I’ll build this Panda Hobby’s Tunguska, Russian AFV. It’s very pleasant for the first time experience of modern self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery.
There are many small parts of the component of the chassis and is a long way until the installation of the caterpillar. There are many very small parts.
Though there are many burr and parting lines, it is the tolerance level. The size of the axle doesn’t match an axial hole of a tracker roller. It is the impression that the part accuracy is a little insufficient on the whole.
This reminds me, I have to separate the parts other than a Magic Track. The center guides are another part this time, so it takes time. Since the part accuracy is good, there is no trouble in particular and the assembly of a caterpillar was completed.
The tissue is being stuffed into a gap until dry, to express hanging of a caterpillar lightly.
(15-January-2016)
I am assembling the body top surface. There are many big parts with slight deformation. I confirmed it one by one and assembled it. I attach the small parts by progress at the same time, but I think whether it is a consideration that attaching the small parts later because I needed the adjustment of the body in various ways.
I have the tool which bent the etched parts called the Etchmate, I bent it with pliers this time. This was easier.
Probably a lot of etched parts are attached because there are dull mold parts. Assembly is difficult, but it becomes sharp.
I think that the same time is better when I glue a chassis to the rear body panel and the upper part. I could assemble it by adjusting the whole when I attach the side fenders together.
The twisted upper body has a bad influence, a chassis is also twisted at the time of upper and chassis adhesion. When it’s put on the flat, it doesn’t become stable. I can go forward without amending that twisted body, it can’t help being corrected.
I put a top body in hot water, adjusting the form of a twist. I was quite worried about such a dynamic work after a careful assembly.
(30-January-2016)
I struggled to correct the chassis distortion, the ordinary tank’s the remaining work is turret which is not so difficult. Tunguska is a long ahead from here to the goal. Assembly instructions are not yet progressed only up to one-third.
The parts are too small and joint is bad. This is the worst combination. But I’m working little by little. It is a round radar like the big drum, and one of the anti-air cannon.
The manual is easy to view as a whole, but there are some places confusing.
The radar and missile launch tubes, having many small parts, such as machine guns, there are many etched parts which are improving the details.
I completed the turret first because the missile launchers and anti-aircraft gun are too complicated. Never mind, there are manual errors and I proceeded with my own interpretation. Otherwise, it will not complete all the time.
(06-February-2016)
I connected the missiles and cannons to the turret, but do not fit tightly. This part was quite difficult. I fixed the 2 machine-gun to the turret first and the angle was fixed.
For the adhesive strength, missile launcher was reinforced with epoxy putty from the bottom. I have a reinforcing metal wire embedded in both the sides of the missile. I wonder if someone successfully installed the missile and anti-aircraft machine gun only the included parts of this kit?
I also assembled the two missiles.
Many metallic parts are used, and when it’s made up, it’s a cool vehicle. The perseverance and resolution are needed to be here. It won’t be stopped on the way, and while the willpower continues, I recommend to put together quickly. It couldn’t be put together quickly in case of me.
It’s a very complicated shape vehicle in a modeling way. It’s uncommon to a Russian tank.
(10-February-2016)
The body which used many photo-etched parts. Even if it isn’t painted, it’s cool.
One of the periscopes was not in this kit, I think the design mistakes. What is it? I was having it from the clear parts of the rest of a Dragon Models.
Basic color is FS 34102 with number 303 of the Mr. color. I’m shading it a little. I thought the weathering effect was not required so much this time, so I changed the basic color for a change.
I painted the missile and missile launcher. It became more and more good looking.
The white lines are on the edge of the side fenders and light guards, I did masking before painting.
(13-February-2016)
I struggled but finally finished the Tunguska. This is the ZSU-23-4 Shilka successor vehicle.
Tunguska is the name derived from the River in Russia. There was a major event that a meteorite had exploded in the air about 100 years ago in the Tunguska area. This anti-aircraft tank was named related in an explosion in the air. The appearance seems strong.
I think that the vehicle does not have bad damages much because it is not the wartime vehicle. This time, I have done the weathering only mud and dust, not so much rust.
The total length of the vehicle body is long. Longer than the King Tiger and Elephant, around the same size as the Merkava Mk.IV.
A tail lamp is three colors. I’d like to paint a characteristic of the clear parts a little more.
The saw which is used by two people is always equipped with a Russian tank in the past and now, isn’t it? It was also in this vehicle.
The weathering of raindrops, dust and dried mud, were given to the hatches. The Towing wires are finished with some rust.
This mark is one of the Guards Corps. Guard forces were an elite military unit in the army of the Eastern European countries (former Soviet side). There was no explanation in particular by instructions of the panda hobby, but a unit in which army district is it? I didn’t have a weathering on the missile launchers. Well, I think it was not made of aluminum.
The radar parts are not good adjustable so I fixed it. When gluing together, the strength can be kept. I positioned the radar not straight to the front, the angle slightly slanted.
A gun turret is toward the front, so there is an open space in the rear. Many panels and nets are arranged. I suppose there are an engine compartment, fuel tanks, storages of the missiles and bullets.
Installation of the main armaments was more difficult than the skewness correction of the body.
The front is round radar? Is Spinning and moving. When there are some moving parts, the decoration is fun.
I think a dent on the radar is surface sink. I had shaped a little bit but still remained.
A crew of the Tunguska is six people. Because there are many weapons, the number of people will be necessary. Six people seem to ride on the size of this vehicle easily.
The tank side is also moderate weathering.
I used a clear resin for the headlights. Because it’s the atmosphere of the 40 years kit if I used a part in this kit.
It isn’t so incongruous, so it’s no problem for the periscope converted from the other kit.
Roughly speaking, 80 percent of the connecting points don’t fit smoothly. I had troubles with an adjustment of big parts and a main connecting point really. I can laugh and through all problems, if it’s the 30 years before released kit, I think few modelers are convinced.
However, I felt the manufacturers enthusiasm as released this complicated shape vehicle in the 2nd model. Today, many have been released, it may easier assembly process.
The firing range is around 10km, an altitude of 3,500m.
To watch the video, on the top radar turned around speedy.
Is it unnatural to turn a rocket launcher to this angle? But the appearance is cool.
This Tunguska is a high-performance weapon, it seems that the high production cost prevents the widespread deployment in Russia in large quantities. The kit price is also quite high.
The assembly of the last part, I did my own judgment some process where I couldn’t understand with the manual. When it’s done up, it’s powerful.
(16-February-2016)
I am interested in models of tanks, airplanes, ships, military figures, I build it little by little when I feel like it. I am also interested in the history of war. My starting is Tamiya’s Military Miniature series in the elementary school.
From elementary school through university students repeatedly suspend and restart my modeling, it’s about 25 years of this hobby’s history.
Born in February 1970, I live in Tokyo. From February 2007 I was quietly doing a site called “Miniature-Arcadia”. It is being transferred to this blog with the same name from December 2016. My update pace is uneven, but please come to see here occasionally.