BTR-60PB (East Germany)

First vehicle in the great family of Soviet eight-wheeled armoured personnel carriers, the BTR-60 entered service in the early 60 and the PB version in 1966. Developed as a cheaper vehicle for use in motor rifle division alongside the more expensive tracked BMP-1 for use in the tank divisions, the BTR-60 was a revolutionary fully amphibious design for its time, around 25,000 of them being produced, the BTR-60PB remaining in production until 1976. The NVA (East German Army) took delivery of more than 1,500 BTR-60 between 1965 and 1970.

The kit is the S-model one. A very nice and easy kit that can be use as a base for a lot of conversion works as the BTR-60 versions are numerous and very attractive (to me at least 😎). Here one of the passengers of this NVA BTR-60PB is aiming a Strela-2 (SA-7 Grail) surface-to-air missile (MANPADS) from one of the roof hatches (figure from RH Models). (made 2016)

MT-Lbu 1V13 (USSR)

Based on the ubiquitous MT-LB series of vehicles, the bigger MT-Lbu is a Soviet multi-purpose fully amphibious light armoured carrier used as the basis for many specialised vehicles. The 1V13 version is part of the 1V12 fire control set which entered service in 1974 and consisted of 8 vehicles in 4 different models. This set is found in self-propelled howitzers (2S1, 2S3, 2S5 and 2S19) equipped artillery units. The 1V13 (former NATO designation ACRV M1974/1) is the battery fire control center. It has a crew of 6 and is equipped with an aiming circle system, range finders, automatic data processing system and several radio sets.

The metal and resin kit is from ? I don't remember. I just know that I bought them with several very nice 2S1 self-propelled artillery and 1 PRP3 forward observation vehicle at Salute 2017 and that I never got to get in touch with their manufacturer afterwards and order more models... (made 2017)

M113A1 (Belgium)

No need to really present the ubiquitous M113 armored personnel carrier. First aluminium hull combat vehicle to be put into mass production, the M113 entered service in the US Army in 1961 and was first used in combat by the South Vietnamese Army in 1962. Some 80,000 M113s of all types have been produced and it was used by more than 50 countries worldwide. Early 1984, Belgium received the first of the 525 units ordered (70% of them produced under licence in Belgium). There were delivered in different versions: troop transport (2 crew + 11 infantrymen), command post, ambulance, engineers, anti-tank with Milan missile launcher, recovery...

© C. Bray

© C. Bray

© C. Bray

The kit is the S-Model one. A very good base to convert to different versions. Figure from RH Models. (made 2014)

T-80BV (USSR)

The T-80 was the second tank in the world equipped with a gas turbine instead of a diesel engine to enter service after the Swedish Strv 103 but before the US M1 Abrams. The use of a gas turbine give the T-80 a very good power/weight ratio but a very high fuel consumption. The T-80 is similar in layout to the T-64 with a crew of only three due to the use of an autoloader. The BV version entered service in 1985 and was equipped with explosive reactive armour Kontakt-1 giving him an added protection of 400mm equivalent armour against HEAT warheads. Between 1986 and 1987, some 2,256 T-80 of different versions were stationed in East Germany were they were the most modern Soviet battle tanks in service.

The kit is the old Revell one, still good for me with some extra work even if, the t-80 being one of my favourite tank, I would like to try some of the new kits on the market... but I still have some boxes of the Revell one on my stash 😎 (made 2015)

Leopard 1BE (Belgium)

First non-German customer for the Leopard 1, the Belgian Army received 334 Leopard 1BE between 1968 and 1971.

Apart from the Belgian FN 7.62mm MAG co-axial and top-mounted machine gun, the Belgian Leopard were at first almost identical to the German ones. Some modifications were implemented in the 70s, like the big external toolboxes and a thermal sleeve for the main gun. Also between 1974 and 1977 all the Belgian Leopard were updated with a weapon stabilisation system and part of them (120) also received a new and very modern for the time Fire Control System developed by the indigenous firms SABCA (the rest were only updated between 1980 and 1985), this version of the Leopard becoming know officially as the Leopard 1 AVLS/SACT.

© C.Bray

© C. Bray

© C. Bray

For all informations about these vehicles and fantastic photo walk-around, I can only recommend the exceptional serie of books by Patrick Winnepenninckx by Trackpad publishing.

The kit is the Leopard 1A2 from Italeri, an old one but still a very good base to work with. (made 2014-15)