Hi Folks,

I keep hearing bad things about these kits but what exactly is wrong with them? I know some small details are either missing or inaccurate but is there some major problem with them?

Thanks,
Andy

Though I have no experience with them myself, I have heard that the pieces fit together poorly. The Zvezda BTR-80A is a rebox of Dragon's kit and has little fitment issues. I can not vouche from experience, just what I have heard.

Perhaps of interest: https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/171317&page=1

Cheers,
/E

Very interesting project and I'd like to follow if you keep posting.
Were BTR-80's around in the cold war era? Would like to have one in a Berlin Wall diorama scene if that is possible. Might have a BTR70 in the stash if this works better?
Cheers and all the best!
Rick

I have recently finished the BTR80A , and did the BTR70 a while back. the major issues are: 1- toylike hatches intended to open/close, oversized and inacurate, 2- "steerable" front axles, also ovesized and inacuate, but mostly hidden by the wheels, 3- fit issue where upper,lower,and rear hull go together. Also, with the older kits yo have the vinyl wheel issues. All that said, with some BMS you can get something that looks a lot like a BTR right out of the box - and with a set of aftermarket wheels an some scratchwork on the hatch hinges, they will look very good - but not a 100 percent accuarte contest winner, which is what everybody seems to want nowadays.

Above all, building should be fun.

Thanks for all the replies guys. I was aware of the crappy detailing such as the "working" hinges and the vinyl tyres. Having noticed a replacement rear in the Hobby Planet resin set I looked at some plans and a few photos and it seems that the angles at the lower rear are somewhat off on the kit so will need worked on.

Thanks again,
Andy

And it would seem that the lower hull areas behind the wheels are well off too!!! Looks like it would be a lot of work to correct

Andy

Andy, all the angles and proportions are off in one way or another. At this point, we have to live with it. Trumpeter has announced they are going to bring a kit of the BTR-80 out sometime, but no date yet. OOB the kit is ok, meaning that it will pass muster with 99% of the population. But a truly avid and informed BTR-80 nut will see all the issues of the kit OOB. Working on the known problems (hinges, wheels, etc...) will help.

Not sure if the Hobby Planet kit is much better than the DML kit as I heard that it was based on the Zvezda boxing...but I do not have a kit to look at either. Anyone?

From what I can see the PlanetHobby rear does look more accurate, it's hard to tell when looking at pics. Given that Zvezda and DML kits are the same it should fit either. I think I may try scratchbuilding new rear end though and maybe make lower hull a bit more accurate as a start. Lord knows when new Trumpy kit will come out, look how long we had to wait for BMP-3 after it was first announced.

Thanks,
Andy

Andy
does that mean your gonna build something ?

Once I've finished painting Bf109 for Airfix comp and painted JSII and Pak 43/44.

Hi andy

if you're going to build the T80, probably you could interesting this:

http://dishmodels.ru/wshow.htm?p=1774

Or perhaps you've already downloaded

Cheers

What does the T80 have to do with the BTR80?

Tony, Andy I'm sorry. That's a sad evidence that I've been getting older!!

In the tread title I haven't noticed the B and the R, i read just the T and the 80