Military Miniatures

A friend at work builds aircraft kits and AFV kits, the latter being in 1:35. Having read many of his magazines and seen pictures of his models, I have decided to produce a military miniature diorama in 1:35. Originally this was to be built around a kit that I bought out in Russia in the early 1990’s – but when modeller friends saw the box I was told NEVER to build the kit, but to keep it safe and sound. The kit is of the M3 Scout by Zvezda, but the lid has “Not to be sold outside the USSR” stamped across it.  Also the original packing / quality control slip and the instructions, only in Russian, printed on very poor quality, grey coloured paper are still in the box.

So, another M3 Scout, by Italeri, was purchased in the UK as a replacement. Just 1 vehicle seemed a bit boring, so I sketched out an idea for a larger diorama.  This was to be the M3 Scout towing an antitank gun, but broken down with its bonnet open and two people working on it. A well laden lorry was to be parked along side and all the remaining Scout crew were to be sitting round a fire cooking.  However, some revised modifications are already being considered, so the final diorama may well be different!

It was not until I purchased the kits did I realise how big this diorama will end up!

ZIS-2 57mm Antitank Gun in grey undercoat

The antitank gun is a ZIS-2 57mm antitank gun from Maquette.  I am not used to plastic kits, but to me the quality was not very good. The limber is not well detailed so it is not going to be built. Instead the parts will go into the scrap box.

The gun parts had far more flash and mould lines than I usually see with metalic kits. Realists will see that my ZIS-2 has the wrong barrel fitted. The correct barrel is made from a softer plastic and did not seem to fit well, so I utilised the other barrel in the kit.