Introduction

SKP Model are at it again and have released a new product into their popular Lenses and Taillights product line. This time around it is Russian armour that gets the SKP Model treatment, more specifically the Trumpeter offering of the BMP-3.

Review

This latest release is as most have come to expect from SKP Model, a high quality product and a realistic price. In the now typical packaging in this line from SKP Model, the lenses and taillights are supplied on a single fret of photo etch inside a Ziploc bag, the bag is in turn stapled and labelled to a hanging card. On the card are the product details such as code, name and scale.

In this set SKP Model has supplied the very small lights that the Russians like to place on their vehicles, green for the front and red for the rear. Also included is the half moon clear lens which is supplied with a photo etched cover for added accuracy, as expected SKP Model has some nice detail behind the clear lens. Now for the black lights, these have confused me a little as I know that one of the smaller lenses is for the front headlight and the larger for light mounted on the turret; this one is also supplied with a photo etched ring to go around it and which has very nice subtle bolt/screw details. This leaves the set with another of the smaller round black lenses and I am at a loss, unless on some versions there are two of these lights mounted on the front of the vehicle.

Conclusion

There is no way I can think of where a modeller can paint the lights on their BMP-3 model that would even come close to matching the detail in this product. I rate these sets generally very highly for two reasons which are price and realism. The cost of this set of lenses and taillights is minimal when compared to the cost of the model, and these can really lift the finished look of your model. Do yourself a favour and buy a set, your BMP-3 will thank you.