Good Day fellas! Again after a brief absence from the site, would like to share my latest output, the ZSU-23-4M from Dragon models #3518 (Shanghai).
Been through some family issues lately and not having access to my current inventory, I had to build kits from old stash, so this box I dug out is in fairly good state albeit minus the instruction sheet and decals, probably why it was on discount. (Can’t exactly remember when it was purchased, but it must have been over 20+ years ago from Universal Models Co., on Waterloo Road in Kowloon, at a discounted price of HKD$80.00)
Back on the model building, as the kit is manufactured by Dragon Models (Shanghai), I think it’s probably amongst the first batch of kits they transferred the molds to Shanghai Dragon, the plastic was rather soft and a little difficult to bond for parts such as track links, but otherwise it’s pretty much standard for Dragon kits of that era. I managed to download the instruction sheet onto my cellphone and began with the chassis and wheels and tracks, moving onto the hull/turret.
Painting was airbrushed with Tamiya acrylics, I used XF-88 Dark Yellow 2 to make an Iraqi “Shilka”. Once complete, I tried out adding some details, and “weathering“ which I always dreaded, I hand brushed some rust marks and swabbed it with cotton bud to simulate the effect.
As no decals were present, I will try and pilfer some Iraqi army decals from other kits, Type-69II comes to mind, so once I can get my hands on them I’ll apply decals and markings.
