PHOTO FILE: Tank in self-construction

When it comes to engineering, the country really seems to be the much-quoted "wild Kurdistan". There are hardly any other places with such illustrious tank images as from this area. The lack of armored vehicles leads to improvisation and the construction of devices whose combat value is questionable. Today we bring you a photo file with the best photo finds. What is driving out of the village above belongs to the Kurdish YPG and resembles a colossus from World War I, the German A7V.

A hundred years of tank engineering and science fiction can be so close to each other: the track suggests an agricultural device, the superstructure looks like an AT-ST from Star Wars with its legs cut off. The paint job is reminiscent of the Russian amoeba pattern from World War II. The size comparison with the man in front assures that this is a true monster built by Kurds.

Amoeba is modern. Modern is also the Russian infantry fighting vehicle hiding under the handcrafted additional armor.

Not all armored vehicles are aesthetically pleasing, sometimes necessity is the mother of invention. The vehicle – here once again YPG property - does not seem to have any standard equipment.

Also Kurdish is this rolling shoebox. It's easier to make things with straight lines, here everything is angular. But at least they found, rescued, or had a turret and upper hull from a Russian wheeled infantry fighting vehicle. It armors the box with a 12.7 mm machine gun.

The flag once again identifies the vehicle as belonging to the YPG. The box looks like a tank train from World War I. The vehicles are often used for transporting wounded soldiers.

Also quite solid. This vehicle - unknown Kurdish unit - resembles a normal wheeled armored personnel carrier. Clearly, the inspiration comes from modern four-wheeled tanks.

Another Kurdish tank, location of the shot unknown. Very futuristic design. Mad Max would have been delighted.

There is a truck hidden under the armor here. Notice the side notches and the skirts for the tires. YPG flag and turret from a Russian BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle. Parts are reused as they have them.

A dark battleship straight out of a movie about another planet: used against ISIS with a homemade spaceship-like design.

But sometimes it's also quite minimalistic. Plates slapped on, double armor curved on the sides.

Finishing off with another cool tank: machine gun in the turret, streamlined pointed shape. The lower part resembles a construction machine again, could belong to the YPG.

And sometimes just so big that the thing doesn't fit in the frame anymore.