MODERN RUSSIAN ARMOUR IN COMBAT - T-72B3M BUILD 25th April 2025 update

[Brokeneagle]

Decals and weathering started. First half of the Barrel attached. Ditching beam finished
Wheels and tracks attached so that I could start the weathering and attach the side skirts once that has been done.

I have started on the Base as well and will have it as a simple muddy road - something like the image below the pics of the base. I use the flat rounded ends on the tools to push the stiff foam down into lengths that the tank will sit into.

I plan to use my go to for mud - Tamiya, these are an excellent acrylic base for any mud with weathering effects.

The next stage will be to complete the stand - off armour grates and damaged side panels with charge bags. I will then start on the modern accessories that appear all over Russian and Ukrainian tanks in many photos.

 

[moon puppy]

Love it, like how you're using good ol' Tamiya products instead of any of the multitude of other brands.

 

[Brokeneagle]

Update - I have decided to leave off the charge bags for another version but have started on the side panel damage and mud on the wheels as well. I also ended-up damaging the left side front mud guard, as I didn't like the look of the full version - It looked too boring.
I also started modifying the rear stand-off grates so that they are bent and broken. These are damaged in most photos I have seen of the vehicles in combat.
I recomend the Eureka tow cables, as their scale weave is very fine and perfect in size, as well as being very 'bendable', which means you can easily form them over the tanks details etc and they stay in shape.

 

[jknaus]

Looks fantastic. Really enjoying watching this come together.
James

 

[Brokeneagle]

Looks fantastic. Really enjoying watching this come together.
James

Thanks, out here in the real world the tank is nearly finished and I am working on the base. There is always a lag due to photo taking and editing etc. More very soon.

 

[Rhino]

This is no end of fun to watch!

 

[moon puppy]

 

[Brokeneagle]

This is no end of fun to watch!

Excellent! It gets even better I think.

 

[Brokeneagle]

Looks fantastic. Really enjoying watching this come together.
James

Excellent! I love being interesting with my posts

 

[Tojo72]

Makes me want to throw mine away,outstanding work.

 

[Brokeneagle]

Makes me want to throw mine away,outstanding work.

Thanks for the compliment but don't throw it away...perservere!

 

[Tojo72]

Thanks for the compliment but don't throw it away...perservere!

Yes,I am working on it now,it's going okay,but yours is a real museum piece

 

[Brokeneagle]

Quick update ...just a couple of little things. I have created some Ukraine road signs from the ETA set by gluing the prints to silver foil. The prints are nice and very robust, as they are printed on thick card. I have added some bullet holes as well now. Also using some ETA Ukraine magazines.

Iam adding some autumn leaves to the base made from the Autumn leaves falling outside......

Also got some modern russian boots which have worked really well making tracks in the hard foam base.

....and finally the 'array of figures I am choosing from.

this finished scene will be titled 'Fuel stop near Mariupol 2022.

 

[Steve Ski]

Wow, just catching up. I love the underside work, muddy and very realistic. Ruck On, Ian!

 

[moon puppy]

 

[Steve Ski]

I have a question, Ian. From the pics it looks like the stowage bins are aluminum. Not knowing Russian armor, "at all," are they heavy aluminum? That chip work looks double layered in spots, whether intended or not, pretty dang impressive.

 

[Brokeneagle]

I have a question, Ian. From the pics it looks like the stowage bins are aluminum. Not knowing Russian armor, "at all," are they heavy aluminum? That chip work looks double layered in spots, whether intended or not, pretty dang impressive.

Thanks Steve, glad you picked up on that. Yes the Russian T-72's have Aluminium petrol tanks and storage containers[which the 1-80'S & 90'S do as well as far as I know], which is why I painted these in the base color Aluminium, so I could apply chipping fluid and peel it back after the first green coat. The double layering is achieved in 2 ways , 1. the aluminium base coat is painted in varying shades. 2. the chipping is done with fluid and removal of the green then followed-up with some chipping with a small piece of songe dipped in the brighter Alumium color.
In the image below you can see where I applied the light Aluminium coat and then once that was dry I applied a second thinner darker coat which I moved around with a brush. I then mixed in some of the lighter coat in places before this darker coat had dried. I n this way I achieved a variable Aluminium finish that had sustaned some wear and tear over time, as a lot of these vehicles have been operating for quite some time and even stored for a while.