Does anybody know of any differences between the Soviet and Syrian BRDM-2s? I recently saw one on the news, from the Middle East. Paint job is simple; gloss black. And, it has no markings, insignia or otherwise.

I've no idea what modifications, if any, the Syrians have made to their BRDMs. But check this out, a blue camo police BRDM, how cool is that! I'm going to see if I can figure out a way to copy and paste the police logo, or reproduce it somehow, so I can print it onto a white decal sheet.

http://milinme.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/syrian-police-brdm/
http://www.idf-modelling.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=2702
http://www.therevoltingsyrian.com/post/23213504218/weapons-used-on-homs

Matt it's probably SWAT or some sort of counter-terrorism force. They've done the same thing with M113's(for sure) and quite a few other vehicles.

I do like the blue, but the gloss black one just looks mean.
www.Hannants.co.uk has some "police" decals. They are for the 1:35 MH60.

Hi Matt;
The BRDM-2 can be found in many forms Ive seen
them with different Guns in the turret and with the new MA turret. The Zavod has offered it with many different Opthions.
WAS IT THE Older Version with no side doors, also it could be a local modification.

MIKE.

It did not have the side doors. The BRDM-2 early version seems to be a match.

Just watch for the engine deck though- the Trumpy 'Early' version is rare in service these days (I seem to recall reading somewhere it was only ever used in the Warsaw Pact)- most of the ones I've seen in Syria are Late Versions. The 'Early' rear deck appeared as it does in the kit with the four vents at the very back and the angled engine hatches in front. Then the forward hatches were squared off and given vents on the top (this is visible in the Concord book 'Soviet Wheeled Armored Vehicles' on an East German BRDM-2U) and then came the 'Late' (and, it would seem, most common) layout which is the four vents at the rear and then six oval vents/intakes in three rows.

If you look at this Syrian Police BRDM-2 you can see the oval vents on the back leading up toward the turret:



That being said you could probably cover this area up with some stowage, maybe a tyre or something like that.

I would cover it with stowage, but I'm not sure what Syrian security forces would carry. Does the old Dragon/Cyber Hobby kit have the correct vent layout? That would be simple surgery.

The 'late' also had stowage lockers on each side of the rear hull plate.

You can see both the engine deck details and stowage lockers on theis BRDM-2 from Grenada:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BRDM-2_during_Operation_Urgent_Fury_2.JPEG
(click on image for full-size)

The Dragon kit have the late engine deck and two rear plates with and without stowage lockers.

The new chemical detection version seem to include the vents so my guess is that a kit of a plain 'late' version will show up sooner or later.

Cheers,
/E

I can block off the stowage lockers with styrene sheet.

It being a police vehicle, just strap a few Crispy Creme boxes over the slots

did the police version, also struggling with the language and how it's written,


greetz