First, here is the link to the full set of photo's:
http://groups.msn.com/Armorama/jacquespics.msnw?Page=3
Now, before anything else, I want to thank everyone on this site for helping to push me to finish up these kits and get them presentable. Without the inspiration of the campaign, I NEVER would have gotten back to these kits. A hearty thanks also goes out to Gennady Beregovoy and Guntruck for their enthusiasm and encouragement. Here goes:
I have finished the reinforcements for the "red" side. These are all kits started before the campaign, most more than 2 years ago. They never reached the finished stage, and were set aside for various reasons. 3 were stripped of paint and partially dissassembled and then rebuilt during this campaign. Notes follow each pic.
First up is my build of the DML ZSU-23-4M, Out of the box. This kit was just continued upon from where I left it. I gave it the more modern 3 tone cammo. It is a nice kit to build, no suprises. It needs a "log" inthe back, and the molded on saw is really poor. Here you go Gennady, just the partner for your SA-9 Gaskin!
This is a SP Designs ASU-85 M1970 that I had to strip all of the paint off and remove all the running gear and some detail parts this spring when I screwed up the paint job in aroyal fashion (Hint, do not use acrylic/enamel/acrylic and then put it ANYWHERE near water...the enamel flatcoat did NOT responde well to it.) Anyhow, I rebuilt it just for this contest. I had already added the DML ZSU-23-4 track links to it from some spares, a shovela dn tanker bar from my spares, and I also added a DML DsHK AAMG (the kit had a Zvezda AAMG that was very poor, and of course, the new kits have nice resin DsHK's...) The kit offers no light guards, but I dohave photo's of ASU-85's in field excercises without them, so I did not make any. Standard Testors Dark Green with Polly S Black Green for shadowing and washes and drybrushing for the highlights. It was a challenging, but fun kit.
Another SP Designs kit, this time a conversion for a BTR-80 SSS Satellite Communications vehicle. I do not know when the vehicle went into service, so I am not certain it is appropriate for this campaign, but I thought, what the heck! THe only real problem building the kit was the side middle doors, which had to be rebuilt and was the main reason I never finished the kit years ago. Well, now the kit is done and the master is being reworked to make the side doors a LOT easier to deal with. figures!
Otherwise, a straight conversion for the DML BTR-80, nothing else added. Painted in a solid color Desert color.and the Piece de resistance...
ANOTHER SP Designs Conversion to make a 2S23 NONA SPG. This is one of the earliest conversions, and My kit needed some help. Also, it had been nearly completed about a year and a half ago when I dropped it on the floor and blew out the front end...hence it was set aside for a while.
This kit had been stripped, rebuilt, and repainted. In the past I had added a scratchbuilt Commander's MG, since the kit offered one was poor. It is based on a DML PKM, heavily modified. I also added SP Designs Resin BTR-70/80 wheels, and a MV lens for one of the front lights. Painted in a modern 3 tone cammo.
There it all is. Enjoy and thank again all!
