I needed a break from Napoleonics, so I finally got around to building Scheltrum's Russo-Balt armored car, part of their new and seemingly mysterious November Revolution line.
When I heard about their new vehicles last year, the only way of getting info, besides this forum, was to ask for the latest catalog that included the new vehicles. I ordered a Russo-Balt A/C and a White A/C sight-unseen. Here's my first report. Please note that I am not a historical accuracy nut nor a master modeler, but I will modify things I think are just plain wrong...if I can.
Parts in the kit:
The body cast was very good -- very few if any bubbles or bridging. The bottom, of course, has to be sanded down to remove excess resin and make it flat. The wheels (photo shows front and back) have two grooves cut into the tires, so I filed down the outer surface but didn't remove them completely because I didn't want the wheels undersized (according to line drawings found online). It's not clear where the wheel rim stops and the tire starts. Most photos online show a solid, smooth surface wheel, but a few show the wheel as provided so I left them as is.
Construction:
Scheltrum provides a simple line drawing showing where the axles should go. It also states the scale is 1/52. I started with the axles. The metal used is very soft and bendable, so care must be taken. I wasn't sure if the two prongs on the axle are to be seen or for inserting into the body for strength, so I opted for strength. The center wheel hole for the axle is way too big, so I filled it with epoxy and re-drilled for better, less sloppy fit. The three machine guns provided are too big and too short, again according to photos and plans online, so I made new ones from plastic rod and wire. I opted not to mount the two lanterns, but used the searchlight; the only photo I found showed the searchlight front mounted on more of a frame, so I added a second mounting arm. Here are left and right photos:
For comparison, here's a photo of the Russo-Balt with a Black Army Productions Erhardt and a Company B Austin-Putilov. The Czar himself (West Wind) admires his toys.
One thing I realized after a while is that the model has no rivet detail. Now, I understand they're a pain to do, but rivets add a lot of character to a vehicle, so I may do it myself before I paint. (I use the epoxy drop method.) Of course, that may take a while.
Chuck
November 08, 2011, 05:01:32 PM