Hello guys,

I cannot resist any longer .
Let me show you what's next on the desk !





Will be my pleasure to send regular updates of the WIP !

Cheers,

Richard

Looks pretty cool.


good luck!

Looks nice! I also had the idea, to buy and build a MAZ-machine, because I have an unbuilt "Skif 2S1 Gvozdika" with metal tracks and photoetched-sets.
This also would be a nice combo... I have a photo of this!

greetings...
Soeren

Hi there Richard!
I thought, I would find your photos here too. Your build looks great so far and all we finns over at our finnish modeling site (you know what I´m talking about ) are anxious to see more photos and hear, how your build is progressing. You know, you would be first, who makes finnish Maz, so keep it rolling.

Hello,

Thank you for your kind words guys ! nice of you !




Yep ! Kimmo I know what you're talking about !
As I wrote there, I will be glad if this project pleases Finn modelers ! This will be the best reward I can hope for !

Thanks again for your interest in this beginning Finland diorama adventure

Regards,

Richard

Hello Richard

That looks like a nice challenge you have started here. What do you intend to use from AM or will it just be an OOTB build? You have already an Idea what country you will build?
I will lay my eye on this one.

Keep it going

Grtz

Hello Roel,

They will sport Finland three tone camo, light green, green and black

I will build them adding scratchbuilt details on the BMP-1 (belts on the turret side, lights wiring...) and for the MAZ tractor I ordered replacement wheels from Armory , I am looking forward to receiving them cos they will be a welcome replacemnt for the trumpeter parts.

See these wheels here : http://armory.in.ua/product_info.php?products_id=16955

Cheers,

Richard

There are a couple of conversions from SP Designs you may want to check out. (Kits 098 and 140 in particular.) In full disclosure, I run SAAM.

Hope it helps anyhow.

Hello,

Thanks Jacques. Nice to see many sets are available. I have a try with "raw" modeling materials to create my own update. If I mess it all up I know where to have a look at.

A lot of details are either wrong or missing on the Dragon kit and here are the replacement and upgrade measures I took :



Rainy sunday helps !

Cheers,

Richard

Nice work sofar! Keep it up

Hi,

The BMP-1 will soon go to the paintshop. Indeed, it is ready to go...
I added Finnish BMP-1 details I observed to match this version of the APC.
In the below pics the fenders aren't glued, they remain in place thanks to blu-tack to be removable.







Regards,

Richard

lookin pretty good!. with all that red adhesice ur using, it looks like you gave it a pinwash with blood!!
Its gonna look great on a trailer, and then on a dio!!

Hi,

Thanks for the kind words mate !

I wanted to make fun of a step not to be forgotten in modelling before you rush your kits to the paintshop... It really makes sense with the amphibious BMP-1 kit :


Nice swimming huh ?

Nope, definitely it had to be fully washed in the soapy water...


After the BMP-1had dried
it went straight to the paint shop, where it received its primer and first camo tone. I know it is a somewhat unusual practice but I think the black layer will ease the weathering FX of the next greeny ones :





I used a new paint brand to me for this one, the Humbrol Acrylics. Well as you can notice, the result is quite good but do not let it fool you, this paint is really tricky ! Many thinning tests were necessary before I reached that. My airbrush remembers the tests (he told it to me )
The paint is very thick and diluting 60% paint / 40 % thinner seems to be the right mix.

Well guys, here it is for tonite.

More to come, stay tuned.

Cheers,

Richard

Really nice work! I like your BMP! Keep it up and good luck with your MAZ!

Nice work. I have a growing interest in modern Eastern bloc vehicles. Yes I know Finland isn't part of the Eastern Bloc - I'm married to a Finn so I'm really interested in this build. Looking forward to the Maz.

Hi,

Thank you for the kind words men !

I was not convinced by the Humbrol # 102 and 116 (neither was I by the new acryl paint of the brand...). I saw many different recipes for the green tones of finland camo... Finally I decided to make my own tests and blends from the Tamiya range.

Well time's off for a "self brainstorm" bout the green camo tones, mind's made-up now ! I got both the light and dark greens finally meeting my requirements.
The light green will be a 50% X8 lemon yellow and 50% XF5 dark green, while the dark green itself will be ... XF5

Here are the tests :

With a french military mag paper pic of a SISU AFV as a standard.

Now the tones are found, let the masking tape roll !!!


More to come soon

Cheers,

Richard

'Nite,

The light green (50% XF5 50% X8) was airbrushed tonight ... Looks good to me, whaddya think ?






Next step will be the dark green tone.

Cheers,

Richard

Hi Richard!
As a Finn, I have to say, you have done a great job so far. Keep it going and remember to send updates to our finnish forums.

Hi Kimmo,

Thanks for your kind words !

No worries for the updates

More to come soon.

Cheers,

Richard

Very nice paintjob ... and a very interesting "scissors-model-stand"

cheers
Walter

Hi,

Thank you Walter, I also like this model stand

After the last pic above I taped the model once more, to cover the black and the light green areas and let the places to be painted dark green, clean.



It was ready for the dark green layer (Tamiya XF-5) which was airbrushed this morning :



When it had dried, I removed the tape and then :





That finnish camo looks fantastic ! I really like it.

This is where I am with the BMP-1 at the moment. After little paint scratches will be repaired, it's gonna be washes, weathering and pigments time...

By the way, in the meantime, I received resin replacement wheels from Armory for the 1/35 Trumpeter Maz-537.

The detail level is unbelievable, really freakin' awesome !!! The resin casting is really neat, very delicate and sharp. Accuracy is there to say the least. Have a look :



Comparison between Trumpeter and Armory wheels :




Stunning, really.

I hope this brand will live long, 'cos their products are excelent and at quite reasonable prices.

Regards,

Richard

Hi Richard!
Jawdropping paintwork there, this monster combination is getting better and better all the time.

Thanks Kimmo !

Good job on the paint! The MAZ wheels looks very good indeed! Where did you get them?

Cheers!

Jurjen (who's MAZ is almost finnished! )

Hey Richard

Your project is going very good. Great camo on that BMP, It's a nasty time consuming job putting the tape on your model. But when al is sprayed the result makes it worth doing. Looking forward to see more.

Cheers Roel

Hi,




Thanks for your comments Jurjen.

The wheels are from ARMORY, follow this link

I have just seen your Maz, that's outstanding ! Congrats.





Thank you Roel.

Next step pics coming soon !

Cheers,

Richard

Hello.
Nice BMP!

Do you have color photos of Finnish MAZ?
I also do a couple with him and T-72:

Hi fellas,




Nice build Gennadiy.
Unfortunately I have no color pic of the Finnish MAZ.

So, about the BMP-1, here are some pictures with the first weathering steps achieved (washes, pigments, metal scratches...). The process is not finished but the end is near for this BMP-1. There still remains the headlights, track paint details...







Can you hear the MAZ-537 approching ???

Comments welcome

Cheers,

Richard

Hi,

I was told on www.pienoismallit.net forum that the roundels were in the wrong place... I was crazy enough to trust Italeri's plan... while I got plenty o pics...

This had to be corrected to match the photos. It was done tonight :




The new roundels were made out of 1/48 Heller Mirage III french roundels...

Cheers,

Richard

Hello,

I have started working on the MAZ 537. Some corrections have to be brought to the kit and modifications have to be made to meet the Finland Army Maz standards.

I began with the engine and gas tank housing, which rear panel is different on finnish trucks than the one offered by Trumpeter :



Then the chassis with its Armory resin wheels (just set for the pic), it still needs some wiring :



fifth wheel supports have been added, as well as a new rear lights bar, finland style.



Then the winch box needed some work, new supports, to have it shifted a bit on the right :


I saw that important detail in the Tankograd Soviet special 2005 page 19, page 24, page 27... and AFV modeller issue 41 -july/august 2008 page 43. this pic also shows it to advantage :
http://www66.tok2.com/home2/tankguy/beltring08/maz537/maz537-01.jpg

So, this is what Trumpeter offers :


and I corrected it that way :



Impressive truck...


Soon 4 more !

Cheers,

Richard