UPDATED: Filatov Available This Week!

[Doc Twilight]

Hello, everyone.

I mentioned this on Forum Noir a while ago, but I haven't had a chance to promote it much. After the "Build Something" Contest Mancha was kind enough to agree to sculpt the Filatov 3 Wheeled Armored Car as a castable master for Black Army.

The Filatov was a Russian design, first developed in 1916. It featured a three wheeled chassis, with a pair of rear mounted 7.62mm machine guns; after some unsuccessful testing with a 37mm gun, the dual machine gun version was approved for purchase and production by the Russian Army.  Essentially, the idea was that it would be a quick moving mobile pillbox, with enough maneuverability to get out of the problems encountered by heavy vehicles.

Unlike many Russian designs of the period, this one was actually produced soon enough to see action on Russia's western border during the First World War, where its' performance against the Central Powers (the reports I've looked at don't say whether the troops faced were German or Austro-Hungarian)was gauged as "quite satisfactory." After 1917, the Filatov was used during the Russian Civil War by both sides, and then remained in the Red Army arsenal until the mid 1920s.

Could, therefore, be of great use for Russo-Polish, Back of Beyond, RCW, and WW1 Scenarios, as well as a variety of Interwar scraps. One source says that 10 vehicles were built with the dual MG configuration; another twenty were built with a single MG.

Anyway, this is a unique, very interesting little vehicle, and I think Mancha has done an excellent job with it. I am sending the model off to the caster this week, and I expect it will be available no later than March (maybe earlier, if you cross your fingers.) This is is a fairly small model, 28mm (or roughly 1/56 scale), with an optional open crew compartment hatch.When I can get the initial castings in, I'll try to take some photos with miniatures so that you can get a better idea of the size. For those of you familiar with our Euzkadi, the Filatov is slightly smaller, although the kit has a few more parts. I expect to sell the kit beginning at $20US.

Here are some photos from my gallery, taken by Mancha (as I have the master wrapped up for shipping, and can't be bothered to unpack to take my own photos;) ).

Comments, questions, etc. are most welcome. Incidentally, the Romfell is going to be out rather soon; Tobi's DaVinci tank is still inbound to me, but I hope to have it out to the caster in the next few days, as well.

Profile view of the 28mm Filatov


Profile view, showing the top hatch opened


Rear view of the Filatov, showing the armament. (Wouldn't be too hard to make yourself a 37mm gun in place of one of the machine guns, if you wanted to use the unproduced 'heavy' prototype).


Image of the kit, with pieces. The holes are for filling the master with resin, and won't appear in the final model.



-Doc

[Schogun]

So...the Romfell, the Filatov and soon the Garford.

I'm in A/C heaven!

Thanks Doc, Tobi and Mancha.

[Mancha]

I plan to use mine for Quar; with its long snout, it looks like it was designed for them. 

[Christian]

I really like it!

[6milPhil]

Very nice indeed.

Have you got a UK distributor?

[bollix]

My wallet despairs over all the wonderful ACs coming out! But I want this one too - very nice.

[Doc Twilight]

Very nice indeed.

Have you got a UK distributor?

Unfortunately, I do not. I'm a small, two person operation, and I just don't have the resources to go with distribution. However, our shipping prices are very reasonable, as we only charge at cost, plus a nominal handling fee (about half of the price of the packaging used, so the standard handling fee is generally 2.00 or less). Typically most shipments to the UK, including the heavy stuff, run no more than $12 US. Used to be closer to $6 tops (and still is for most of the lighter items), but the USPS has raised shipping rates twice since the year began.

I don't do the typical "x percentage of price", because it doesn't work well with US Post, as US post rates fluctuate so frequently that it would be impossible to keep updating the percentage.


Thank you all for the kind words. Master is cast and on its way to me for inspection as we speak, I expect to get it (and the first production run of Romfells) on Monday or Tuesday of next week.

-Doc

[Count Winsky]

Really cool!!!  Where do we buy this?

[moif]

Oh that is just too cute. I want two of them! 

[The Dozing Dragon]

I love it! Come on Doc, it's March already!!

[Doc Twilight]

I know,I know.
I really wish I could figure out how to do the casting myself, but so far, no luck.

Master castings are on their way to me for inspection. Should have a release date soon.

-Doc

[Doc Twilight]

Well, pleased to say that this thing is -finally- in  production and on its way to me. Should be available for sale by the end of the week, possibly sooner (out of my hands - it's a USPS Priority Mail thing.. 2-5 days, depending upon the mood they're in.)

I am extremely happy with the way it cast up, which is to say, perfectly. Minimal flash on the metal bits, very smooth cast on the resin. Mancha certainly knew what he was doing when he sculpted it. Perhaps I can convince him to do more at some point...

I've already painted up an example, and will show it in the next LPL round, if all goes according to plan.

At any rate, the kit will run about $20 US to begin with. Consists of resin hull with open command compartment, metal hatch to close or position open on said compartment, three metal wheels, and two metal 7.62mm machine gun barrels. Very easy kit to put together. I would recommend attaching the wheels first and allowing them to dry with the hull in an inverted position, to save you a bit of stress.

I will be taking orders for these soon, but if you want to go ahead and reserve yours, feel free to drop me a line, and I'll make sure that the car(s) you order will be going out with the first wave (likely this Saturday, no later than a week from today).

Thanks!

-Doc

[Mancha]

I'm in!  I've been waiting for this to order the Romfell as well.  My ladies need some attractive wheels.  Please set one aside for me.  And I can't wait to see your paintjob.

[Doc Twilight]

I'm in!  I've been waiting for this to order the Romfell as well.  My ladies need some attractive wheels.  Please set one aside for me.  And I can't wait to see your paintjob.

I'm sure, seeing that you're the sculptor, we might be able to work something out for some of these little beauties. And if you're interested in eventually doing more sculpting, do let me know. I might have a few things coming up.

-Alex

[Mancha]

And if you're interested in eventually doing more sculpting, do let me know. I might have a few things coming up.

I have to confess, I'm actually not very good at this.  I think I did a good Filatov because (a) it's sort of within the realm of motorcycles, which I very much like, and (b) it's all angles instead of curves.  Toby's much better at this vehicle manufacture thing.  You've got some great ideas and models though, and I want to support you. Thanks for doing interesting things.