Military Models

Toys, Real vehicles, Planes, New pictures, Model timeline and Build log!

...and not forgetting...

WWII Soviet Tanks.

1/35 BA20 armoured car
Not sure of the manufacturer - box and instructions were all in Russian.	Fit of the body to chasssis needed a lot of putty work.	I think the figure was mainly Tamiya Russian tank crew and infantry parts.	Plastic in this kit was rather brittle.	Interesting to see as a 'period shot'

1/35 BA64B armoured car.
This older Russian AER model had the right shape, but many detail parts were added or changed.	Added a figure for interest.	Everything blends in with a little paint.	Constructed 2012.

Adding details to a basic kit.	Note driver's visor was completely rebuilt.	Big cylinder on the side is the muffler.

1/35 BT-7
"Early" model BT-7 with the straight-sided turret from Eastern Express.	I decided against markings as most photos did not show any.	It is the hardest thing to get a rigid plastic figure to interact with a gun (or other part) in a realistic manner.	The figure pose was suggested by the box art.	2004

1/72 Pegasus Models BT7
1/72 Pegasus Models BT7	Two models in the box means 2 different finishes	Unditching log is a typical Russian addition

Winter whitewash is also a common finish	This would be applied over the green paint	The whitewash starts to wear off quickly as it is not as tough as paint

1/35 ISU 152
Zvezda ISU 152	Zvezda tank troops.	Fruil tracks	Action poses!	Things are getting hot. Time to get off this shell magnet!	Jump!	Built 2012.

1/35 GAZ 67 staff car.
Tamiya, built in 2001.	Looks like a little snow on the ground.	I see some silvering on those decals...	Looks like a Jeep, eh?

1/35 T28 tank with Trumpeter tank crew at rest.
Eastern Express T28 tank with Trumpeter tank crew at rest.	The vehicle I modeled had the fittings for a turret antenna, but no actual antenna.	Four of the rear wheel converted to all-steel type.	Share a little vodka and accordian!	Has some interior details - engine, cooling fan	Constructed in 2012.

1/35 T40 light tank
This was mainly based on a photo of a group of winter-finish T40 vehicles rather than one specific vehicle.	This kind of finish really captures the "used and dirty' feel of a real vehicle and helps brings some life.	Note the red and white colored signaling flags held by the commander.	I like the officiousness of the officer with his plans and demanding manner.	The poor tank guy looks like he has had an earful! Built 2004.

1/72 IS 2 tank.
Pegasus Models kit. AB figure Russian commander.	A nice kit and the sagging track is cool - a pity the outside of the tracks shows so little detail.	Detailed up from picture references.	Decal not included so I had to find/hand paint as needed.

1/72 IS 2 tank with spaced armour
Pegasus Models IS 2 tank with spaced armour added to turret.	The main turret hatch was covered with canvas - perhaps it was leaking?	Note the armour was coming detached on the right rear of the turret. I assume this armour was scrounged up and and not an official mod.	I figured it would have been given a quick coat of paint to blend it in. I simulated this by making it not quite match the tank colour.

1/76 JS III
Original turret conversion from 1968 with new hull built 2004 (old model had bad track-rot).	Log, tow cables, extra fuel tanks...	Road wheels coated in liquid super-glue (CA) before painting to provide a non-reactive barrier.	These were old type vinyl tracks so I wanted to prevent a re-occurrence of track-rot.	I purchased 2 models off eBay dating from 1963-5. These were packaged for the US market.

1/76 KV 1
KV 1, scratch built using wheels and tracks from an Airfix JS III.	Constructed almost entirely from plastic card.	Running gear and tracks were replaced in 2004 - original dates from 1971!

1/35 Trumpeter KV1
1/35 Trumpeter KV1	1942 model with a new "light weight" cast turret	Nice easy model	1/35 Trumpeter KV1

1/72 PST KV-1S
1/72 PST KV-1S	Pretty straightforward kit	Looks the part	It was discontinued in late 1943 after 1370 vehicles had been made. Maybe it was because the armour was made thin to reduce weight.	KV-1S (for 'Skorostnoy' - 'fast')

1/35 KV II
Tamiya 1/35 KV II.	Foliage on the track guards was 'borrowed' from a KV I picture.	Kit tracks not great - tried the mud treatment.	Winter camo worked quite nicely.	Constructed in 2001.

1/72 T34 1942 model. ESCI model constructed in 2013. This model is rather poorly engineered. I was force to cut off the road wheel arms and use wire to connect the roadwheels - after first plugging the holes in the hull sides - in order for the tracks to fit the wheels.
I finally have an example of box fuel tanks.	Looks a bit thick and crude - Ooooh! Just like a real T34!

1/76 T34_76 1941 model.
T34_76 1941 model, from the Airfix kit.	Airfix tracks still very thick.	New boxes and log.	Track detail looks good in this view. Headlights need some attention!	Under construction showing the changes that are neccesary from the 1942 model depicted by Airfix.

1/35 T34/76 Stalingrad - Maquette
1/35 T34/76 Stalingrad.	OOB quick build	Rough and ready - like a T34...	Kit a bit rough - but have you seen a REAL T34? If not go do it!

1/76 T34/76 1943 model
T34/76 1943 model with the hexagonal turret.	This is a late version with raised cupola on the turret.	A conversion from the Airfix kit, in whitewash snow camouflage.	This is an old model that has just undergone renovation including replacing the wheels and tracks which were badly damaged by track melt.	I also replaced the main gun as part of the renovation as the kit part was under-sized.	This became apparent as I was building the T34_76 1941 model.	Bad track melt! Approximate year of construction: 1968.

1/35 T34/76 1943
Zvezda infantry	Tamiya 1/35 early T34/76 1943 model	Troops have a Maxim.	Supporting Russian infantry	Early version with the twin round "Mickey Mouse" hatches

Zvezda infantry	Zvezda infantry	Trying to get arty now.	Early version with box-like fuel containers on the rear.

1/76 T34 85
To combat the panzerfaust weapons, no external fuel tanks are carried and the turret and hull have welded on bed frames.	This is based on a vehicle pictured in Berlin. (T34 In Action, Profile Publications)	Model Airfix, Figures AB. Bed frames and patch of Berlin street by me! 2003.

1/76 SU85
This is a conversion I did years ago on an Airfix T34, from an Airfix magazine article right when the model was first released.	This vehicle has been restored using a new kit since the old was suffering from severe track-melt.	Approximate year of construction: 1967. Restored 2003.

1/76 T48
Airfix M3 converted to the T48 armed with 57 mm M1 gun. 1968.	This conversion was also detailed in Airfix magazine.	This was supplied by lead-lease and used mainly used by the Soviets.