I know exactly how it feels. Workable tracks can be a PITA sometimes. I’m sticking almost exclusively with metal tracks. THere are very nice kits out there; sadly, the “Achilles Heel” of these great kits, is the tracks sometimes… With some exceptions.
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I know how you feel! I’m building the Magic Factory M10 Booker and it has 9 parts per link!
I took one good long look at those and decided I wasn’t doing that, ever, no matter what it cost to replace them. I bought a great set of 3D printed track from Jacques DuQuette for less than $30. These over-engineered indy links are just too much.
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Nice work, I’ve been wanting to add the MTLB to my collection , but Trumpeters insane over engineering of tracks puts me off.
Working on the Trumpeter GT-MU at the moment - a sort of miniature MTLB.
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I built the Skif MTLB and used the Trumpeter tracks. 3 piece per link. Insanity. Turned out “meh”. My figure painting still sucks bawls. But Skif means “Practice Kit” in Russian. PS: generic base, FPO
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Cracking model Joe, cracking.
I have one in the stash, so one day, one day…
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Finally decided on a kit and got a start on it today. Going to go with the tamiya BT-7 and have an idea for a little vignette
Got a start on the first few steps, which builds up the lower hull. This kit is peak tamiya. Engineering is outstanding and the fit has been absolutely perfect so far
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Phew! One side done. On to the other side. After these are fitted with the proper sag; they’ll get blackened, rusted and worn properly.
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Looks good to me , and so do the crew.I’ve been after one of these myself,some mail order shop in Poland seems to knock them out for a good price…if I can find the name.
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Probably this one?
https://www.super-hobby.co.uk/products/MT-LB-Armored-troop-carrier.html
Cheers,
Angel
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A tip of the hat for the stamina to master Trumpy’s MT-LB/Gvozdika 3-piece-per-link tracks!
Cheers,
Angel
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Thanks, yes I think that’s it.
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Calling this one finished.
Now onto build two although I know I get nothing extra for more than one build I just had to. So where I’m at with the BMP-1.
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Nice tanks you have there. Allow me some small constructive nitpicking: The words Nationalen Volksarmee is not correct - it should be Nationale Volksarmee
Best regards
Thomas
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Nice, who are the kits manufacturers? T72 Tamiya possibly? I have 3 old BMP’s somewhere in the shed of shame, I think two are Italeri/ESCI and the 3rd is probably a Zevsda.Never quite got past primer stage ( as is all to often the case😥)
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I’ve put in a order for the AA version, very reasonable pricing (I didn’t want to commit the time to over engineered but excellent Trumpeter offering ,sometimes I just want to add an example of AFV to my collection)
Thanks for the heads up.
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Thank you Thomas, I think unfortunately that was a mistake by the shop I had make the name plates. I only noticed when I put it back on the bench to finish off the weathering with the plate already securely fixed to the base. Unfortunately I’ll have to live with it.
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Thank you Dave, it is indeed the Tamiya kit with a few upgrades, Eduard zoom PE for the engine/transmisson grills, Aber gun barrel, Aber aerial mount, Trumpeter workable tracks and Eureka tow ropes. Still a nice kit with a few tweaks, I do have the Das Werk kit in the stash so once that one hits the bench I’ll be able to compare the two.
The BMP-1 is from Trumpeter, it’s missing the upper central fuel filler, something Trumpeter missed. My scratch skills are not good enough to make the filler and guard as I find it hard to hold things that small any more due to lack of feeling in my finger tips (diabetes).
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What would be specific for a NVA BMP-1. I built a Polish version, which barely has differences, apart from the discs.
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It’s somewhat ironic that kits have increased the amount of ridiculously tiny parts and fiddly minute photo etch as my eyesight and fingers find it harder to cope.
I can only work on the Trumpeter GT-MU during daylight hours even the suspension is small and spindly .
Luckily I only build for pleasure rather than competitions/ shows so all is not lost.
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