawing of this type of border marker. |
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Lithuania - Russia 64 on paper The original construction drawing for this special border marker. Very helpful to make a scale model. |
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Lithuania - Poland Most of the markers on this border are combined single markers with on each side the coats of arms and colors of each country. Some original concrete ones I found in 2015 close to the LT-PL-RU tripoint. In 2016 they were covered with an alumium cover. I didn't see one yet, but I made some scale models of the old copies. Remarkable is the red/white Polish diagonal stripes interrupted by the number. 115 can be found at the railway crossing Trakiszki / Mockava. |
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Lithuania - Poland I found this picture on internet some years ago. The old marker is being covered. |
Scale Models I | Scale Models II | Scale Models III | Made by others |