BMP-3

by Andrew Judson

images by Brett Green

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Well, I am back into armour again.

This is a Russian BMP-3 from the 1/35 scale SKIF kit built with a stack of after-market accessories.

The kit itself is quite detailed, including an interior that I did not use as I depicted all the hatches closed. I felt that, with all the extra work on the exterior, the interior might be a bit of a distraction and would also add greatly to the length of the project.

So what are the add ons, you ask?

For starters I added the Eduard exterior detail set #35569, which was quite time consuming. I also added a resin and brass detail set from Model Point in Russia. The set includes a new resin turret, metal gun barrels, antenna pots and smoke dischargers. This was a very nice set that went together easily.

Once construction was finished, the best part could begin - painting!

I decided to paint this BMP in the current Russian three-tone colur scheme using Tamiya acrylic paints through my Aztek A470 airbrush. The base coat was Dark Green. I then began with the camouflage using Deck Tan and Flat Black.

With the basic colours on the model, I sprayed a coat of Gunze Flat mixed with a tiny bit of Tamiya Buff to impart a very slightly faded look. I like my armour to look used!

Next, I continued the weathering by using a mixture of washes and Mig Productions pigments. I also sprayed on diluted mixtures of dusty colours around the tracks and drive line, and slightly up onto the side guards. Care was taken to avoid making the vehicle look too dirty though.

The figure was added to lend a sense of scale. This came from a Verlinden set #319 Russian Tank Crew.

For reference I used Concord's book "Russian BMP Infantry Combat Vehicles" by Steve Zaloga, and an article from Military Modelling magazine Vol. 28 No. 19, also by Mr Zaloga. What a great modeller he is, always inspiring me to go that little bit extra.

I am very happy with the end result and hope that you will enjoy it too.

Happy modelling!

Thanks to Rob Cole for letting me build your kit.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Russia's War in Afghanistan Men-At-Arms 178 Author: David Isby Illustrator: Ronald Volstad US Price: $14.95 UK Price: £8.99 Publisher: Osprey Publishing Publish Date:  June 15 1986 Details: 48 pages; ISBN: 0850456916 Shop Buy it from Osprey Publishing

Model and Text Copyright © 2004 by Andrew Judson
Images Copyright © 2004 by Brett Green
Page Created 03 March, 2004
Last Updated 03 March, 2004

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