TRANSNISTRIAN GAZ71/GT-MU SBT

[Meter rat]

Oh! I’m looking forward this build. I too have one, and I am looking to do something different with it.

[HERMAN BIX]

Oh! I’m looking forward this build. I too have one, and I am looking to do something different with it.

I aspire to inspire you Sir !

[HERMAN BIX]

The upper is dismantled, popped the drivers compartment off using the tabs that secured it & set about a cardboard template for the new armoured hull.
Angles and heights to be guessed & adjusted by virtue of the cardboard & masking tape to look right compared to the real pictures.
Maybe I could just use carboard, paint it, weather over the masking tape, and bung the camo net over the whole lot like the field pics ??..............

[HERMAN BIX]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5NRH_DxWJE

And it was!!
For a small & quirky project I was quite apprehensive chopping the bits off to get the clearance for the new sides.
The rear slope angle was also just a guesstimate.
Lots of cardboard will be sacrificed in the quest for the right shape on this thing I can give you the tip !!
The vacuum cleaner is my best tool at the moment

[HERMAN BIX]

Most of the hack-N-Slash is now over and the side plates are fitted.
Again, taking the near-enough is good enough approach to get some forward momentum & fix it up later if I have to is the idea.
I sliced the front hatch off for future use on top of a new deck plate.
Retaining a shortened canopy & gluing it in place to be a support for the main styrene sheetwork was a good call.
Overall there is more piss-farting around on this than I wanted but it will still be a lot less hassle to do than one of my usual projects I hope !
Metal tracks on the way, all $45 bucks worth , so the concept of a different AFV done on a low budget as a fill in until I decide on the next epic still holds

The rear plate will be shaped according to the sides once the glue is set & any bracing is in place.
Doors etc will be added & the side ports and tool mounts too, but the camo net disguise will hide a lot of detail so no real point in going overboard to make them

[HERMAN BIX]

I knew if I looked long enough I might find one in Ukraine.............
Looks like a radio or observation vehicle.
Same camo colours as my SU152 from way back !

UKRAINE CONVERSION.jpg (154.98 KiB) Viewed 444 times

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Bix, do you have any way to identify the color? Name? FS number? or? This information might be useful for others working on T 72, etc.

[HERMAN BIX]

Sorry Mr HDP but no. I call it Russian Tan but to its official nomenclature I cannot attest.

[HERMAN BIX]

Rear plate, sides and roof sections are attached.
The rear roof section is only tacked in for now.
Hatch penetrations will go in once the structure is complete and rigid.
Theres a bit more to this "simple "idea I had than I thought

[MrChef]

Now that is quite a transition. Haven't seen anyone do this to one of those yet