Z (50) MT-LB with MT-12 Rapira gun (Russia)

The fiftieth vehicle 😮 When I started this project in May 2022, I did not suspect that it would take me so far. Over time, and with the incredible number of fascinating vehicles used in this conflict, it has become a kind of obsession. 50 vehicles made in 2 and a half years, it's a very good result for me and more so because my skill has much increased during this time (in my eyes at least 😉). But my stack of waiting to be build models and ideas for new one keep accumulating.

For this 50th issue, an MT-LB, an omnipresent vehicle in this conflict that no longer need to be presented, but which, being no longer produced and the daily attrition making its way, is definitively endangered. Here we find it in a "Tankenstein" version, armed with the terrible MT-12 Rapira anti-tank gun of 100mm. Primary towed anti-tank gun of the Soviet army from 1970s, the Rapira was pulled from storage by the Russian army and sent to the front in March 2023. Some of them have been improvised on MT-LB. Given the frightening recoil of this gun, one can wonder about the field use effective duration of this improvised "DIY". Anyway, the "Mad Max" look of the whole assembly is not to displease me 😎

The MT-LB is from Red Tank Miniature and the MT-12 is from Stan Models. The figures are modified Alex Miniature one.

Z (18) 2S34 Chosta (Russia)

The 2S34 Chosta is a Russian modernisation of the Soviet-era and still ubiquitous 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled gun (see here). The 2S34 keep the same low-profile, dimensions and running gear than the 2S1. The main changes are the installation of a more potent 120mm 2A80 rifled gun/mortar (replacing the 122mm 2A31) with a semi-automatic loading system coupled with a new Fire Control System giving improved accuracy, better rate-of-fire and the possibility to use guided munition types. Two banks of smoke-grenades dischargers have also been added to the turret sides.

The 3D printed kit is from Red Tank Miniature and is as usual very fine. I only made a few improvements (at the level of the engine grilles and the exhausts in particular) and loaded the vehicles with a whole impedimenta, in particular thanks to the magnificent accessories and weapons from Scale23.