Old pro

This set from T model will give you weapons (although more RPGs than you will need) the 30 pieces include 15 RPGs 5 SVDs without scopes 5 SVDs with scopes and 5 AKM and maybe a few figures to go with them, Modelcollect did a set of Russian infantry with separate weapons although they were more modern and not really appropriate or go cut them (carefully) of the Zvezda modern Russians.

I also got the TK7005 kit, but only got the ZPU 2 in it😤 it seems later boxings and the TK7006 included more and to make it worse, the ZPU was missing one side of the gun mount, no luck reaching out to either the manufacturer or the shop so I had to scratch another, luckily so many weapons were fitted to these that options are available, the only problem is what to finish them as, I either need more (which is a rabbit hole I’d rather not go down) or toss some coins.

Didn’t you get a ZPU 2 with the Land Cruiser? and did the BM 14 or Chinese knock off multiple rocket launcher come with one of the kits? i mean the circled ones

I would also note that the lower hulls are the same, the picture just shows the hull Offset from each other, at least I hope that’s the case as the Trumpeter hull is correct in detail and spacing, it’s the same chassis as the ZSU 23 4 which in turn is based on the PT 76, I was going to use the Revell PT 76 wheels and tracks but the wheels are too thin and the guide teeth between correspondingly so. I have a resin set I might use or pinch a set from the ARMORY ZSU and use the aftermarket on that. it’s just a rough equation, drawing precise lines with your finger on an iPad is not helpful, what is worrying though is that the replacement is missing the rear portion that closes off the hull overhang and mud flaps. the two hulls look eerily similar and the wheels especially the two part idler look familiar but I don’t want to cast dispersion on things I can’t confirm.

Never heard of MMK, or at least it’s never come up on my radar, so I had to do it the hard way! Yes the Trumpeter missiles are so wrong, too thin, wrong details etc I’ve made resin copies, so at least they all look the same

ACE kits can be a mixed bag, mostly depending on when in the production run you get the model, as the moulds wear over time, the wheeled vehicles seem to fair better than the tracked ones. The older models (which are mostly out of production now) were really gruelling and required a lot of adjustments and test fitting but could still be made passable with some TLC. got admire the work you have put in, looks very good. on a side note (or a little too late) Trumpeter do a range of Cadillac Gage armoured cars which could have saved you a bit of work as a partial interior and separate doors, releasing this version this month.

It’s definitely meant to be a shot Kal more than an olifant although it is an odd mixture of details. The Olifant has two large bins at the rear on the fenders and the air filters are a different shape (to the model and to the shot Kal) the model has a curious mix of features, the placement of the loaders hatch from an early turret but the periscope placement on the forward slope from a late turret, the fender mounted stowage boxes with the X strengthening ribs are from an very early mk3. As you may have noticed the right sided gun clamp is for an Alef as the olifant retained the left side mounted.

Just leave the top run off, it’s covered by the side skirts anyway

Only 46? Pfft, amateur 😂😂😂 I don’t have an exact number but at least triple digits ☺️☺️☺️ I will have to merge my split personality, the one that likes to build with the quieter more reserved one that likes to paint things, doesn’t come out very often so catching him is hard 😂😂 The way I see it, is I’m not getting any younger, so I build whilst my hand will reasonably do what I want and paint when they won’t anymore.

Either or, because the model is such a mis match of details that it doesn’t represent anything in the real world, that said I would still be inclined towards a alef, an olifant with a 105mm would have the rear turret bustle.

Israeli tanks are a notorious mix of mks and details having a mix or early and late turrets, up armoured and not up armoured glacis, there were plenty of Alefs, gimel and Dalet with the older style turret, similarly South Africa also had a mix of tanks especially as it had acquired a batch of mk3 from Jordan and mk3 can have either or loaders hatch as the position was changed mid production, the difference between a mk3 and mk5 was in the coaxial mgs. The Olifant mk1 should have the old 20pdr gun whereas the mk1A has a 105mm but as far as I am aware should also have the distinct turret bustle. although not the best quality here is an Alef with the turret you mentioned

That’s the fun of modelling, starting something new before finishing another 😂😂 better than losing interest and slogging on regardless, I have way more started than finished. i know it’s a bit late but removing the gun pivot supports would have been easier, they are not needed anyway when the mantlet cover is fitted. some people have made nice models out of the ACE kit (me not being one of them) of the 6 I started 0 have been finished.

A couple of things to note, especially for the Dalet version, the first is the main gun sight, this is what separates the gimel from the Dalet, although not mentioned in the instructions, the box art shows the Dalet sight, it is an armoured box with the sights inside not the same as the centurion sights supplied, second is the ERA on the front slope of the turret, what is shown in the instructions is for an early turret with the roof mounted periscope, with the periscope on the slope the number of ERA blocks are reduced https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/missinglynx/centurion-special-interest-group-t333602-s110.html Further information can be found https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/missinglynx/centurion-special-interest-group-t333602-s100.html i opted to use the Vespid kit, mainly for the open hatches, it’s a relatively simple conversion, but you need a plain glacis plate ( or the spare front ERA from the ACE Nagmachon) lastly you will need another FN Mag as the kit only provides 1 and you need 2 although the mount for the commander is different. it seems IDF vehicles can be a combination of anything, find a photo and work from that.

Designing your own parts is surprisingly easy, there are plenty of tutorials on YouTube for fusion 360 and I suppose others, but fusion 360 is free (with restrictions) although I have never done a tyre tread, but if an old fart like me can learn it☺️ of course I went the other way and purchased a set of aircraft weapons for the rocket pods.

I was specifically talking about 1/72 and smaller resin kits, OKB etc are all 3D designed and then cast from prints, even short run kit makers use 3D prints to make the moulds such as Ace and ARMORY and possibly others. overall I’m not keen on resin products, sometimes difficult to work with or if there are faults difficult to correct but when you only model certain subjects the choice is limited, my fingers don’t like me scratch building anymore. Out of the 2 3D models I have bought, I was disappointed with the first but happier with this, it’s not flawless and has some errors that need correcting but given the months I’ve been trying to convert a plastic model into one of these. But each to his own, there is no right or wrong as long as you enjoy what your doing.

Not sure what you mean? But the photos exaggerate the marks, a good undercoat will hide most of them, the only real problem ones are on the front rubber fender and they will be easy to eradicate, but you get what you pay for. The more expensive 3D Models don’t have the print contours but you are paying 2-3 times the price, I find these ones perfectly acceptable. Most cast resin models are moulds of 3D prints these days.

Yeah that baffled me for ages, click on sellers other items in .co.uk and you get nothing but 10 pages on .com? I found them actually by using Google search and then shopping, I never got any results from searching eBay, only really bad ones and this shop https://badger3d.co.uk they make a few of their own, any that say “Badger sett studios” are apparently their own design, others can be found on cults3D a site (where if you have your own printer) you can download load files. Their own designs are supposed to be nice one piece prints, according to those that have them.

Always wondered what these kits are like, didn’t realise they were short run but like you say, the only option available, nice to know that you seem to get the parts for all variants in whichever box, as I see the 14.5mm Kvpt, the 105mm gun and the SPG 9 gun on the sprues.

This is my second 3D print, wasn’t overly impressed with the first, unlike plastic kits there aren’t a lot of reviews out there, usually you find out pretty quick problems on plastic kits, or you can trust a company to be fairly accurate in size if not detail. 3D prints on the other hand you never know, especially if the seller only shows renders of the products, I got this one because they actually showed a printed kit so I took a chance from this seller https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ssn=dunax_5087&store_name=3dhobbymaster&_oac=1&_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l170197 Communication was good and it arrived in 12 days at this time of year, he has a lot of interesting vehicles not available in plastic. One thing to beware though is that he is just a seller from various designers, some good some mediocre but he always shows the models and if you know what you’re looking for the mediocre ones with the most errors are easy to spot. personally I prefer to work with plastic but my BVM conversion was turning more resin than plastic anyway 😂

New project for the up coming new year, spent nearly 6 months (on and off) trying to convert a Trumpeter T 80 into a BVM, the more I progressed the more I realised how much I needed to change, that and the 10% success rate I was having on casting the turret armour correctly. So I have decided to bite the bullet, until now I have kept away from 3D printed vehicles as my only foray was for the SSmodel BMP 2M Berezhok and that had some issues, the printing was fine and nicely rendered no flaws at all, the problem was in the design, first it is slightly too long and details in the wrong place, as a stand alone model the size in not a problem but when it has to sit with other BMP 2s it’s noticeable, but I can use the parts to convert a Smodels BMP 2. So whilst trawling the internet I came across this T 80BVM and Bit the bullet, It was cheap enough that at least I could use some parts, but happily things turned out fine, it scales out nicely and fits in with my other T 80s and saves me a lot of headaches. the hull comes as one piece with the side skirts and bar armour printed in place the hull is also printed hollow so no worries about pools of uncured resin, I would have preferred it if the soft bag era was separate but can’t have everything. the turret is likewise one piece with everything in place, with the exception of the main gun, commander’s cupola and a few small bits, the hatches are either open or closed for some reason I got 3 cupola’s? the tracks and wheels are a separate one piece prints and nicely detailed. lastly the rear bar armour and fittings. overall I am impressed, after seeing some horrors that pass for 3D printing I was relieved this wasn’t one of them, most only show renders this seller showed the printed version but there is always the chance between what they show and what you get! There are a great many vehicles in 3D not done in plastic and some 3D that are way better than the plastic version and these day not as expensive and sometimes cheaper.

Italeri do the mk1 there is no real mk2 available, the old Esci mk2 needs some serious surgery to get it to be one, there are 3D printed of a mk1B and Mk2B from SSmodels, the Trumpeter mk3 is better than the Revell mk3 but the Revell kit is the only one with an attempt at the ball and chain.

They are for locking open the hatches to stop them smashing you on the head

Hard to tell

That is a real tank, part of 2AD in Texas in the early 80s, they carried a number of M1s in various schemes as part of evaluation. Other tanks were either in a MERDC pattern or temporary camouflage had been applied mud /whitewash.

https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/us/m1_abrams.php has a lot of M1s in various colour schemes but how true they are? Or just Google M1 MERDC pattern.