Russian Airborne ASU-85

[DennisM]

Here is the first post of this build from the other forum.

I am back from a very long break and none of my old kits interested me at the moment so I started a new one. I had a Trumpeter ASU-85 laying around and it looked like a relatively quick and simple build with a monochrome paint job. Not sure if it belongs in the T-series since it is not a T but was of that era. Please move it if it is the wrong sub-forum.

Anyway here are a couple of quick pics from the beginning of the build. Fit is excellent btw.

Box top



The lower hull with running gear which went together in about an hour unlike the infamous Panzer IV.



Couldn't help but try the upper hull out too.

[DennisM]

I really like these newer Trumpeter kits. The part count and detail are both reasonable for the casual modeler like myself. But I scratch my head with their photo-etch. There are very few PE parts in this kit and the one below is both difficult and in my view totally unnecessary. Plastic would have done just fine especially with the screen over it.



I had to solder it together and it came out like I also used a hammer and possibly a hatchet. It will look fine once I put the screen over it. The picture is also REALLY close and shows all of the flaws.




I also noticed that I glued one of the fuel drum brackets in the wrong place but got it off before it was permanently glued on. WHEW!

[TRM]

Nice bid Dennis, bringing the beast over!! Looking forward to your progress!!

[bullardino]

I really enjoyed Gary's build of this kit, and now I'll follow interested yours. Have you already decided the colour scheme and time frame?

[wbill76]

Nice choice of subject Dennis, looking forward to this one.

[deafpanzer]

Excellent PE work there!!!

[DennisM]

Jul 14, 2014 9:02:12 GMT -5 bullardino said:

I really enjoyed Gary's build of this kit, and now I'll follow interested yours. Have you already decided the colour scheme and time frame?

I was reading some reviews for the kit and while all of the reviews said it was an excellent kit it does have one major flaw. If you want to build a vehicle while in service it needs to have a gun mantlet cover. There are not many pictures of this vehicle in service but all of them do show a mantlet cover. The kit was probably engineered from one of the several vehicles on open air display in Poland and Russia, which do not have mantlet covers.

As far as the color scheme and time frame, I would like to do an in service vehicle.  I just ordered the epoxy putty to do the mantlet cover.  I have never done one so wish me luck.

I am planning something along the lines of this Polish vehicle, only dirtier and with all of the onboard tools and none of the onboard troops. 

[DeafStuG]

Cool.. Nice start..

[wbill76]

The mantlet cover will certainly add to this one...not sure if an AM supplier has one but you could always go the miliput-sculpting route to achieve a similar result?

[bullardino]

Nice choice

I have some pics from the czech invasion in 1968 and they all have the cover.