Hello everyone, I'm going to be starting a new side project for a buddy of mine along side my T-62. I'm trying to find out any info on SP Design kit as I can't find any reviews of it. Any casting problems, accuracy, fit issues and the works.


Also I can't seem to find much info on the real vehicle other than it's made in the ukrain for UAE and it's a whole new design and not an upgraded BTR-80. I only found a few photos of the real thing so far and like to know who is using the vehicle at this time. Any help will be greatful.
Chris

Hiya Chris,

I run SAAMMODELS which makes me the "importer" of the SP Designs kits to N.America. So I sell them to Historica...

As for issues...well, here is something I wrote on another website about SP Designs:

As for Eastern European standards...well, they have their hearts in the right place, but aside from a few manufacturers, they have not quite yet wrapped their heads around precision models. They are coming from the point of view of mass-produced "recognition" models and if you wanted better, you scratchbuilt the details you wanted. Sergej (SP Designs) is mainly producing for modelers in EE, and apparently they still want something along the lines of what he is making now...they don't think a lot bigger. I see things changing, but it is fighting a mindset more than fighting "laziness" or "put out a quick kit" syndrome.

The T-80U for example...Sergej did not believe me that people would want or pay for a hollow turret with partial interior. It took forever to get him to move in that direction, but now that he is...it is fabulous, and he keeps tweaking things to make it better. Now I am working on convincing him that a COMPLETE T-80 kit would be even better, and again, it is "moving mountains".

As for things being square, parallel, and level...oh the talks I have had with him about that. Again, it is being changed at a slow pace. There seems to be a institutional disbelief that modelers care about that sort of thing...I think it reflects where modeling is coming from in EE, sort of like taking a builder from the 50's and warping them into the modern age!

As for this kit, their may be some air bubbles, especially near the pour spout. The Main gun will take a bit or work to get it fully detailed (it is a rather spindly and complex piece in real life too). You will need to do some smaller detailing, like adding power cords.

Otherwise it is a pretty nice kit to build, and rather unique. I saw a very nicely built up one at AMPS Nationals this year.

Thanks Jacques, I just can't seem to find much about this kit or the vehicle other than from your website and historica. I did manage to order the kit from historica, but I haven't heard anything from them yet about the order and I usually don't have any problems with them. If I don't hear anything soon I will order from you instead. I figure this would be a fun a simple project for a friend of mine who loves weird obscure russian made vehicles. I just got the BTR-80 in today and just waiting for the converision to come in, but thanks for your input.
Chris

No problem. And going through Historica is fien as well...it is not a competition.

If you have any questions about the build, drop them here and I will see what I can do. What are you looking for specifically?

Hi
According to some info I've found here, some BTR-3Us have been transferred to Myanmar(Burma) and Azerbaijan.

Frenchy

Hey Jacques, I was more curious about the fit of the upper and lower hull and in the case of Jon's T-80 were there is a pretty nasty gap between the two halves. I also was wondering if I can build the lower hull without having BTR-3U kit here yet. I can at least start it and waiting for it to arrive.

Thanks Frenchy, I guess there's just not much aviable on this vehicle at the moment. I'm just trying to figure out which country is using it, how to paint it, and what marking if any are used. But I'm thinking about doing the Iraqi version as the markings would be easy to do even though the government hasn't receive any of them yet.
Chris

You should be able to drop the top hull on the completed bottom hull. The side egress doors may have a trick. I will take a look and post what I find.

Thanks Jacques for your help. My shiped just left friday and should be here maybe monday or tuesday, so you don't need to check out the hull fit. I do appriecate your help. By the way your website says you carry masterclub tracks, do you happen to have any in stock and is your list of stock items current? I'm interested in getting the t-80ue kit.
Chris

I just updated the SAAMMODELS webpage and yes I should have all the Master Club tracks in stock right now. Not sure if I will be keeping up with them, they sell pretty slow.

As for the BTR-3U, I still plan to check it out.

Thanks Jacques for your help. Hopefully my BTR-3 will be here tomorrow and I can start work on it. I will be checking out your website and dropping you an email on some stuff I would like to order. I do how ever have one question about the BTR-3 kit from SP, is it accurate? You mentioned on your website about some design changes in the kit and a few detail enhancements. Just curious as I can't find a whole lot of info one the real vehicle. I plan to build it mostly straight from the box with a few enhancements of my own but don't want to go hog wild like I am on my T-62.
Chris