Global Scale Modeller

As the IS-3 finished so quickly I thought I'd have another go.
I have 2 of Tamiya's SAS Pinkies in the stash so I'm going to go with building one as it was used by 22 SAS in the Yemen desert - a Pinkie - and one as used by 21 SAS(R) in the European theatre - a Greenie.


Because the European theatre used Bar Grip tyres instead of Sand tyres I'll be using the Bar Grips from this:


Which will get the Sand tyres instead.

Great subjects!

Hurrah! Here come the Brits. Jolly good show and God save the King!

Let the building begin

Instructions (common to both)










Sprues






The build (Greenie first)
Sprues primed






Step 1 - chassis & transmission
Painted before assembly


Assembled


Wheels and tyres. Sand tyres on the left, Bar Grips on the right.
Goes without saying the way they attach is different so that needs to be worked out

Typicalky - both kits use different ways of attaching the wheels to the axles so it seemed wise to assemble the Italeri kit at the same time - then I can cross recerence each way as I go. So - here are the two chassis . Bear in mind the Tamiya kit (on the left) is of a Series 2 whilst the Italeri kit is of a Series 3.


And with the wheels ready to plan how to swap them over.


To fit the 7.50x16 bar grips to the Tamiya kit it was necessary to create stub axles fro the front wheels. I measured the holes in the Bar Grip wheels they were 1.9mm dia so I opened the inner to 2mm and, using increasing sizes of drill bored a 2mm hub in the ball koint then used a 5mm length of 2mm dia plastic rod




The rears did not need modifications. The sand tyres needed a 1.5mm dia hole drilled into the front wheels to take the Italeri front axle.
These are all done, wheels are painted & just need finishing. Then both sets can go on. The Italeri kit has the inner wings, bulkhead and front panel fitted

Nice tandem build.

If it were me there would be a high % chance of attaching the wrong bits to the wrong kits!

Also, kudos to you on the knowledge front. Its great when life experiences add good insights to what is being built

Started work on the interiors today. Wheels are still only dry fit hence why they look wibbly-wobbly.

Good progress.

The different tires are showing nicely. Good call on getting the after market ones.

Not one , but 2 landies and loving it.

digger303 wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2026 12:49 pm Not one , but 2 landies and loving it.

There will be 3 in the end - at the moment we have one Tamiya SAS "Pinkie" being dome in the Green of the European theatre as used by 21 SAS and a standard Italeri GS 109" being built in the standard desert scheme of Light Stone/Green. The reason for this being in the European theatre the "Pinkie" would have been fotted with standard 7.50x16 wheels with Bar Grip tyres & the Tamiya kit only comes with the desert issue balloon sand tyres. So I swapped the wheels and tyres over between the two kits.
Tonight the bodies started to go on!!

The "Greenie"




The standard 109"

Did you say a third one?

That makes it a threesome!



(Apologies )

Stokesy44 wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 7:53 am Did you say a third one?

That makes it a threesome!



(Apologies )

Now the Viggens finished its time to get back into these again

The wheels went on during the Viggen build, I just never got around to posting about it:


Last couple of days has gotten this far - the Greenie is 99% complete:




Some minor detail painting to finish and then the driver if I decide to use the figure. I'm in 2 minds about that right now.

The 109" Series 3 is maybe 85% done. It needs some gloss where the decal go (reg plates), the web spider that holds the spare onto the bonnet needs trimming to fit then an overall coat of matt varnish before the glazing installed.




The Pinkie isn't started yet - I'm still trying to match the Pink as close as possible as I am crap at mixing colours. Thought I'd found it in Tamiyas range of aerosols - didnt realize it was a pearl finish! Oops...

Update: Found a damn close match - AW4447 "Fey Pink" by Army Painter. Bottle ordered, will be here in 3 to 5 days.

Good to see these back on the bench.

We have a Pink thats close enough to the original to be acceptable!!



Now work can start on the actual Pinkie!!

RangerNeil wrote: Tue Apr 28, 2026 2:26 pm We have a Pink thats close enough to the original to be acceptable!!

Now work can start on the actual Pinkie!!

Go go go!

Really nice - I do like British Cold war stuff and these are great. It's funny that you're building a greenie, I watched 'Who Dares Wins' a few months back and these was one in that (in the background in one scene) - I've fancied building one ever since. Yours looks excellent.

Portman wrote: Sat May 02, 2026 7:34 pm Really nice - I do like British Cold war stuff and these are great. It's funny that you're building a greenie, I watched 'Who Dares Wins' a few months back and these was one in that (in the background in one scene) - I've fancied building one ever since. Yours looks excellent.

Thank you for the kind words!!

Progress continues - Pink parts are all painted now, photos show the brushed finish but today they got done with the airbrush ((*)







(*) Seem to have an issue with one airbrush - its spraying off centre toward the 9 o'clock position meaning its catching the edge of the nozzle then blowing splats of paint out once enough has built up. I've tried rotating the needle, made no difference. Tried deep cleaning the mozzle again no difference. Anyone got any ideas what might be causing this???

Work continues on the Pinkie. The interior and the front are assembled and on. Next step is the rear tub.

Very nice indeed! It's looking very much in the pink!

Pinkie is almost finished - just needs a coat of Matt varnish.












The Greenie and the GS have had the Matt applied, the GS just needs the glazing fitted and it will be 100% complete.

Man that seemed to come together quick.

digger303 wrote: Sun May 10, 2026 12:07 pm Man that seemed to come together quick.

What can I say - it IS a Tamiya kit!!

OK - calling these done now. Final photos in the reveal section. I really enjoyed these builds.

What's not fun about Tamiya kits, everything fits and they go together so easily.
I think I prefer the greenie the most and having a think about it. I suspect it's because of the visual variation.
Nicely done

That is a cracker!