Howdy, folks![:)]
Once again my participation in the 1/16 Tiger I group build (and Concorde group build, and Panther group build) has been postponed, and this time for a great reason: I’ve been asked by Armour Modelling magazine to do a build and article for the February 13 issue! Happy happy, joy joy!
The kit I’ve been asked to build is Skif’s 1/35 BMP-3, to which I’ll add Eduard’s exterior PE set (the kit comes with a partial interior, for which Eduard also offers a PE set). A survey of the kit’s parts reveals some minor problems, like sink holes and ejector pin marks in very obvious places, but nothing insurmountable. The main problem is the very vague instruction sheet! Ref pix definitely a must here. I’ve found some good pix, and I’ve also read Steve Zaloga’s excellent review of the kit, along with his build notes. Very helpful.
Which brings me to my first question: Step 1 (trouble, so quickly!!) vaguely shows the installation of the two dozer blades, but the positoning and attachment points are ambiguous, to say the least. Also, ref pix seem to indicate that the blades are actually installed opposite to the way Skif indicates, with the cut-out sections meeting in the middle, not on the outside on the real BMP-3. If anyone knows what the heck I’m talking about, what’s your take on this? Of course, I’ll believe ref pix long before I’ll believe an instruction sheet, but I just thought I’d ask. So far that’s the only build hurdle I’ve come across (and that was just Step 1!!!)
Second question: Paint. Skif suggests two different sand/green/black camo patterns, but I want to do something different. An Internet search revealed mostly that same scheme, but I did see a few all-sand vehicles. What about good ol’ Russian Green? The three-tone camo is interesting, but I really like single-color vehicles (a bit lazy? Perhaps!). Evidently the BMP-3 was first seen at a parade in 1990. Anybody know of any ref pix of those vehicles? I bet they’re green!
Any and all info would be greatly appreciated![:D]
Brian, I can’t help you out as I don’t have anything on the BMP, BUT if I run across anything I will most definitely send it too you bro. Good luck on the build and see if you can get permission to share the article with us!!
Thanks, Bro!
I think I have the dozer blade problem figured out from ref pix. It appears the kit parts are just missing the cutouts that appear at the bottom in the middle, and are not on opposite. Nothing an X-Acto and 2 minutes of sanding can’t fix!
Brian-sama:
i can’t believe i missed this thread… [xx(]
omedeto yet again, sensei ! [bow][bow][bow]
u r getting 2 b quite the published person, my friend… i have a soft spot 4 the BMP, and have been trying to get my LHS to order the 1/72 kit of the BMP-2 ( by Ace ), but no luck so far…[:(]
there was a good article in a UK mag about converting an M113 into an OPFOR ‘BMP’, so maybe when i finish my ersatz M10, i’ll have 2 try it…
looking forward to seeing urs !
frosty[:)]
I remember those! When I was in the 4th Cav, we went up against a bunch of Airborne guys using BMP vismods (the ‘cheap’ field version) on '113’s as OPFORE. Pretty cool. We came around a tank trail corner once to find one (the vismod) laying in the middle of the trail with no '113 in sight. The first driver smoked it…by accident of course, that darned old Patton just wouldn’t turn fast enough! 56 tons sure can flatten plastic sheet and aluminum tubing. [:0][:0][:0]
Ron.
Sorry I don’t know much more about the BMP than that, but it looks like you have your reference photos well in hand, so enjoy the build!
Another job for the magazine, J-hulk. That’s great. You have become a well-published modeler now. LOL. Sorry I don’t have much info on the topic. But I could do the cheerleading. LOL.
Steve Zaloga’s Russia’s BMP mini color series by Concord has some decent color photos of the BMP 3. The only solid colored ones I saw in the book was a display one in overall Russian green and a sand one identified as a United Arab Emirates vehicle.
Frostygirl, as far as the Ace BMP models, I had one of the BMP-1 variants but after looking at the kit, I decided it was unbuildable using my meager modeling skills. I later traded it off in a lot trade. Those limited run kits have some pretty crude molding to them. The link and length tracks looked fairly crude and only resembled tracks. Just to forewarn you that the Ace kit wont be like building a Revell, Esci or even an Airfix kit.
I am so happy to hear that you join the contributors to Armour Modelling magazine. Skif’s BMP-3 is a little bit hard to assemble, but you can do it.
In English, “a piece of cake” ? for you.
Thanks for all the kind words, links, and info! [:D]
I think I have all I need (besides patience) to do a halfway decent job on this Skif kit. I’ve just spent the first three days of the build cleaning parts and removing some clunky detail to be replaced by PE. Now comes the fun task of eliminating those sinkholes and ejector pin marks!
Norio, long time no see, my friend! Both here in FSM and here in Japan. With the holiday season upon us, we’re both working like dogs! I look forward to the nomikais and bonenkais that are coming up!
I’m sure you know how happy I am to be able to contribute to Armour Modelling.
I’d like to submit some stuff to FSM too, one o’ these days!
By the way everybody, you have GOT to see Norio’s “Road to Beirut” diorama, featured in this month’s Armour Modelling. Amazing! Norio, you gotta post some pix for the fine FSM folks!
With all the fine help I’ve gotten from my FSM family, and all the help here from Norio and the Naniwa Sensha-tai boys, this BMP should be a piece of cake!
Easy as pie!
A walk in the park!
Like falling off a log!
Major G.:
thanx 4 the info, and the warning !
i will probably forget about the ace kit and look for a decent m113 as a base 4 the OPFOR conversion instead.
any suggestions re: a 1/72 M113 kit ?
Only one choice here. The old out of production Esci kit that was also released by AMT/Ertl here in the states. It is an older M113A1 kit versus the M113A2, but that is easy enough to hide in 1/72 scale.
Esci/AMT/Ertl made several variants of the M113 and they were all basically the same kit with a different sprue tossed in to represent the top of the vehicle. The cheapest (and easiest) one to find is the M901 ITV Hammerhead. I have both boxings handy. The Esci kit is #8306 and the AMT/Ertl kit is #8636. I snatch these things up on Ebay for around $5 quite often.
The other ones they make are the plain Jane M113, M163 Vulcan SPAAG, and M106 4.2" mortar carrier. The M106 seems to be the hardest/most expensive to buy. Pretty decent little kits for a 20 year old model. Hopefully they will reappear in the new Italeri 1/72 scale armor line.