Greetings! After some digging up from my stash, I’ve selected to build an off-beat subject, the “Type-86A IFV” in Chinese Marines colour scheme. The kit is Trumpeter’s 05555 “BMP-1”, wth the turret I pinched from Hobbyboss 82473 “PLA ZSD90” kit.
A brief background on the Type-86; as many will recognise, the outline resambles the Russian BMP-1, and indeed when NORINCO obtained some samples of the BMP-1 from 3rd party sources, PLA decided that it would build a series of IFV on this in tandem with indigenous APC/IFV already in production.
The Type-86A uses the BMP-1 chasis and the turret has been modified with an unmanned turret with 25mm cannon and 7.62mm co-axial mahince gun, identical to that mounted on the Type-90 IFV. The Type-86 made its mark in the Surovov International Army Games winning trophies in cross-country/shooting/maintenance categories.
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That’s a very interesting and unique vehicle there Eric. Nice build and great job on the camouflage!
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The PLAN have some very interesting vehicles and paint schemes- nice to see this particular example in one such eye catching scheme.
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Ironic, given that camouflage is supposed to be precisely the opposite of eye catching. But it’s a nice looking scheme nonetheless.
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Hi Stewart, this 4-tone camouflage pattern was an experimental scheme used by the PLAN marines during the late 90’s. It was known as the Type-97 standard camouflage pattern, for the naval forces, they got this “Oceanic” colour scheme, that’s supposed to blend in with the waves during beach landings.
However, as you said, it’s a little too eye-catching and so they changed the camouflage pattern in 2007, by introducing the Type-07 standard camouflage scheme, where all the patterns are changed to “Digital” styles, and 3 colours camouflage.
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That is interesting info about the paint schemes- where did you learn about those?
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Hey Karl, I served during my younger days, so I know my militaria well.
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