Tamiya Russian BA-64B Armoured Car 1/48 - Build Review

[Rob]

Tamiya Russian BA-64B Armoured Car 1/48 - Build Review

Or…Mr Bob’s Bobik

After completing the Flower Class Corvette and amid painting the Faun I fancied a palate cleansing quick-fix of styrene and I chose the subject of this review - Tamiya’s 2013 release of the 1/48 Russian BA-64B Armoured Car. The model appears to have been based on the vehicle in this photograph taken in Vienna in 1945.



Background (good ol’Wiki)

The BA-64 was a 4×4 light armoured car, employed by the Soviet Army from 1942 into the early 1960s for reconnaissance and liaison tasks.
The initial BA-64 model was based upon the GAZ-64 jeep and fitted with sloped armour that had some similarities to the German Sd.Kfz. 222 design. One captured Sd.Kfz. 222 was transferred to GAZ for examination and analysis on 7 September, 1941. The first prototype was tested on January 9, 1942. The hull had an open roof, with a pintle-mounted 7.62mm DT machine gun. The vehicle was operated by a crew of two. The State Defence Committee adopted the BA-64 for Red Army service on 14 March, 1942, but it was top-heavy and could easily overturn on rough terrain.

The improved BA-64B model was introduced in 1943, based on the GAZ-67B jeep, with a wider wheelbase. This model also had a small machine-gun turret added. The mass production of BA-64Bs continued through the rest of the Second World War and ceased in 1946. The last 62 vehicles were completed in that year.

BA-64Bs were also used by Polish and Czech units, raised in Soviet Union. After the end of the war, some BA-64Bs were transferred to the police of East Germany. There were other post-war transfers of BA-64Bs to North Korea, China and Yugoslavia. The BA-64 remains in use with the Korean People's Army Ground Force.

The BA-64B was nicknamed 'Bobik' by its crews.

BA-64s were successfully utilised in reconnaissance and liaison missions despite their light armour and armament. One benefit was the high elevation angle of the DT machine gun in complement with high speed and good manoeuvrability, which allowed BA-64s to be used in urban combat with success against enemy infantry hiding on the upper floors of buildings.

The total production number of BA-64s differs even in Russian sources. The most frequently-stated figures are 9,110 (3,901 BA-64 and 5,209 BA-64B) vehicles which were built in the GAZ automobile plant, although a memorial plaque near the pictured Nizhny Novgorod car states 9,063 cars. The Red Army representatives accepted only 8,174 BA-64s, including 3,390 with radio sets; the other vehicles were transferred to NKVD units and Soviet allies.

The Kit

Nice box art



One sprue (bliss) including a nice commander figure, instructions and a decal sheet with the vehicle number 249 - that’s it



The Build

Brilliantly designed kit with little clean-up required beyond well placed sprue attachments. In terms of fit - the bits almost jump together of their own accord. I used Delux Materials’ glue applicator and their Plastic Magic glue for the first time (Flex-i-File market a similar tool) and it makes the precise application of cement a doodle.
Simple to follow instructions through 5 build steps











Great fun!

Paint job soon

[JayCub]

I really like your builds Rob, and that figure looks really well detailed, so im interested in how you get on.

Tom

[Rob]

Thanks Tom, is a super kit and the figure is painting up a treat.

[DC87]

Brilliant Rob, great photography as well

[ThomasBrown]

TOMMY LIKEY!!! I believe I'm addicted to Tamiya 1/48 armor. Gonna be fun watching you through this one Rob! Cheers!

[AchtungPanzer]

Good work at this stage and good scale 1:48 . Model in this scale not to small not to big. Well done Rob.

[Rob]

Thanks Guys.

Some progress with the brush. I do not have Russian 4BO of the shelf so I base coated with Tamiya XF65 Field Grey and then lightened with XF71 IJN Cockpit Green and then XF71 + white - it looks the part to me!



I used the airbrush to get some streaking effects and used a bit of light brown for the start of dust weathering on the lower part and wheels



I found this image of 249 which also appears in the photo at the start of this thread.



Tamiya supply the main number as a decal but not the unit numbers on the sides and front...so I hand painted the lot!





Weathering next. Thanks for looking

[Coen]

That looks wonderful Rob.
Decals... we don't need no stinking decals!

[Rob]

Thanks Coen - its been a pleasure to do.
Nearly done now - all out of the box apart from a small bit of PE chain for the tow bar, a bit of wire for the headlamp and hand done numbers. It still needs some minor brush strokes and it will appear in the gallery when finalised.

[Coen]

I don't know how you can paint a 1/48 figure that well Rob...
My hat.....

Off!

[AchtungPanzer]

Coen is right - The figure in this scale is super and model too . Good Work my Buddy

[HWGuderian23]

Fabulous work on this little figure Rob !
Looks great !

[wappynutter]

Very nice, tidy build Rob...

...and as always, your figure painting is absolutely stunning!!

Keep it up mate, excellent work indeed!
Thanks for sharing...

[conradschmid99]

great little build