Soviet armor finished at last

[reserve]

Thanks, guys

Poor Bambi indeed, but he made the mistake of being born tasty.
Since the US is suffering form a lack of rain this year I expect to see food prices, especially beef, go thru the roof. Therefore I intend to acquire as many Montana B tags (antlerless mule deer or whitetail) as I can so I will not have to pay $10 a pound for hamburger in the near future. I think the freezer will hold about five eating size critters...

I've heard the Trrumpy T-64 is now a reality, in the plastic altho I've not seem any advertised yet. This will sure make things easier. Will be back on this project, thanks again for all your kind comments and support.

Regards,
Mark

[wbill76]

Nothing like a freezer-full of venison to keep you through the winter! You're right about food prices...going to be interesting to see what things are like for the next few months. At first there's going to be a glut on the market as many livestock operations are seeking to slaughter early to avoid high feed costs but that won't last long.

[reserve]

Well, the rifles are zeroed and I am done with the first project of the post apocalyptic group build, so it's time to take this up again. The Tamiya T-72M1 is up next, and as soon as I get done gabbling here I'm off to my hole to start it. Will post as soon as there's something to show.

Regards,
Mark

[reserve]

OK, so the Tamiya T-72, typical Tamiya, nice assembly, fits very well, but lacking in some details.



The turret face is bare and the molded conduit is somewhat dismal, so







The turret halves were a bit gappy so the putty came out, nothing serious. A nice kit but needs some extra fiddling.

Regards,
Mark

[multicam]

Cool additions, Mark. Looking forward to this:)

[wbill76]

Nice job on the replacement conduit!

[bbd468]

Great start Mark! Looking forward to this build - its my favorite Cold war/ modern Soviet T-series tank.

Gary

[reserve]

Thanks, guys

Have been at it as time allows and have progressed accordingly





And, base coat on. It's darker and greener than it looks in this particular light.







I thought the smoke discharger wiring was going to be an awful job but, while a bit tedious, was not so bad. I also wanted this one to have a bit more of a green cast than olive, so we'll see how this particular experiment pans out shortly.

Regards,
Mark

[wbill76]

Wiring looks good after paint, very nice!

[reserve]

Thanks

Bill-I seem to be able to hide alot of stuff with paint. If I do such a thing again I will probably try to use brass tubing with a bender as I am not completely happy with the way the wire ended up laying. I'll still take it, however.

Nemo-It could be the lack of a warm spot for the T-72 stems from the way they come apart when hit by a depleted uranium round. Not the best combat record, all those pictures from Desert Storm etc. Still, they did alright when crewed professionaly and not fighting things thirty years ahead of them. I've always liked the look of them, wide, squat, and mean with that great long 125. Besides, I need one for the complete project anyway.

Hobgrot-I also am waiting for the T-64 to appear, haven't seen any advertised as of yet. Probably be awhile.

Regards,
Mark

[reserve]

T-72 done.









Not sure what to start next. I've both the Zvezda T-80BV and T-90. I've heard so many bad things about the 80 that I may go out of sequence (again) in order to do further research on the vehicle. Supposedly the 90 is not correct either but there comes a time when I should stop whining and start building, may not have much more time. If Obama gets back in for another four years modeling may be outlawed as a sedintary activity that is making me too fat.

Regards,
Mark

[WigWag Workshop]

Great looking builds! I plan on starting my own collection of Soviet armor. Your work is truly inspirational. I am thinking about starting with the T-62, but will have to see what the LHS has in stock.

-Steven

[reserve]

Thank you both for the kind comments, gentlemen

Steve-The Trumpy T-62 was a fun and fairly easy build, but ah, the Tamiya T-55...I may have to build another just for the jazz. Both kits are first rate, in any case.

Nemo-A rivet counter I am not for sure, that sort of behavior annoys me nigh to apoplexy (why I like it so much here). I'm guessing the Zvezda T-80 is wrong enough in at least one place that if I built it without modification it would bug me every time I looked at it.

That being said I've started on the Zvezda T-90. Has a very Dragonish feel to it, softer light grey plastic with a zillion tiny little parts. It requires one to study the instruction sheet very carefully, a sheet which I may add is, while complex, not indecipherable. Have to take some pictures for y'all before I hack it up too much.

Regards,
Mark

[deafpanzer]

Stunning work!!! I know very little about post WWII soviet armor but I am always learning especially from you guys. Dig your wiring work on the turret. This is one funny looking armor... huge hull but little turret.

[reserve]

Thanks, Andy, they are a departure, are they not?

The T-90



Lotsa parts



Teeny parts







Pretty intricate, it's slowing me down. Will be back for more if I'm alive...

Regards,
Mark

[wbill76]

Nice job on the latest assembly line installment Mark!

[reserve]

Thanks, Bill

Nemo-You're right, it should have. You'll like this one when ya get around to it.

Preview, preview...believe it or not, the turret is not yet complete







Sure did not expect something of this level from Zvezda, I'm most favorably impressed.

Regards,
Mark

[TRM]

Looking snazzy Mark!!! I really dig the turrets one this Bad A$$!!!

[406 Silverado]

oh man that looks great. She just cries out to be weathered. Looking forward to the painting and weathering.

[bbd468]

Great job on the T-72 Mark! The T-90 is crazy cool man! Im watchin' this close as ill be building the same kit soon. Great build.

Gary

[wbill76]

Now that's what I call some detailed work on that turret! The Eastern European kit makers have upped their game recently and it shows.

[Deleted]

Marc,I love the finish on the T72 ;D....and the T90 is looking good too.I've seen a couple of these built,and they do look the business.In fact,Mac MacConnell did one on the forum,but I can't find the link...

[reserve]

T-Thanks, so far it's the kit, not me.

Rob-I may have to carry this one farther in the weathering department to accent all the fine molding present.

Gary-Thanks, and note that many of the small parts on the T-90 have half round locator pins that seem to be a press fit. Be prepared for this and know that the parts will go together without cutting the pins off.

Bill-This time, anyway, Zvezda rules it seems.

Chris-Thank you, sir.

Nemo-Sure hope so, it'll be nice to have Dragon level detail in Soviet armor kits.

Other than a bit of warpage in the upper hull, this one has been seamless in assembly. Ready for paint





And base coat on. I seem to be repeating myself in this thread.






Bleeding MM green paint went on glossy again. Also, Zvezda did not mold a rim edge on the roadwheels



Perhaps that's an accurate feature of the vehicle, perhaps not. More research I guess. Thanks for tuning in, will be at it again when the paint's no longer tacky.

Regards,
Mark

[406 Silverado]

I wouldn't worry to much about the research as long as your enjoying the build. There will be enough kits that you'll want or need to research. Models like this are great to practice different techniques. A suggestion if I may. On the this 90, maybe add a bit more weathering, some dusting will bring out more of the details and give her some dimension.

[deafpanzer]

Gosh I have to say this is the best looking Soviet armor so far... great details on the turret. Still following this and learning of course.

[wbill76]

Nice to the the paint on, moving right along with it...so much detail...you could have a field day with some pin washes and such to really make it pop while still retaining the "factory fresh" lineup idea. Looking forward to the next round!

[bbd468]

Shes lookin' great Mark!!! Killer tank, tha T-90.

Thanks for the heads up on the parts fit.

Gary

[reserve]

Thanks, guys

I'll be sure to pin wash and weather this one a bit more heavily, it'd almost be a crime not to.

Overall drybrushed with a lighter shade of basecoat



And then a light grey drybrush



Tried to keep it subtle, light grey's a dangerous color to work with on green as it's very easy to overdo. Now to let dry and seal up, then on to filter and pin wash.

Gary I forgot to mention that Zvezda bungled the main gun barrel indexing, it comes up about 30 degrees off. I solved this by filing the flat on the bottom of the insert which goes into the mantlet until it rotated up to the correct position. It's a tight fit.

Regards,
Markl

[wing_nut]

That Soviet stuff does just bristle with stuff doesn't it? Nice work.

[wbill76]

That just looks too cool with paint on Mark! I think you hit it just right with the dry-brush.