Saddam’s Brolly

[Road of Bones]

Ok then gents, time to start my first “proper“ thread on the SM forum

I’m going to cheat a bit, as this was a build I blogged on a quieter forum, and I thought I would re-blog it again, as it was full of interesting challenges and new techniques that some folk might enjoy seeing.

For some reason, this picture really caught my attention:

While flicking through a certain online auction site, I scored the Skif MT LB6 kit for a couple of quid, and a set of Meng Russian AA guns:

Now, it should be said that Skif kits are not renowned for being the most detailed things, and this example also included some of the nastiest vinyl tracks this side of an Italeri panzer. It did come with a small fret of copper PE, and a resin gun turret (which was obviously not going to get used). Additionally, the styrene was a partIcularly virulent shade of green:

Those tracks!

So, if you’re ok with me blogging an old build, I’ll show you how I did it

[scottie3158]

Al,
Chair pulled up blog away.

[Road of Bones]

Hi Scottie, good to see you again sir (your builds are better than ever, I see!).

Righto then- I’ll skip some of the more obvious build stages, and get to some of the juicier scratchduggery stuff...

The Skif kit actually goes together pretty well, and the thickness of the hull parts meant that it was pretty sturdy, once that soviet styrene took the Tammy Extra Thin and welded itself permanently together. I spent some time trying to replicate weld beads with glue-softened rod, and drilled-out the side vision ports to accommodate the PE vision slots:

I then decided to replace the section of armour around the vision slot by using card:

I also started to build housings for all the periscopes, as the kit detail was very poor. Here you can also see where I replaced the central hatch hinge mounts:

The forward vision ports are represented by PE, which is a first in my experience! I used some leftover PE handles to make into hinge brackets for all the hatches, and used some punched plasticard to make rivets, bolt heads and hinge shaft ends.

More soon!

[scottie3158]

Al,
Looking good.

[Guest]

Nice to have you around again Alistair. Looking forward to seeing how this develops.

[BattleshipBob]

Count me in Sir, hows the Alfa

Bob

[Guest]

You’re quite brave taking on a Skif kit I bought their T-64 and BMP-3 kits so long ago I paid for them in guilders rather than euros, and still haven’t found the will to start them (I’ll just buy more modern kits now, though, if I ever want to build kits of these vehicles). The additions you’re making certainly lift it up to more modern standards

[Road of Bones]

Count me in Sir, hows the Alfa

Wotcha Bob! Sadly, I have to confess to trading the GT in for an A5 back in April- I just couldn’t face the work that needed doing to it. The cambelt was due, it had a mystery oil leak, and the tin worm had got to the sills. It was time for something newer and German, frankly!

[JR]

Hi Alistair, looks good , like a bit of Russian . :nerd:
Will sit with Paul.

[Road of Bones]

Hi Alistair, looks good , like a bit of Russian . :nerd:
Will sit with Paul.

Mr Race! There’s a comfy chair up front just for you sir

[JR]

Mr Race! There’s a comfy chair up front just for you sir

Think I should edit that ! :smiling2::smiling2::smiling2: just done !

[Guest]

Hello Alistair,
Never mind it being an old build, like any good book it is always worth reading again.
Will sit behind the reprobates and watch with interest.
MikeC.

[SimonT]

Al,

Interesting mod to the MT-LB - looks good with the AA mounted up top

I started one of those Skif MT's back in 2014, the basic APC type - not a great kit. Dodgy wheels, engine inlet louvre panel in wrong place, rubbish tracks spring to mind. I cast some new wheels, got some Friuls and scratched an engine but then shelved it

[Gern]

Mr Race! There’s a comfy chair up front just for you sir

I'm watching too - even if I have to crane my neck round John as he seems to have got the best seat!

PS I know how well the dried frog pills worked for the bursar, so you should fit in here quite comfortably as long as you stay on them!

[Mickc1440]

I'll join the throng as this looks like an interesting conversion.