Trumpeter BTR-50 PK

[Elm City Hobbies]

OK....well while I wait the glue to set on a few pieces on the Ozelot and get it ready to finally paint, I thought I would throw this into the mix and get it started.




Very simple little kit, but looking for something different other than the generic Soviet markings. Anyone has any pictures of one with a funky camo or something, let me know.

Do have a picture of an Iraqi one that has seen better days, if I don't find anything else, I may go that direction.

 

[spud]

Oh neat Scott, cant help with the camo but a battered one sound cool

 

[ScaleModelMadman]

teh camo pics

;D

 

[spud]

The last one gets my vote

 

[geegad]

Oh yes the last one im with spud

 

[ahmed malik]

i want that last one ;D

 

[Elm City Hobbies]

Thanks for the camo Ken!

OK....well....I must say, this kit is a quick build, usually don't see that in a Trumpeter kit, especially their armor kits, but this one is 99.9% built.

Only thing left are the PE cages to go over the headlights, which Trumpeter is nice enough to give you a plastic forming block for them on the sprues....nice touch Trumpeter!!

Small parts count in this kit, only 210 parts, but it also has rubberband tracks (not common with Trumpeter tracked armor kits).

I do have a set of their new workable PT-76 tracks (which the BTR-50 is based on), on order, so may use those on it instead of the rubber band ones....or I may save them for my SA-6 vehicle (again, based on the PT-76 chassis).

Kit is much bigger than I thought it would be, easily the size of a T-62 or other similar tank.

Few things about the kit I would have liked to see them have done.....

#1....and interior. With 3 giant hatches that open up into the interior (which I glued shut), it just begs to have an interior to show off.

#2 Would be nice to have a choice as to how to attach the trim vane on the front. With this kit, there is only the stowed option, which kinda boggles my mind since they molded in the detail on the bottom side of the trim vane. I see in their new BRDM 2 kit that just came out, that the option is there to have the trim vane stowed or deployed

Other than that, just a few items that would have been nice. An included Dshk MG for the roof as seen on alot of these vehicles (mind you there are alot that don't have them as well...but would have been nice to give the modeler the option). There are a few view ports in the driver's station no backing, so they are basically holes into the interior of the vehicle. I might try to fill them in with a clear silicon or something to make them look like glass. Should have probably thought of that before I glued the upper and lower halves together...but oh well.

All in all...the kit went together with no problems, and a very quick build...I started this last Saturday when I posted it initially and finished it as you see it here last night.

 

[spud]

wow looks really cool, and Kinda like an Su tank killer

 

[Elm City Hobbies]

Yeah, now that you say that....does kind have that look to it....just with no gun! LOL Not going to kill much that way.

 

[spud]

lol no.. Have you decided on a camo for it?

 

[geegad]

Real nice clean build never seen one of these so look forward to seein a coming on

 

[Elm City Hobbies]

lol no.. Have you decided on a camo for it?

I haven't yet....was thinking a badly worn Iraqi version, something like this:

Would look cool, but that one being I think an abandoned vehicle, I probably wouldn't go that beat up, and I would have to find some way to make the flag on it (least I think that is an Iraqi flag).

Did find this one....but don't know who's it is

Then there is this....

Or this one from the Croation army

Other alternative is Russian green but mud the crap out of it.

 

[spud]

i like the worn Iraqi one ;D

 

[Elm City Hobbies]

Yeah, that is what I am leaning towards as well....

The flag however isn't Iraq, that apparently is Yemen. Most of those flags look the same anyway, Iraq, Syria, Egypt and Yemen all have the same design and colors, only difference is what is on the white band.

Iraq was 3 green stars (has since changed), Syria 2 stars, Egypt is some symbol, and Yemen is nothing. Either way....if I can get the flag on there, I can get the stars on as well...

 

[Beobachtungsbereich]

Interesting build. I haven't seen too many BTR 50s built.

I like the idea of an Iraqi theme as well.

 

[Elm City Hobbies]

MADNESS!!! Madness I tell you.


OK, here is what is madness. Wanted to give a try with one of the new sets of tracks from Trumpeter. So what better subject than the BTR-50...uses the same tracks that is on the PT-76, and Trumpeter just released a PT-76/BTR-50 set of tracks.

All plastic, snap together, workable links.



This is the bag of tracks....180 links



90 of these sprues, each track link has 4 connection points that need to be cut off, and then sanded/scraped away.



And this is what 180 links look like cut off the sprues



Cleaned up 5 links and snapped them together. Great detail. Some of the connections are a little weak, so I am sure some of the links will have to be glued in the end.



Now....since there are 180 links, then there is:



360 guide horns...2 for each track link that have to be cut off and glued to the links.


Like I said....MADNESS! ;D ;D ;D

 

[spud]

Sod that!!! ild opt for some friuls if they make a set

 

[geegad]

i would agree with spud thats a lot of hard work for aftermarket goodies sorry to be so crass but how much did they cost you bud....?????

 

[Elm City Hobbies]

They aren't that bad, just lots of parts....lol...I think the tracks have about 4X the number of parts that the rest of the kit has.

These new tracks from Trumpeter are very much like ModelKasten tracks, and I have built a couple of those.

Fruili does make a set for the ZSU23/4 however I am not sure if they are actually the same track or not....besides which, there is probably as much work to be done on a set of Fruilis as there are on these, and these were about half the price.

They are retailing about $25-$27, where the Fruilis are around $40....ok, not quite half...but still much cheaper, of course my cost on them aren't quite that much, and I wanted to give them a try to see how good they were, considering Trumpeter is planning many more sets to be released in the future, and the tracks that come with the kit, while not bad for rubberband tracks, I have seen worse, but I have seen much better.

 

[geegad]

your right them rubber tracks stink...i do find paying 40 for tracks a little on the pricey side especially when the kits can cost 40-50 quid... look forward to seein them done and on the tank