Hi! This is my first post here, I’ve been working on a diorama idea for this IPMS model show that’s in about two months. I haven’t really fully finished many kits at all (despite having so many ) and I’d like to make my first diorama for this show, it’s got a category focused on the Yom Kippur War. I personally find cold war era Arab-Israeli wars EXTREMELY interesting, so this feels like my once in a lifetime opportunity for participating in a show. My plan for my diorama is to have a scene similar to this photo:
I’m gonna have a Sho’t Kal Alef driving past a destroyed Zil-157 based SA-2 missile carrier, and I’m planning to set it in the late end of the war (like around the western Sinai or in Egypt). I’ve got the Trumpeter SA-2 Guideline Missile on Transport trailer with 2 Eduard photoetch sets for both the truck and trailer. Here’s about all the work I’ve done so far:
I’ve got multiple reference photos for the Zil-157 but I’d like to have it damaged but not entirely burnt out, I’ve bent and damaged the front grills a bit and I’d like to add bullet holes whenever I can.
For the Sho’t Kal, I’ve got this Amusing Hobby kit I’ve been neglecting, It’s not in the best shape but I think I’ll be able to complete it. I’ve got this reference photo that I’d like to base my Sho’t Kal off of in essence, according to gettyimages this photo is based near or during the IDF’s advance into egypt, but I’m not sure if its so trustworthy (I kind of wanna believe it since It’s got the yellow friendly identification tarp on the turret basket).
I’d possibly like to recreate this Sho’t Kal’s mantlet cover, the mg bullet impacts on the mantlet, and the flower painted on the commander’s helmet (I’m still debating this one). I know of about all of the Amusing Hobby Sho’t Kal Alef’s flaws and basics in 1:35 model building, but if anybody could have suggestions on the scene, vehicles, or even tips on working with photoetch or making my first diorama, I’d really appreciate it!
Firstly welcome to the forums, and a very interesting dio … and very time restrictive !!
It looks like the Zil is building up nicely so far.
With the tight time frame you have, I would concentrate on getting the kits built first before you worry about the dio base layout to much.
With the PE anneal the parts first as they will be easier to shape and bend etc.
And do plenty of updates here so people can see it … there are a lot of knowlegable IDF experts in here who will help out when they can if you get stuck on something.
Thanks for the all the feedback!! I really appreciate it! I’ll be sure to focus on the kits first, especially the Zil, it’s definitely a big kit. I’ll be sure to post more updates soon, I’ve been working on it as I’m writing this. Honestly, the Trumpeter kit has some pretty good detail and tricks up its sleeve for a 2003 release.
Final update for the day, I’ve been working on the chassis a bit more. Like mentioned earlier, the detail of this kit is honestly pretty surprising imo, It’s been building up pretty easily and im happy with my progress!
Great to have you here and kudos for the ambitious project!
I see you built the front axle of the ZIL and it might come a bit late as advice, but I recommend you to CA a wire insert where hubs meet axle body.On all 6 hubs.
Trumpeter’s mounting point between hub and axle is too small, glue aplication makes it fragile and it usually fails one day.
I learned it the hard way while building this- otherwise superb even for todays standards- kit.
If you like to hear a few tips, here’s what I have:
Soviet norms mandate painting the belt wheels and the radiator fan (moving, potentially dangerous parts) red - nice colour accant here (got this from a guy who was rebuilding soviet truck engines in a state-owned shop)
Interior of the cab is “upholstered” in something like fiberboard - we’re talking mainly rear wall up to approximately rear window bottom - you can paint it light brown or buff color.
The trailer under the SA-2 is missing a large part of the brake system
The kit decals for the SA-2 partly read complete nonsense.
Hope this helps - good luck with your build and have a nice day!
Your Zil looks amazing! Is it in a Soviet parade scheme? Also thanks a lot for your tips, I’ll be sure to look out for reference photos of the radiator fan, belt wheels, and inside the cab! Is there any way you’d know how to fix the brake system though?
Also thanks a LOT to you both, you both really seem to know a lot about the Zil! I really appreciate these detailed tips, I’ll be sure to show my inclusions of them👍
You see, this axle engages the brakes for the trailer, but the kit misses the parts that would “power” that axle itself. If I remember right there is an air cylinder to do it and also that handwheel nearby does it manually. If I find my references on that, I’ll post them here.
Interestingly building a model of an SA-2 is a cool thing to do here in Poland, because there were so many people trained on that system. If you know something about it and you can talk the talk, then you can hear lots of interesting inside stories from the military service - like when the soldiers kill time by dissolving a frog in a bucket of oxidizer for the rocket…
Anyhow, good luck with your build and have a nice day
Thank you so much! This really clears it up for me, and although it’s a bit late to do something about this now I’ll be sure to implement some fix for the rear axle. Also no worries for issues with clarifying, it’s a pretty tricky thing to explain!
I didn’t really make sure the rear axle beams and suspension parts were aligned, and I had to kind of push one side of the whole axle to make it fit into the chassis’s locating slots and it caused it to bend. But this isn’t exactly that major of an issue for me, the Zil’s supposed be destroyed anyways
But other than that I’m pretty satisfied with my progress on the Zil today and I’m a step away from working on the exterior parts of the truck, So it should be not as much plastic detail work and more PE detail work. I haven’t had any past experience with Eduard PE or any aftermarket PE set at all though, so wish me luck!
) and I’d like to make my first diorama for this show, it’s got a category focused on the Yom Kippur War. I personally find cold war era Arab-Israeli wars EXTREMELY interesting, so this feels like my once in a lifetime opportunity for participating in a show. My plan for my diorama is to have a scene similar to this photo:
