BTR APCs for Cold War

[italwars]

Hello friends

just an advice from those experts on CW vehicles..i already own some and its quite easy to find, on market places, second hand cheap 1/72  diecast models of the BTR 80..
In fact i would need BTRs for my Soviet and DRA forces during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan 1979-1989 ..then repainting the majority in Soviet green, no insignia,  and overstretching their use, as proxies, also  for various Cold War scenarios including Arab armies, Angola-SADF conflicts, Ethiopia/Ogaden War ecc . I'm aware that BTR 80s were quite rare during CW,  the bulk being the BTR60/70 versions..

my silly question is: could, at this scale, BTR 80s pass also for early series models (BTR 60 or 70) ?

thanks in advance

[robh]

Almost certainly yes (apart from the open top 60A).

The BTR70 and 80 are virtually identical anyway, differences are detail not substantive.
The BTR60 has noticeable differences if you are looking for them, but still the basic shape and configuration of the vehicle are the same.
I don't see anyone giving you grief over using one as the other.

[italwars]

Thanks for the answer!  that's perfect so my brand new BTR 80s will be  downgrated to BTR 60s, painted in soviet green, sufficiently rusted, stripped of  any internal too much sophisticated  technological devices  and sent to the Derg's generals 

[SJWi]

Agreed. As I understand it the BTR80s main difference compared to the BTR60 was in replacing the twin petrol engines with a single diesel engine. There are associated changes with the engine deck/compartment. Armour was also slightly thicker but looks  pretty much the same. As long as you stick to BTRs armed with the 14.5mm heavy machine gun you are fine. 

[carlos marighela]

It depends upon how particular you are. The BTR-80 has subtle yet quite distinct differences to the BTR-60 and BTR-80, at least to my eye.  Hull shape is noticeably different to the BTR-60  as is the turret upon close inspection and the rear end is essentially a flat, perpinducular rather than a sloped shape. There's also the issue of the side doors, which were introduced as a tactical refinement, lessening exposure, as you can only debus over the top of the BTR-60.

That said, the model is an avatar and seen from a few feet away, I doubt anyone would notice, so if BTR-80s are available at the right price, seems perfectly fine to me to proxy them as earlier models.

[italwars]

Practical and fine answers! thanks to both

[dickiegranthum]

Practical and fine answers! thanks to both

BTRs are just wheeled targets. 🤣