Wikipedia says that by 1962, the Soviet military had BRDM-2 scout cars (as opposed to BRDM-1) in service. Wikipedia not always being right, I wanted to make sure.

Also, I confess I want to build the smallest and least complicated vehicle for my diorama that are available, seeing that it would contain several vehicles.

According to the Russian Wikipedia article (or this one ), production of the BRDM-2 started in 1963....

H.P.

You can never be sure. Thanks!

The BRDM-2 (Боевая Разведывательная Дозорная Машина-2) was accepted into Soviet service and began production in 1962. The vehicle itself is said to have entered service in either 1962 or 1963 depending on source. So far as I know there is no definitive answer to its actual introduction date, it could have been late 1962 or early 1963.

They still in use in any form currently, variants included? Russian use?

In 2010 Russia has over 2000 examples of BRDM-2 of different versions:
- many of them were/are in use with large and special units of civil Police.
- some vehicles are privately owned. Some of these vehicles were modified in 4x4 "buses", some - into hot-rods, some - in luxury vehicles for hunting/fishing "safaris", etc., etc.
- some were transferred to fireguard units.
- some are in Civil Defence units.
- some were modified for civil use - by geologists, foresters, rescuers, etc.
- some were/are used as platforms for different experimental weapon systems/engines/vehicle's parts.

As to army BRDMs - they are used mainly as training vehicles, as auxiliary vehicles, or are in reserve/on storage.

And, of course, many - many BRDMs are in use in many countries of the World until Today. Some from those countries have their own programs of modification/modernization of those vehicles, and even programs of partial rebuild of them to achieve modern weapon standards.

The BRDM-2 was ordered for service in April (ministry council) and May (SecDef) 1962. Production started 1965 and lasted until 1989. The delay was due to the problems with the introduction of the turret (same model as for BTR-60).
Source: the russian "Encyclopedia of (homemade) armour", Part 3: 1948-1966, p. 602.

Regards!