Zvezda 1/35 M-72 Motorbike Combo with Mortar

[Dave Ward]

Having completed the Dragon M4 Mortar Carrier, by association, I picked out this:

This dates to 2012 the original was just a motorbike & sidecar. The M-72 was based on a BMW, so the models are available in Soviet or German variants...............
Sprue shots
The sprues are crisp & flash free - a lot of tiny parts!
Instructions- b&w line diagrams, look clear

You can build it in 2 versions - I'm going for version 2

A few detail shots


This is in 1/35, so I reckon there's enough detail! The only thing that might improve on it is a PE fret for the wheel spokes. The figures look OK, in 'busy' poses. I've put a new blade in my scalpel & cleaned up my tweezers, so I will start this shortly.
Dave

[adt70hk]

Cool!!

[Jim R]

Looks nice. You're right about pe spokes at this scale - they look better.
Jim

[Tim Marlow]

Oooh…a Cossack ur(in)al…….
Should be good Dave. Kit parts look nicely detailed and crisp. Might find this page interesting as well…..

http://www.cossack-motorcycles.com/ural-motorcycles-imz/

[Guest]

That looks like a fairly involved kit. Odd there is no option to build it with the mortar and ammo stowed in the sidecar, though.

[Dave Ward]

That looks like a fairly involved kit. Odd there is no option to build it with the mortar and ammo stowed in the sidecar, though.

The two figures are firing the mortar - if it was stowed, you'd have two surplus figures, and you'll need to source two Russian riders!
Dave

[Guest]

Still, it would be handy for anyone wanting the bike without figures, or in a diorama or something. Shouldn’t be too hard to cut apart the bipod so it can be stowed, of course.

[Dave Ward]

OK,whilst waiting for my Ferrari decals to settle, I've made a start on this. First thing I find is that there are only 2 sprues, A & B. Sprue A is separated into two parts - I spent ages looking for one part, on what I thought was the only sprue A.
Definitely a scalpel & tweezer assembly - which starts with the engine

Most of the parts for the engine........................

and what it makes up to - although one part has been claimed by the carpet monster ( it's first snack for several weeks! ) I'll have to try & scratch something to replace it, but it's on the sidecar side, so may not be too obvious
Dave

[The Smythe Meister]

Nice choice Dave
I did this a few years ago and it's a cracking little kit in my opinion,it makes for a tidy little Dio without needing too much ground work too
I'll be watching your take on it with much interest
Andy

[Jim R]

Hi Dave
Rather a neat looking engine especially given the size.
Jim

[johnm93]

One of those could be useful for commuting in the South East...

[Dave Ward]

Definitely not to be attempted if you have shaky hands - all tweezer assembly & holding your breath!!!

The instructions are bit vague in the positioning of some parts - you have to offer up bits & work out the orientation - there are locating spigots, but they are very small, and I reckon I trimmed one off cleaning up the part. I'll add a few more parts to the frame, then prime & basecoat it, as that will be tricky if I leave it until after I fit the ( now painted ) engine. Those wheel spokes are a bit overscale, but will be OK after painting & weathering ( I hope )..................
Dave

[The Smythe Meister]

Yep..... Tricky little blighters aren`t they Dave:nerd:,
Paint as you go is definitely the answer for sure:thumb2:,
Andy

[Dave Ward]

A bit more work done, but life has got in the way of the important things today!

I've been looking for a base, not a diorama size, more a vignette - found one, which looks about right, been painted as a desert, but I think mud would be more appropriate
Dave