Able Archer/ RFR rules (?) - Russian invasion of Ukraine 2022 in 20mm (part 7) - The new Russian Tsirpan-S-1 arrives to the battlefront

At the moment Armory is the only brand producing the Pantsir-S-1 and soon Zvezda will release its own. After spending 100 euros in two Armory Pantsirs I decided enough is enough as the risk of the model´s price being intercepted by the controlling part of the family (wife). So I made my own Pantsir (named Tsirpan this time...) from a toy truck, finishing with three models of this type, enough for three BTGs. The other three hopefully will have either Strelas, Tunguskas, Buk or modernized Shilkas, depending on what I can find at reasonable prices. 

The model became a bit rustic as there is nothing better than a true model coming out from a nice box but, at the same time, these kind of projects gives me enormous pleasure to make. 

Now discover which is the true Pantsir and which is the Tsirpan?... Sure! You just found it due to the different 'Z', right?? Now seriously: the Armory model to the left was used as a direct matrix to make the toy one on the right. All measurements were carefully taken but even so some errors were made mostly because the cabin, from were everything started, was not an exact replica of the Armory cabin but just something with the general layout. In the end good news to my wife: the Armory model is 50 Euros (P&P included) and the Tsirpan came out at 2,5 euros! 

The general dimensions, specially the maximum length, were respected and this my main approach. From there everything derives and one or two millimeters difference is not very important as it is not noticeable on the wargames table.   

I only had five tires from the spare box that could be used in this model so I cast another four which became slightly... well, not a master piece, to say the least. 

This is the original toy truck I found in a Chinese shop. The cabin had a relatively resemblance to the Kamaz cabin of the Pantsir and about the same dimensions. 

To begin with, the cabin had to be broken at the front bottom and slightly bent as well as the mudguards. 

 

The toy chassis were also used. It was connected to the cabin with a piece of hard styrene. This was a problem as the chassis became a bit taller than it should. 

The wheels are mostly hidden in this model and were crudely attached to the body with a glue gun and super glue. 

Blocks of blue board were glued to the chassis and then covered with a mix of paint and PVA glue. This layer was insufficient as I noticed later when the primer diluted a bit of the styrene. The weapons station was crudely made as most of the detail will be covered by the 30mm guns and missiles.  

The majority of the details were made in EverGreen, bits of GreenStuff, paper clips and broom bristles. 

Of course most of the details are over simplified but the generic looks was captured. This one looks a bit like a polythene Airfix Tiger from the 60s when compared with the Dragon one ...

The steps are too thick and rear holders are made of paper clips all for the sake of modelling endurance. 

Next: a return to WW2 and the Western Desert. 

Able Archer/ RFR rules (?) - Russian invasion of Ukraine 2022 in 20mm (part 4) - First group of Ukrainian vehicles and a few more Russians

 

Nowadays we can find much more information on the organization and weapons of the Russian army than on the Ukranian side. There are several reasons for that: there are exhaustive studies on the Russian army and its organization and equipment much before this invasion and its army advanced much more in the open being photographed and filmed intensively. The Ukrainian army is the opposite: the star of its army has been the ATGW groups and infantry and its heavier defensive and counter attacking forces are generally well hidden and not easily reached by journalists, with its location kept secret. Of course the numerous casualties on both sides gives a good idea of models, camouflages and markings. 

I took this T-64 BV from a lot of 10 I got from MiniGeneral 3d prints in order to have my first attempt at the recently introduced digital camouflage of the Ukrainian army.  The T-64BV is the most common tank in the Ukrainian arsenal. In recent peaceful games and challenges between them and other Russian and Western MBT´s this model showed its age and deficiencies getting bad marks and maybe because of that is not seen challenging the more powerful Russian tanks that much.  

These two BTR-80 are Altaya and were painted without camouflage as some examples found in the National Guard. 

Also two BM-27 Uragan and its 9T452 transloader got the digital camouflage. All models are Altaya diecast but the transloader is a conversion using plastic card and barbecue sticks. 

One more 400+part  model of the Pantsir S-1 arrived. This is good news as Armory managed to get into business again after having its production disrupted due to the invasion. The mention of the 400+ part is due to the fact that this model is one of those time consuming models for wargamers with the usual nice end but nerve wrecking building process. 

In order to speed building I used the other one already built as a matrix and all useless parts not to be seen were left aside. Like this I may have gained an extra modelling day (10 to 12 hours... joking!) on this one.

Before painting the Pantsir looks like this. Its a very good multi media model and not a very easy build. 

A third Russian infantry battalion was added. Again Orion conversions and Alex Miniatures. 

The 120mm mortar is again Atlantic with  a number of cuts to make it simpler. The round base is the wheel of a Panther tank. Another peeing soldier is carrying a 120mm shell most probably dwarfing the original!

The Strela AA group is Zvezda with the usual goggles added for a more post-2008 look.

A loaded and tired Metis ATGM shooter from Alex Miniatures is ordered into position by its superior. 

A mix of Orion and Alex Miniatures for the command group. 

The AGS-17 grenade launcher is being assembled. In fact as the AGS-17 is transported in three different parts (gun-support-ammo) I built the support structure in plastic for a bit of variety. 

Another mix of the two brands. The left figure (Alex Mini) carries a RPG-26 but it can also be one of the several RPG's in service in the Russian army like the RPG-27/28/30, the RPO-A or the MRO-A. 

This time the RPG man is Orion withe a new helmet and goggles made in GreenStuff. 

All Orion figures also got new haversacks for the look of the Russian infantry in Ukraine. 

Next: More Russian invasion of Ukraine or a short incursion by the Germans to France in 1940.