AKATSIYA (ACACIA TREE) 2S3 LATE SPG 152MM, TRUMPETER 1/35 FLORAL BOOM!

[FrancisGL]

Hi Pals,

I'm finishing this model, and here are the photos for your viewing, in case you're interested, of course...lol
I'd like to say that this is a highly recommended kit, IMHO, of a rarely seen model that could pass for the Soviet M109.
Trumpeter also has the EARLY version in case anyone is interested.
Its assembly is quite simple and the fit is very good; it doesn't have any complicated or unnecessary engineering, and the PEs are few, although very small.
On the downside, the machine gun doesn't fit without surgery, and the tools and towing cables that aren't included (although the anchors are included...) would have undoubtedly enriched the model...
The good thing is the tracks, the best I've ever come across: simple, detailed, sturdy, rollable, with a certain weight, a walk in the park...
The model was painted in a light shade of green, bordering on mint. After seeing photos of the real vehicle, there were some with a dark olive green, but I liked the light one better, and it seems more common too.
The weathering isn't too extreme, even though it's an older vehicle.
I've seen photos of a real one in action (unfortunately now), and inside, the combat camera and parts of the cannon have serious chips and rust in many places... and that's inside... so I think the final look is plausible.
Thank you very much for watching and commenting, as always.
Cheers.
Francis.👍

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some shots in detail...

 

 

 

 

 

 

And final shot...artistic license...

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 2 by FrancisGL

[Stef N.]

Fantastic model Francis. It's been great to follow and see it finished with your usual expertise. Very well done and I look forward to your next project. 

[Muchmirth]

Great job Francis, as Stef says it was a good one to follow. Very much like the weathering as you says not over done but present. That little bit of red at the end of the barrel catches the eye and overall lovely paint work.

Paul

[Bullbasket]

Great build, good cammo job, excellent weathering. In fact, a great all round job. Very nice work Francis.

 

John.

[FrancisGL]

On 07/06/2025 at 12:26, Stef N. said:

Fantastic model Francis. It's been great to follow and see it finished with your usual expertise. Very well done and I look forward to your next project. 

Hi Stef,

many thanks for your reaction and kind comments, i'm glad you like it, much appreciated.

Thanks, now I have a question about what to do. A task that's harder than it seems, with a stash that doesn't grow quickly, but it does decrease very slowly... so much fun to do and so much caution to avoid spoiling it...😨

Cheers

Francis 👍

[Milan Mynar]

Great paintwork. You made great model of the AKATSIYA SPG from that kit.

[Model Mate]

Great finished model and superb paintwork - bravo!

[Keeff]

Outstanding work Francis!  As mentioned, an interesting build to follow and completed and weathered to your usual high standards.

 

So, what's next? 

 

Keith ☺️ 

[FrancisGL]

On 07/06/2025 at 13:29, Muchmirth said:

Great job Francis, as Stef says it was a good one to follow. Very much like the weathering as you says not over done but present. That little bit of red at the end of the barrel catches the eye and overall lovely paint work.

Paul

Hi Paul,

many thanls for your like and kind comments, i'm glad you like it,much appreciated mate.

That "red" detail occurred to me when I saw photos of real vehicles, and that someone had that...and I said to myself, why not?...artistic license...🤏

Cheers

Francis🖕

[FrancisGL]

On 08/06/2025 at 10:06, Bullbasket said:

Great build, good cammo job, excellent weathering. In fact, a great all round job. Very nice work Francis.

 

John.

Hi John,

many thanks for your like and kind comments, i'm glad you like it,much appreciated mate.

Trying to improve something with each model.

Cheers

Francis 👍

[FrancisGL]

On 08/06/2025 at 19:04, Milan Mynar said:

Great paintwork. You made great model of the AKATSIYA SPG from that kit.

Hi Milan,

many thanks for your kind words, much appreciatd mate, i'm glad you like it.

Cheers

Francis 👍

[LeeM]

Great colour modulation and the weathering is spot on.

[FrancisGL]

On 09/06/2025 at 00:02, Model Mate said:

Great finished model and superb paintwork - bravo!

Hi Model Mate,

many thanks for your kind comments, i'm glad you like it,much appreciated mate.

Cheers

Francis.👍

[szeregowy]

Your model is top notch, stunning result. Your photoshop skills however require more practice 😜

[FrancisGL]

On 09/06/2025 at 08:27, Keeff said:

Outstanding work Francis!  As mentioned, an interesting build to follow and completed and weathered to your usual high standards.

 

So, what's next? 

 

Keith ☺️ 

Hi Keith,

many thanks for your kind comments, i'm glad you like it, much appreciated mate.

In the end, I think I got what I wanted. Although I had to change something, I didn't mess it up.
I love that you ask me that question (as those interviewed often say...)..., because it's difficult to answer. I'm currently trying to make a set of figures, and it will keep me busy for a while. My mind wanders to another kit, with so many in the stash... well, that's what I like the most. And the figures, well, for now, are like "a job." I have to make them even if I don't know how.

Cheers

Francis 👍

[Keeff]

What a well worded reply Francis.  I hope the figures go well, and you get on OK with the figures 👍

 

 

Keith ☺️ 

[FrancisGL]

19 hours ago, Keeff said:

What a well worded reply Francis.  I hope the figures go well, and you get on OK with the figures 👍

 

 

Keith ☺️ 

Hi Keith,

many thanks for your interest and kind words, i hope too...

Cheers

Francis👍

[FrancisGL]

On 12/06/2025 at 14:33, LeeM said:

Great colour modulation and the weathering is spot on.

Hi Lee,

many thanks for yout kind comments, i'm glad you like it.

I think that for a model with a single color, it is very necessary to modulate and outline with some weathering, so that it looks interesting and with nuances.

Cheers

Francis 👍

[FrancisGL]

On 16/06/2025 at 20:52, szeregowy said:

Your model is top notch, stunning result. Your photoshop skills however require more practice 😜

Hi szeregowy,

many thanks for your like and kind comments, i'm glad you like it.

Well, I won't argue with you. If I dedicated the same time and effort to it as I do to the models, for example, it would be more precise, but now I only touch it when I take photos of a finished model, so months can go by and it will only be for that... then I leave it parked until next time...

Cheers

Francis 🖕

[szeregowy]

22 hours ago, FrancisGL said:

Hi szeregowy,

many thanks for your like and kind comments, i'm glad you like it.

Well, I won't argue with you. If I dedicated the same time and effort to it as I do to the models, for example, it would be more precise, but now I only touch it when I take photos of a finished model, so months can go by and it will only be for that... then I leave it parked until next time...

Cheers

Francis 🖕

Your models are always finished to the very high standard, so keep up the good work.

[FrancisGL]

On 29/06/2025 at 13:02, szeregowy said:

Your models are always finished to the very high standard, so keep up the good work.

Hi szeregowy,

Thank you so much for your very kind words and support, much appreciated.

Cheers

Francis 👍👍

Edited July 2 by FrancisGL

[szeregowy]

7 hours ago, FrancisGL said:

Francis 🖕

As a side note. Have you noticed that your emoji changed from the 'thumbs up' to the 'middle finger'? 😂

[FrancisGL]

1 hour ago, szeregowy said:

As a side note. Have you noticed that your emoji changed from the 'thumbs up' to the 'middle finger'? 😂

Hi szregowy,

I hadn't seen it before!....OMG!...i don't really like these newer emojis, i prefer the old ones, to honest, they're more basic, butmthey're clearer...this one looks a lot like the thumbs up, and it must very close to it...add to that the fact that my eyesight isn't as good as i'd like...i messed up...

My aplogies if i've bothered you at any point.

I'll be more atentive, but this is the first time this has happended to me in 11 years...

Cheers

👍👍👍

[szeregowy]

15 minutes ago, FrancisGL said:

Hi szregowy,

I hadn't seen it before!....OMG!...i don't really like these newer emojis, i prefer the old ones, to honest, they're more basic, butmthey're clearer...this one looks a lot like the thumbs up, and it must very close to it...add to that the fact that my eyesight isn't as good as i'd like...i messed up...

My aplogies if i've bothered you at any point.

I'll be more atentive, but this is the first time this has happended to me in 11 years...

Cheers

👍👍👍

Don't worry, no need to apologize. I found it quite funny, especially when it is at the end of a very considerate and polite reply. 😂

[FrancisGL]

On 02/07/2025 at 21:30, szeregowy said:

Don't worry, no need to apologize. I found it quite funny, especially when it is at the end of a very considerate and polite reply. 😂

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