Zvezda - Hot War - 1/100 - T72

I've got several Zvezda T72 1/100 15mm tanks. I like them mainly because I can get them in every model shop. They are plastic and lent themselves easily for converting. Here you can see some examples of my tanks. 

Two Syrian tanks, one with custom era and optics. Two Russian green tanks, one with Qrf T72BV turret. One early type (cast turret) T90 with shtora, in modern Russian camo. Syrian tanks are mostly done. T90 is waiting for AA gun. Green tanks need their AA guns and some paint.

QRF / TSS - 15mm T-72BA with ERA (T-72BV) and Zvezda 1/100 T-72BV

Like most wargamers that want to get 1/100 15mm Cold war or modern figures I was drawn to Geoffs QRF Models. I've acquired several packs of infantry models and some vehicles. QRFs range of kits is quite amazing so it's the place to get your cold war / modern models. One thing that many wargamers find themselves questioning is figures comparability between ranges. With infantry you can end up having Xyston Republican Romans on one side and Corvus Belli Carthaginians on the other, the Romans being more than a head taller! With modern vehicles it is industry standard to make kits not in 15mm scale but in 1/100 scale. So in ideal world every T-34 should be the same, but there are some casting issues that lead to differences. With the advent of computer designed plastics that have exactly 1/100 scale those new kits become benchmark for scale purposes.  Not always rightly so as show measurements of Zvezda 1/100 - Hot War - BTR-80 compared with wikipedia (it could be wrong, I suppose that Russians know the right measurements of their APC).  

Back to the QRF and Zvezda 1/100 T-72 kits. With QRF T-72BV being in many figure collections it must be interesting how it compares with Zvezda T-72BV.  I will not post straight photos side by side as the tanks are only in name the same type. Whats funny is that the T-72 variant shown on Zvezda art box is not in the box, but can be bought from QRF.  If you get both tank you will quickly find out that they are different measurements wise. But the close inspection will tell you that both tanks have tracks of the same length, guns of the same length, turrets of the same diameter and main tank chassis of very close length. The differences stem from the way tracks are mounted in QRF tank compared to Zvezda making it sit lower, Rear fenders that are much shorter on QRF tank, and turret being shorter than Zvezda. What you can see on pictures is Zvezda and QRF chassis with Zvezda turrets. The QRF chassis has been slightly modified to match Zvezda tank. I believe that both tanks are compatible and with the little work they will blend well together an any army. Personally I prefer QRF Models T-72 detail and Zvezda T-72 fenders length, and turret height. The QRF turret / Zvezda chassis kit will be shown here later. 

Zvezda - Hot War - 1/100 - Ural 4320

At last! A new blog post and a new modern release in 1/100 15mm scale from Zvezda. The Ural 4320 truck. I hope we will soon see all the other kits that are in pipeline: Shilka, 2S1 Gvozdika and M109. 

About the new plastic 1/100 15mm Ural 4320 - it's a nice kit. Very, very well detailed it's definitely in different league than Zvezdas M1A1 Abrams. On the downside it's not that easy to assembly and some parts are quite fiddly. 

Here you can see some pictures of it with some other Zvezda 1/100 15mm modern Russian vehicles, QRF BTRD and 15mm soldiers by: Oddzial Osmy - "Green Man",  QRF - Modern German and Rebel Miniatures - Modern American.  As soldiers are based on 10mm coins, and have their own moulded bases I've put the new Ural 4320 on a base for some pictures.

All models other than the modern german soldier are on various stages of work in progress.

T72 Zvezda 15mm - 1/100 Syrian Army wip

Here are some wip pictures of my new Zvezda 1/100 T72. These will be painted as modern Syrian tanks. The painted one is almost finished. It only needs its base completed. The green one waits for the grey stuff to cure.