Automated, High Energy, Air Defense. (AHEAD)

Yeah, well, its Sci Fi, inspired by the new TAKOM kits of Russian Ship Defense Systems. I had always wanted to design Gun Towers, and this put me in the mind set.

Parts is Parts. Its all on here.  Everything from road wheels to sprue.  Not even sure where I got the base gun mounting from. Everyone will have fun picking out the parts at the next meeting. 

I did add a generic 1/48 scale figure for scaling effect.

You probably recognize the  T-34 ?? Tank Turrets. Somehow I had a bunch of these. I guess I will need to do some more of these turrets.

Vince B.  1-15-20.

Polish PL-01 Light Tank

This is the Takom model of the PL-01 light tank proposed by the Polish army in 2013. It is based on the Swedish CV90120-T. The project never got past the concept stage. The model is painted with acrylics and lightly weathered with oils & acrylics.

It assembles relatively easily except I had to putty much of the mating edges of the two turret halves. The tracks are length and link.

The kit instructions show two paint options, a prototype in solid grey or a deployed version in standard NATO camoflage. Neither really appealed to me, so I did my own scheme (it's all conceptual, right?) of black tiger stripes over grey.

The Polish flags on the model are upside down. Arg! That would make it, I believe, Indonesian. I have since corrected the flags on the model.

SADF G6 Rhino

Finally, I'm getting these posted to the blog. These are photos of the Takom G6 Rhino as used by the South African Defense Forces. It is a self-propelled mine-protected 155mm howtizer. The kit is very nice and goes together well. Roof top stowage from Value Gear and my parts box was added. Paint is acrylic with oil washes and then a light dusting of actual earth.

M551 Sheridan

This is the old Academy kit. I really liked the details. It all fit together great. I only had one issue, which I should have noticed earlier.  The small front Mud Flaps can rub the tracks. The angle needs to be adjusted prior to gluing in place. Or you can just tear them off like I did.


I added a lot of stowage, resin and plastic components. I did substitute the Tamiya Length and link tracks for the rubber band type. These fit perfectly on the Academy sprockets.

I used Humbrol enamels and weathered with oils. The jungle mud was created with washes tinted with Mig powders. Overall was dullcoated and drybrushed.

Vince B 1-9-20

M60-A2 Starship

As with all Dragon kits, this one was a pain in the fidley bits. The most difficult area was the assembly of the turret basket with all of the PHOTO ETCH screens which had to be bent to fit the various compartments.

I didnt find a lot of good reference photos to help with details.  I did have to add a lot of individual stowage items, resin and plastic.

 The fun part as always is the weathering. Keeping in mind that much of the mud and muck in the jungle was a reddish clay, hard to distinguish from rust. I used oil washes with Mig powders for the various layers of mud on the lower hull and running gear.

I am satisfied with the overall result of the build which I started 3 years ago.

Vince B 1-8-20

Israeli AMX-13

This is the old Tamiya kit. As usual the fit was great. Since it was intended to be the French version of the AMX, I needed to make some minor adjustments for the Israeli version.

Through its use by Israel, modifications were varied. The addition of the 30 cal mounted on the turret was one feature.

 Of course I needed to use other decals from various bits I had. Stowage was pretty generic and I threw in some items with tarps and ropes.

I painted with Humbrol enamels and weathered with oils. I applied chipping of the paint with a piece scrub pad and tweezers.

Vince B. 1-6-20