here is the most demanding project I will build this year. I have already built a VBCI with a nearly full scratch interior. So I needed, I just wanted in fact, the command version. The conversion by KMT is long out of production however I managed to grab one from a fellow modeler.
The original intent was to build it with the interior like the VBCI. Unfortunately the conversion is not designed to have the rear doors open and I don’t feel brave enough to open the resin rear plate. However I will show the maximum through the open roof hatches.
Before starting the build, I have to fix the main Heller flaws that is the front plate wrong design, some details omission and ill-represented shock absorbers sleeves.
I started with the front by cutting the lower part. Heller represented it too thick which is a mistake. The part was thinned from inside.
The “wings” should not have a 90° angle. So I added a piece of styrene and created the correct oblique shape. The boltheads were moved to the exterior and the original panel line has been filled and a new one engraved at the right place.
Then I prepared the KMT parts for the application of the antislip coating. The coating will be made from putty diluted with Tamiya extra thin glue and tapped with an old toothbrush.
Then I glued the sides to the hull and began working on the inside. The RHS has some details molded on that must be deleted. And both sides have a recess to be filled.
The preparation step for the interior is continuing. The engine wall which is wrong in the VBCI kit does not match the VPC variant. So I removed most of the details molded on. Nearly all the others will be modified. The turret wall needed to be removed too.
The vehicle floor is not correct either even for the VBCI. I cut it and only kept the front part because I wanted the notches to position the engine wall correctly. The fictitious seat supports are removed. The rear part is simply replaced by a large rectangle of plastic card.
Before starting the detailing of the interior, I had to tackle the shock absorbers. Heller molded them with a huge hole facing the hull sides. The four at the first front axle and the rear most axle really need to be fixed. Then the plastic covers need to have their smooth look removed.
I began by what I think is the most difficult i.e. the commander and the drivers seats. Heller rendition is nothing close to the actual ones. You can use them only if you put crew figures seated.
So going the old way with styrene strips and rods and the most important the eyeball Mk1, here is what I finally made after two afternoons at the workbench. Not perfect but the seats will do the trick considering what you will see through the roof hatches.
On the first picture, the commander seat is on the left. It has a foot-rest unlike the driver one for obvious reasons. The three following pictures show the commander seat.
Thank you Matthew, it’s a lesson of patience but with the right documentation you can reach a nice result.
Today I have started to tackle the engine wall. The first issue is that Heller molded the IFV variant while the Command variant is quite different at the commander station. The second issue is that Heller got nearly the whole thing wrong with wrong dimensions, wrong location and poor details.
I cut off nearly all the molded details (and of course the turret wall) and filled the extinguishers positioning slots. Then I made new instruments, put them at the right place and glued the extinguishers at the right place as well. I still miss one control box and the gunner control screen which I don’t know how it is fixed to the engine wall (or the roof).
My wife once visited my bench and asked," Why do you spend so much effort on details nobody can see?" I thought for a moment and replied, “For the same reason that you women wear sexy lingerie under a business suit. I know it’s there and it makes me feel good!”
The 4 rear compartment seats are redone. Heller got them very simplified and wrong. With plastic card I modified the backrest, added the stowage bag under the seat and made the fixings.
