KTO ROSOMAK - Polish Warrior

The KTO Rosomak (KTO for Kołowy Transporter Opancerzony – pol. Wheeled Armored Vehicle; Rosomak in Polish is Wolverine) is 8×8 multi-role military vehicle produced by WZM S.A. in Siemianowice Śląskie. The vehicle is a licensed variant of Patria's Armored Modular Vehicle. In December 2002, the Polish Ministry of National Defense signed a contract to buy 690 Patria AMV vehicles, to be manufactured in Poland. As part of the initial order of 690 vehicles were to be delivered in two basic variants: 313 combat IFV and 377 transport/special base vehicles. The name Rosomak was chosen following a contest organized by the Nowa Technika Wojskowa magazine. 

    

Variants

- KTO Rosomak - Infantry fighting vehicle variant with to Oto Melara Hitfist-30P gun turret armed with 30 mm ATK Mk 44 chain gun and 7.62mm NATO UKM-2000C machine gun. The turret has advanced fire control system with thermal sight and Obra laser warning system connected to six 81 mm 902A ZM Dezamet smoke grenade launchers.

- KTO Rosomak-M1M - Infantry fighting vehicle variant modified for war in Afghanistan equipped with additional steel-composite armor, upgraded communications, wire cutters in front of driver and commander hatch, video cameras showing back and sides of vehicle on two LCD screens in troop compartment, Pilar system that detects the direction of fire. Because of additional armor this variant cannot float and has no water propellers. This variant was further upgraded to standard known as M1M. Most noticeable change is addition of QinetiQ RPGNet anti RPG net and new "sand" camouflage. Other changes include installation of Duke anti IED system and Blue Force Tracking BMS system (systems on loan from US Army). All older ("green") Rosomaks in M1 standard also received RPG Net.

- KTO Rosomak-M3 - Armored personnel carrier variant modified for mission in Afghanistan equipped with similar task equipment (including additional armor) as M1 variant. The main difference is that this variant is equipped with OSS-D open turret with 40 mm Mk-19 grenade launcher or 12.7 mm NSW/WKM-B heavy machine gun.

- KTO Rosomak-WEM - Medical Evacuation Vehicle – armored ambulance vehicle with crew of 3, capable of transporting 3 injured soldiers on stretchers and an additional four in sitting position. The WEM-M variant for Afghanistan was equipped with additional armor and RPGNet same as in M1M variant.

- KTO Rosomak-S - Armored personnel carrier variant for two anti-tank teams armed with Spike anti-tank guided missile.

- KTO Rosomak-WD - Command Vehicle – command vehicle for battalion commander.

- KTO Rosomak-Łowcza - Air defense command vehicle equipped with Łowcza system. Similar to ZWD-10R Łowcza-3.

Components of the project

So here is the list of main elements I used for this project:

- IBG Model 35032 KTO Rosomak

- PanzerArt RE35-401 Road Wheels

- Eureka XXL ER-3553 towing cables

- Mk.FL - PE parts available via Facebook account

- RB Model antenna mount 35A13 and 35A02 antennas

- E.T. Model ER 35-009 US Army Crew Duke IED Antennas

And the additional elements are:

- Plus Model 446 PET bottles

- Meng SPS010 and SPS 002 Bottles

- Quick Print card boxes

- Arkebuza ARK 35017 MRE Boxes

- Arkebuza ARK 35015 "Stay Back" signs

- Eureka XXL resin backpack, tents and tarps from different sets

- J's Work PPA4001 and PPA 4002

- Eduard Barbed Wire Razor 35639

- Dragon's towing haul

- Toro Model 35F46 Soldier in a camp

 

   

DANGEROUS KITTEN - Sd.Kfz. 234/2

 

I decide to build Puma because of some kind of sentiment - it was one of my first plastic kits I built. Now was the time to do it again but with proper experience and good idea which needed to be realize. So here I wanted to present the vehicle operated in France during the summer of 1944. I had two good-looking figures and set of photo etched foliage which bring the kit to be similar to the real vehicles we can see on the war propaganda movies. The diversity of the aftermarket products allowed me to create quite correct miniature but the most important was to build nice eyecatcher!

There were 4 versions of the 234 series, with different armament and some small structural variations but it could be said that Puma was the most powerful armed wheeled reconnaissance vehicle during World War II and because of the name, the most popular.

The Germans produced 101 vehicles of this version.

                          

What is the most interesting from the modeler's point of view are:

1.Field modifications:

- large box  on the left rear mudguard;

- wooden ammunition box on the right front mudguard. It was keep on the place by U shaped holders. The crew used it for additional ammunition for the gun and to stowage some tools and personal stuff;

- hooks on the turret to attach the foliage keeping wire;

- additional handle on the front hatch.

2. Tires:

- hexagonal which were seen in very early vehicles;

- zig-zag type 1 and zig-zag type 2 which were the most popular;

- late type (provided in the kit) which was seen in the vehicles produced after December 1944;

- allied tires and some civilian patterns.

3. Painting and markings

- the camo was applied by the units because the vehicles were deployed only in dark yellow. It was painted as the broad bands or thin strips;

- the winter camo was probably applied too but there is only one example of whitewashed vehicle;

- crosses on all turret sides. They were painted by the units. The sides ones can be in different positions but the centre of the turret was the usual position.

- the numbers mostly were black or red with white border. Some vehicles carried numbers on the front mudguards;

- the divisional insignias were not common but if presented they were painted on the left front hull;

- the license plates were painted before the vehicles delivering. On the front and rear of the hull, as the white rectangle with black border and numbers.

- the other markings painted in the factory: the tires pressure (on the mudguard over every wheel -4 atü), weight and class (the rectangle on the left side of the hull), speed limit (on both sides of the hull to the front - 35 Km).

  FIGURES - I used Miniart's German Tank Crew figures but the heads were replaced for resin ones. The headphones' wires were added the same as some PE parts. Both figures were painted with acrylics and reached with Archer's dry decals.

Hot Rod VMMD Husky III

Informations

This vehicle is not well know for modellers so here first I would like to present a bit this construction. so first a bunch of information.

Chubby was the first name of this vehicle but it was changed for Husky. The full name designation is Vehicle Mounted Mine Detector (VMMD). It is a wheeled landmine detection and route clearance system produced by DCD Protected Mobility. In the 1970s the original developed destination was the South African Army – Husky I was the original and Husky II and III are upgraded versions of the basic variant. The latest VMMD variant, Husky 2G, is a two-seat vehicle accommodating a driver and a sensor operator.

The vehicle has a length of 7.34m, width of 2.53m, and an overall height of 3.54m. The operating weight is 8,350kg. The VMMD’s engine is capable of generating a maximum power of 201hp and move the vehicle at a maximum speed of 72km/h and can reach a speed of 50km/h in just 16 seconds. The vehicle has a maximum range of 400km, and a range of 200km when attached with Mine Detonation Trailer.

The Husky VMMD incorporates a V-shaped hull offering optimum protection against blasts - the vehicle is designed to withstand high detonation and can be brought to operating conditions within two hours after an explosion. The cabin is fitted with a bullet-proof glass window and a single hatch is provided on the top.

The Husky VMMD is capable of detecting both metal and non-metal buried explosives (landmines and improvised explosive devices IEDs) but can also be customised to detect user-defined threats. This vehicle can clear a path of three meters at a maximum speed of 50km/h. It can run over pressure-fused anti-vehicle landmines without exploding them. The height of the sensor installed on the Husky can be controlled automatically to adjust in various terrains. The Husky is also attached with the MDT set to detonate any left out mines.

The vehicle can be also equipped with NIITEK's VISOR™ 2500 Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), with four panelled 3.2m array at the front. The GPR detects the mines and explosives by using hydraulically-controlled deploy and retract modes.

The international marketing and field support of the vehicle is provided by Critical Solutions International who are also responsible for marketing in US. The Husky VMMD vehicles are operational within a number of countries across the globe. A lot of them are served in Afghanistan as a part of US Army units.

 

  

Beginning

Truly speaking this kit was not in my particular plans for builds ever but the friend of mine asked me to build this one as a part of some big project he is involved to. After fast googling I decided to take this job and start wtih this kit as soon as possible which means that it needed to wait about 2 month for its turn. In first glance I stated it was the ugliest military kit/vehicle I have ever seen but after days of building flown I started to like this monster. With perfect Tankograd monography book with super pictures the building was easier. But to be honest,  not all of the details were clearly shown. I did my best to make them but this is still a mystery if I did it correct. I had free hand in finishing and adding some equipment so it was my favourite way of building models – total artistic freedom!

PLL-05 Mobile Pipe

After I opened the box I was quite surprised that the model is so big but it was very easy and fast-forwarded because of its simple construction. Unfortunately no PE parts are available however I used the Voyager's set designed for the PTL-02 where some parts are the same. Looking at the upgrades I must mentioned about the Eureka XXL copper towing wire and Arms Corps Models resin antenna mount with RB Model metal rod. The smoke grenades were detailed with small chains In the end I enriched the kit with some camouflage net, rope, plastic military box and resin accessories on the turret's basket. Next the gun barrel was wrapped with metal mesh and around the main body I fastened the wire. Using the references pictures I noticed that it is common that those vehicles carry the tarpaulin on its side so I did the same on my kit.

Some technical information about the PLL-05 itself. The first trace of the PLL is dated on 2001 when the system was revealed. It entered the service after couple years and as the rest of the examples of military vehicles took part in the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China celebrations in 11th line.

As the self-propelled gun-mortar is used by mechanized infantry formations. In comparison to the traditional gun-howitzer this one is lighter, more compact, has higher rate of fire and capability of direct fire.The 120mm gun-mortar in a 360° traverse turret  is the main armament of the PLL-05. It is fitted with semi-automatic loader with maximum rate of fire being around 8-10 rounds per minute. The vehicle carried 36 rounds (indirect fire mortar bombs and direct fire anti-tank rounds) with 9km of standard range. The secondary armament is a QJC-88 12.7×108mm heavy machine gun (Chinese Dshk version) mounted on the turret roof. The crew consists of the commander, gunner, loader and driver.

                  

 You can see the full article in Chinese Power book.

Cromwell - Winged hussar, 1st Polish Armoured Division Black Devils

The Polish 1st Armored Division was the most famous Polish unit in all Second World War history. It was created in February 1942 at Duns in Scotland under Major General Stanisław Maczek command. The division started its battle route in the Normandy and finished in Wilhelmshaven. Mainly they were fighting as part of the First Canadian Army. Until 1947 they were located in north-west Germany and in June the division was disformed.

In last months I focused on modern subject but after some gaming in World of Tanks where I have Cromwell in my garage, I turned my eyes for this vehicle in 1/35 scale. It was obvious for me that the model must represent some Polish vehicle but I needed the unique idea to execute. I decided to create very dynamic scene with speeding tank and some German troops escaping from the road.

I can say that this small vignette is my tribute to those Polish soldiers who fought those days. After the battle of the Falaise Pocket Canadians commented: "Bloody Poles, what a job!" These words of appreciation were the most important reason for me to build this Polish Black Devil's Cromwell.

The history of Cromwell is well know so here I will focus on the building stage mostly. 
There is no other possibility than just buy Tamiya's kit. So I did. To enriched it I completed some aftermarket parts:
- Friulmodel tracks
- Eureka XXL towing cables
- PanzerArt spare wheels
- RB Model gun barrels and antenna mounts

Some scratch build parts needed to be added if we want to bring the kit to the higher level. They were mostly from my old PE sets, furthermore some wires were used to replace the plastic handles but I also added dozens of plastic bolts on the kit and to the tacks. It was quite frustrating and time-consuming but with RP Toolz Punch and Die set the work was much easier than it could be expected.
Next, starting the painting I took my Tamiya's paints and using the instruction from the kit I prepare the mix in proportion given by the producer. As always in my models the base color was highlighted by adding couple drops of yellow to the base shade. Small elements were enlightened also but for this purpose I used fine brush. 

The markings were done with stencils and with some standard decals given in the box. In addition I had some special stickers for Polish version of Cromwell (thank you Tomasz!). 
The weathering stage was done quickly with chemicals provided by Wilder. The washes and filters created a lot of diversity in all panels of the kit but I decided to build more colors with oil paints. Using them I also prepared some dirt and filth stains. 
The chipping work was done with standard technique basing on the sponge and 3/0 brush. 
The final pigmentation I did also with Wilder's products with final touches of 502 Abteilung oil paints.

The stowage set were collected from wide range of different products. They are mainly resin with some cardboxes, ropes and chain. 

In the end I prepared the Hessian net with a piece of bandage, sheet of yellow note paper and super glue. It was long work but the result is really good. It was easy to bring proper shape and create wind in those hair!

The base was build with balsa wood with styrofoam inside. The road stones were cut from cork and glued with white glue. In the corners I added some soil with grass. 
The escaping Germans come from MasterBox set (German Signals Personnel) but I changed the heads for resin ones the same as some elements of equipment which come from Dragon range. The ranks were Archer's dry decals.