J-Hulk's BMP-3 for Armour Modelling magazine (pix, and lot's of 'em!)

Modeling Subjects Armor
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Howdy, folks![:)]
Woo-hoooo! I got my first article and work printed in a major magazine! Happy happy, joy joy![:D]

I was asked to build and write about Skif’s 1/35 BMP-3 for Japan’s Armour Modelling magazine, for a monthly section called Ichioshi, which means “recommended” or something similar. It’s a section that introduces a new kit to readers each month. Here are some pix of the model I took before sending it off to the magazine for photos:





I took the pix using fluorescent lighting, so I think the color is a little funky. I’ll take some more pix with better lighting once I get the model back.

While the main article I wrote was in Japanese, Armour Modelling also has a page of summarized English translations of some of the articles, which I also wrote. Here’s the English synopsis that appeared in the magazine:

“BMP-3 INFANTRY COMBAT VEHICLE”
Modeled and described by Brian Keaney

SKIF 1/35 BMP-3 INFANTRY COMBAT VEHICLE
Multimedia Kit

My first experience with both Skif and a BMP-3. Reference material vital due to unclear, mistake-filled instructions. Good detail, but thick in places or missing. Parts needed extensive clean-up due to sink marks, ejector pin marks, mold seams, and other problems. Fit: excellent to atrocious. Eduard’s PE set, Mig Productions’ dry transfers, Mammut’s tow cables added to improve accuracy and detail. Turret: wires added, spaced armor sanded to correct thickness. Mantlet cover made from a piece of latex glove. Hull: machinegun guards and handles made with .5mm brass rod. Lights use Wave’s 4mm clear lenses. Dozer blades and splashboard modified per photos. Sprockets widened, tracks shortened by two links per side. Model finished with Tamiya Dark Green enamel lightened with Dark yellow, weathered with Flat Black acrylic washes and applications of Flat Earth enamel and Buff acrylic, depicting a very dirty and dusty vehicle. A tough but fun build!

I’d like to thank all my buddies from Naniwa Sensha-tai for their guidance and support. I never would have had this opportunity without them! That includes Norio, the Model Master who participates here at FSM!

And of course, I gotta thank all my great buddies here at FSM for their friendship and support, too! The ref links I got from Keyworth and Captain Caveman were absolutely indispensable. Thanks to all!

OK, enough rambling from me! I’d love to hear what ya’ll think about my li’l ol’ BMP-3. Please don’t be afraid to be critical, cuz J-Hulk really wants to become a better modeler![:)]

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Allright, J-Hulk !! [tup][tup]

Congrats ! On the article.

Awesome detail !! …All the wires and little parts - wow … The texture on your finish is very lifelike - very convicing. The detail is what makes it -

Great job !!

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Brian, congratulations. Another feather in your cap! The build looks great, as usual. Thanks for sharing it with us and thanks for the translation service! :slight_smile: Hope you’re tapped for many more articles to come. - Ed

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“Mantlet cover made from a piece of latex glove.”
I’m a newbie. What’s a “mantlet cover”?

Excellent build J-hulk! You have left me much to aspire too!

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Looks great to me Brian!! I know you said there were issues with this kit but you sure did make a great model out of it! The detail is excellent as is the weathering. Definitely deserving of a spot in the mag! Keep up the good work bro!!

Now get that 1/16 Tiger out of the box!! (you can still use the empty box as a coffe table you know!! [;)] [:D] )

Eric

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Excellent work J-Hulk, very well done. Would love to see you do the same level of quality on that big 1/16 Kitty you have waiting for you.

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J-Hulk,
excellent! great detail & super clean.
i tried to find something to nit-pick, but i couldn’t.

ed.

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Ooooooh. Aaaaaaah.

Even more so because you started with a kit that needed a lot of work.

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nice Brian!!! congrats on the publishing!!

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You are the man, Brian!

Excellent!

Now, I’m going along with my bro erush on this…

Get ta’ work on that Tiger ya’ slacker! [:p]

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Thanks, ya’ll! I truly do appreciate all the kind words. [:)]

MartianGundamModeler, the mantlet is the armored piece where the gun(s) are mounted in the turret on some armored vehicles. The mantlet cover is a piece of flexible material that covers the mantlet, to keep out dust and water. Check out various pix of AFVs; you’re bound to see plenty of 'em!

In all the pix of BMP-3s that I saw, the mantlet covers seemed to be made of a heavily rubberized material, rather than canvas or any kind of cloth. The folds were quite thick and rounded, and the texture was smooth.

At first, I tried making a cover using the ol’ tissue paper and Elmer’s glue method, but the folds were way to “sharp.”

Then, I tried Tamiya’s 2 part Epoxy Putty, but my sculpting skills are highly undeveloped, and I could not achieve a convincing look.
Tamiya recommends wearing latex gloves (like a surgeon’s) when working with the putty, which I did. During one final futile attempt at making the cover with putty, it struck me that the glove material itself would make a perfect cover! I experimented a bit, and came to the conclusion that that was indeed the case. I just cut a rough square from a glove, slapped it onto the mantlet with CA glue, trimmed and tucked and wrinkled it a bit, then poked the necessary gun and searchlight armature holes in it. I was worried that enamel paint may eat the latex, so I brushed on a few coats of Tamiya acrylic German Gray to protect it.

It all worked out fine! A bit more wrinkly would have been nice, but looking at ref pix, it really seems to be a pretty thick, smooth affair.

The Erics: Thanks!
And yes, T-Day draws nearer still!

Can ya’ll give me any feedback on the colors I used? The impression I get from seeing modern Russian vehicles is a very drab, dusty, monotone look over the entire vehicle. Trax, wheels, everything, all kind of melded into one light, dusty color, which I tried to do with the Buff. I used four different shades of Dark Green, from straight to very light, in an attempt to add some variation to the all-green scheme.
Even though, to me, armor vehicles tend to be one overall dusty, drab color, constructive criticism (always welcomed!) from my respected modeling senseis conerning this and other models I’ve done have focused on this point: my models seem too “drab” or “plain.” But that’s exactly what I’m going for: drab and plain! Which is how I see the actual vehicles.

I’d love to hear everybody’s opinions on this subject![:D]

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Buraian-sama:

what can i say that hasn’t already been said ?
the top view of this looks so real ! color looks fantastic ! loooove it !!!
another fine piece of work, sensei… omedeto on both the model & the feature !

frosty-chan[:)]

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Sounds like this was a bit of a bear to build (no pun intended). Good job!

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Congrats, Brian. It looks terrific. Of course, if it didn’t, it wouldn’t be in the mag!
I’m glad you are getting some much deserved recognition!

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The old lindberg BMP-1 was the first tank model I ever built… Oh this brings back memories… It looks very very good J-hulk… Great job…

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[bow] cool pics J-Hulk you are the master

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Brian, Congrats on your article,a true testament to your skills. [tup]

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Way to go Brian. The build looks awesome even more so with the problems you said the kit has. So when are you going to make it into an english mag in the states?

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Excellent job J-hulk. So when will the picture be on the front page of missing-lynx?
mark956

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The detail is amazing! Was the kit built OOB …?

Regards, Dan