T7 Models Panzerspahwagen BA-64(R) w/crew - 1:35 MiniArt

[Mike]

Panzerspahwagen BA-64® w/crew
1:35 MiniArt

The BA-64 was originally a Russian design that was begun in 1941, and was a light armoured car similar to the Sd.Kfz.222, although was a little prone to overturning due to a high centre of gravity.  The Germans had a habit of reusing captured equipment such as this, which was eventually to assist in their downfall, leading to massive ranges of equipment in their roster, and consequent variety of spares and knowledge needed to keep them all running.  The early models had no turret, but one was added in 1943 with a wider wheelbase to overcome the tendency to overturn.

The Kit
MiniArt release some great kits of unusual equipment, and this is one of them.  It represents a captured vehicle pressed into service under the PanzerSpahwagen designation, and comes with a set of five crew figures to sweeten the deal.  Inside the top opening box are three sprues of mid-grey styrene, two hull halves and five individual tyres.  A small decal sheet and glossy instruction booklet complete the package.

 

As this is a relatively small vehicle, construction is quite simple, starting with the ladder chassis, onto which the leaf suspension units fix.  The engine and transmission fix between the chassis sides to a pair of engine mounts, and transmission to forward and aft axles completes the underside until the wheels are added later.  The lower hull drops on top of the chassis, with cut-outs for the engine, and an exhaust that emerges from under the chassis and attaches to the side facing aft.  Inside the hull a long steering shaft and wheel are added, plus the driver's seat, which is braced behind.  The radiator fixes to the front, and a conical mount for the machine-gun sits behind the driver's seat, allowing the top hull to be added after painting and installation of the driver's instrument panel.  If you plan on adding the seated figure, now would be the time, as it could be tricky later.

Various pioneer tools are stowed on the sides and top deck of the vehicle, and the driver's vision slot can be posed open or closed, as can the low-slung side doors in the port and starboard sides of the hull.  The fenders are attached to the sides of the hull, and the rear port side holds the small rear light cluster, while the port front has the single headlamp added.

 

 

The wheels are moulded separately from the main sprues, probably because they have been slid-moulded, which means that the tread pattern is present all around, and very nicely done too.  The hubs slide in from the front, with a lip that stops them in the correct place.  The detail on the hubs is also very nicely moulded, with cut-outs going all the way through the hub as it should.

The turret is hexagonal, and has tapered sides to deflect incoming small-arms fire.  The base has a three-leg support moulded in, which attaches to the rotation point, with the bicycle style saddle for the gunner.  The top affixes to the lower, and the DShK machine gun is mounted through a slot at the front, with a top-mounted drum magazine providing the ammunition.  The turret then just drops onto the conical mount in the lower hull, so would be prone to dropping out if you upend the model once built.

Figures
The bonus figures are a generic German winter vehicle crew, consisting of two seated figures in a relaxed pose, one standing, and two leaning as if within vehicles.  The two leaning figures have headsets on, with one having a commander's cap while the other four have the usual German forage cap.  All figures are wearing white overclothes, and as there are only two crew in this little armoured car, some will need to be posed outside the vehicle or added to the spares box for later use.

 

 

They are all nicely moulded with torsos, arms, head and legs all moulded separately.  Caps, folded hoods and headsets are also separate parts, allowing a little customisation without resorting to scratch-building.

Markings
Decals are printed by Begemot, and as is often the case with them, the white has a distinctly cream colour to it.  In this instance, I would say that the cream tone renders them unusable, as it is closer to beige/taupe rather than white.  Seven white and four black/white balkenkreuz are provided, and four stencils, which may still be usable on a heavily weathered vehicle.

While the colour of the decals is irritating, it shouldn't be hard to replace the crosses with spares from other projects.  From the box you can build one of four vehicles, as follows:

 

• Unidentified unit, Eastern Front, Summer 1943 - all over olive drab
• 4th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment "Der Fuhrer", 2nd SS-Panzer Grenadier Division "Das Reich", Kursk, July 1943 - all over sand
• Unidentified unit, Gorizia, Italy, Summer 1944 - all over olive drab
• 3rd SS Panzer Regiment "Totenkopf" Kharkov, March 1943 - White distemper finish over olive drab base

Conclusion
A nice subject well executed, and with a good set of figures to add value and interest.  The decals are the only let down, although a bit of crew stowage would have been nice.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of

[richellis]

Was one of these Grubers 'Little tank' in Allo Allo?

[robw_uk]

Was one of these Grubers 'Little tank' in Allo Allo?

nope - Lt Gruber's little tank was an sd.Kfz 222 (I believe)

[richellis]

Thanks, I may have give a little of my yoof away there! And I watched 3 episodes on Gold yesterday!