I’ll build this Panda Hobby’s Tunguska, Russian AFV. It’s enjoyable for the first time experience of modern self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery.
There are many small parts of the chassis component, which is a long way until the installation of the caterpillar. There are many tiny parts.
Though there are many burr and parting lines, it is the tolerance level. The axle’s size doesn’t match a tracker roller’s axial hole. It is the impression that the part accuracy is a little insufficient.
This reminds me I have to separate the parts other than a Magic Track. The center guides are another part of this time, so it takes time. Since the part accuracy is good, there is no trouble in particular, and the assembly of a caterpillar was completed.
The tissue is stuffed into a gap until dry to express the hanging of a caterpillar lightly.
(15-January-2016)
I am assembling the body’s top surface. There are many significant parts with slight deformation. I confirmed them one by one and assembled them. I attached the small parts by progress at the same time, but I think it is a consideration that attaches the small parts later because I needed the adjustment the body in various ways.
I have the tool which bent the etched parts called the Etchmate. I bent it with pliers this time. This was easier.
Many etched parts are probably attached because there are dull mold parts. Assembly is difficult, but it becomes sharp.
I think that the same time is better when I glue a chassis to the rear body panel and the upper part. I could assemble it by adjusting the whole when I attach the side fenders.
The twisted upper body has a bad influence; a chassis is also twisted at the time of upper and chassis adhesion. When it’s put on the flat, it doesn’t become stable. I can go forward without amending that twisted body; it can’t help being corrected.
I put a whole body in hot water, adjusting the twisted form. I was pretty worried about such dynamic work after careful assembly.
(30-January-2016)
I struggled to correct the chassis distortion; the ordinary tank’s remaining work is turret which is not so difficult. Tunguska is a long ahead from here to the goal. Assembly instructions are not yet progressed, only up to one-third.
The parts are too small, and the joint is bad. This is the worst combination. But I’m working little by little. It is a round radar like the big drum and one of the anti-air cannons.
The manual is easy to view, but some places are confusing.
The radar and missile launch tubes, having many small parts, such as machine guns, many etched parts, are improving the details.
I completed the turret first because the missile launchers and anti-aircraft guns were too complicated. Never mind, there are manual errors, and I proceeded with my interpretation. Otherwise, it will not be complete all the time.
(06-February-2016)
I connected the missiles and cannons to the turret, but do not fit tightly. This part was quite tricky. I fixed the two machine-gun to the turret first, and the angle was fixed.
The missile launcher was reinforced with epoxy putty from the bottom for adhesive strength. I have a reinforcing metal wire embedded on both sides of the missile. I wonder if someone successfully installed the missile and anti-aircraft machine gun, only the included parts of this kit?
I also assembled the two missiles.
Many metallic parts are used, and it’s a superb vehicle when made up. Perseverance and resolution are needed to be here. It won’t be stopped on the way, and while the willpower continues, I recommend to put together quickly. It couldn’t be put together quickly in my case.
It’s a highly complex shape vehicle in a modeling way. It’s uncommon for a Russian tank.
(10-February-2016)
The body used many photo-etched parts. Even if it isn’t painted, it’s fantastic.
One of the periscopes was not in this kit; I think the design mistakes. What is it? I have it from the clear parts of the rest of the Dragon Models.
The basic color is FS 34102 with the number 303 of the Mr. color. I’m shading it a little. I thought the weathering effect was not required much this time, so I changed the primary color.
I painted the missile and missile launcher. It became more and more good-looking.
The white lines are on the edge of the side fenders and light guards; I did masking before painting.
(13-February-2016)
I struggled but finally finished the Tunguska. This is the ZSU-23-4 Shilka’s successor vehicle.
Tunguska is the name derived from the River in Russia. A significant event occurred when a meteorite exploded in the air about 100 years ago in the Tunguska area. This anti-aircraft tank was named related to an explosion in the air. The appearance seems strong.
I think the vehicle does not have much harmful damage because it is not a wartime vehicle. I have weathered only mud and dust this time, not so much rust.
The total length of the vehicle body is long. Longer than the King Tiger and Elephant, around the same size as the Merkava Mk. IV.
A tail lamp is in three colors. I want to paint more characteristics of the clear parts.
The saw used by two people is always equipped with a Russian tank in the past and now, isn’t it? It was also in this vehicle.
The weathering of raindrops, dust, and dried mud, was given to the hatches. The Towing wires are finished with some rust.
This mark is one of the Guards Corps. Guard forces were an elite military unit in the army of the Eastern European countries (former Soviet side). There was no explanation in particular by instructions of the panda hobby, but a unit in which army district is it? Well, I think it was not made of aluminum. I didn’t have a weathering on the missile launchers.
The radar parts are not well adjustable, so I fixed them. When gluing together, the strength can be kept. I positioned the radar not straight to the front, the angle slightly slanted.
A gun turret is toward the front, so there is an open space in the rear. Many panels and nets are arranged. I suppose there is an engine compartment, fuel tanks, and the missiles and bullets storage.
Installation of the main armaments was more complicated than the skewness correction of the body.
Is the front round radar? It is Spinning and moving. When there are some moving parts, the decoration is fun.
I think a dent on the radar is the surface sink. I had shaped a little bit but remained.
The crew of the Tunguska is six people. Because there are many weapons, several people will be necessary. Six people seem to ride the size of this vehicle easily.
The tank side is also moderate weathering.
I used a clear resin for the headlights because it’s the atmosphere of the 40 years kit if I used a part in this kit.
It isn’t so incongruous, so it’s no problem for the periscope to be converted from the other kit.
Roughly speaking, 80 percent of the connecting points don’t fit smoothly. I had trouble adjusting big parts and a main connecting point. I can laugh, and through all problems, if it’s the 30 years before the released kit, I think few modelers are convinced.
However, I felt the manufacturer’s enthusiasm as they released this complicated shape vehicle in the 2nd model. Today, many have been released; it may be an easier assembly process.
The firing range is around 10km, with an altitude of 3,500m.
To watch the video, the top radar turned around speedy.
Is it unnatural to turn a rocket launcher to this angle? But the appearance is fantastic.
This Tunguska is a high-performance weapon; the high production cost prevents the widespread deployment in Russia in large quantities. The kit price is also relatively high.
In the assembly of the last part, I judged some processes that I couldn’t understand with the manual. When it’s done up, it’s powerful.
(16-February-2016)
