Friday 2 December 2011

BTR-152

The small batch of 15mm toys which I recently completed included this BTR-152 - I believe it is the Peter Pig model.  I have always rather liked the '152 because is manages to combine looking quite cool and being rather crap.  Irresistible! 
This model arrived in my hands still unassembled but 'pre-owned' and missing one of it's wheels.  Can you spot what I used as a replacement?  (it's the middle one in the pic below)
The crew are actually WW2 German tank commanders from the PP range - possibly present in Africa as East German 'advisers'...

12 comments:

Ross Mac rmacfa@gmail.com said...

My guess is that its a wheel.

I like the BTR's because they look so retro. Plus I like the look of wheels over tracks, Saladins, Saracens etc

More sci-fi-ish even thought they are , eeek! over 50 years old now!!?

Ross

Tim Gow said...

Ross Mac
In fairness the question was mostly aimed at the modelling analytics in NZ, but you're not wrong. I think you've nicely summed up the appeal of the BTR - modern but retro - basically a low-tech halftrack!

Don M said...

I got to sit in one during an Op4 arms demonstration in South Korea back in the 80s. I feel the same way about it looks cool for a piece of crap.

Tim Gow said...

Don M
I knew I could rely on you for a dispassionate assessment!

Al said...

Quite cool, is the wheel from the Airfix carrier and 6pdr set?

Tim Gow said...

Al
Good effort, but it's a bit bigger than a 6pdr wheel!

Rob Young said...

So, did anyone make a 7lbr?

Rob

Paul said...

Airfix Morris Quad from the Bofors set?

I read in a article on wheeled vehicles that the Soviets mapped and tested Europe during the Cold War and found that 87% of the area was assess able to wheeled vehicles, so they put more money into wheeled APC's rather than tracked.

Nice recovery by the way.

Tim Gow said...

Xaltotun of Python
Go and stand in the corner!

Tim Gow said...

Paul
Spot on! I had every confidence to spot random kit parts. I understand the Sovs adopted the 152 to mechanise their infantry quickly and at minimum cost, and then persevered with a 2:1 mix of wheeled to tracked APCs to keep cost and maintenance times down.

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

It looks very evil!

When I saw 152 in the title I was first thinking it was a heavy artillery piece

Paul said...

I give myself a pat on the back. Strangely enough I find myself working on a truck without wheels at the moment, looking at replacement's.