28mm Panhard VBL (Completed with photos 3/5/13)

[Rob_bresnen]

I managed to pick up a couple of 1/48 scale Panhard VBL on eBay for a reasonable price and want to add them to my Nigerian Army peacekeepers.



Now I am not a model maker by nature, so this was quite an undertaking for me. I rooted through my bits box and found some useful bits.



The first one was kitted out with as Mistral Surface to Area Missile system- Very useful, I am sure, but not much fun for a Force on Force game. I set about converting it into a VBL Reco, with a 50 cal MG in a turret, like this one...



...I used an inverted Chimera turret, built up with plasticard. The MG is by Imprint Miniatures, but I changed the barrel for a brass rod as it was too bendy. I also glued the doors shut and added plasticard over the inside of the side windows, which were open.

I think teh turret is a bit too big, but not enough to worry me.

The second one has a 20mm auto cannon, so I have left that one as it is, but I might replace the barrel with a longer slimmer one, as I have seen the reference photos and the actual barrel is much longer. This one has also had it's windows blocked up.



The VBL 20mm is capable of AA fire, as seen in this photo. note the long slim barrel.



Anyway, there you go. They will be sprayed and painted in Nigerian Army colours (basically flat green). In all probably it might be a few weeks before I get round to it as I am furiously preping for LPL7.

Comments welcome.

[Dewbakuk]

They look good. Do you have a link to the ebay auctions? The only VBL's I've come across previously are 1/43rd not 1/48th.

[Rob_bresnen]

Try this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130865460819?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

[Dewbakuk]

Cool cheers. Gives me an idea of what to look out for

[carlos marighela]

Nice stuff Rob.

Dewbakuk if you are having difficulty sourcing a Maisto VBL, take a look at the Gasoline resin version. It's a pretty simple kit despite being multi media.

[carlos marighela]

More for scaling purposes....

[voltan]

Nice work Rob

And Carlos please don't show any more, I can't afford to be tempted by those

[Rob_bresnen]

Those Gas.oline ones are lovely, but at 28 Euros each plus postage they were too expensive for what I need. These die-cast worked out better value even if they need more work.

here's a link to the gasoline ones.

http://www.phpshopxml.com/quakit.shop/CID/5e8b9173046823805639fa81e77e824d/function/itemPageDisplay/shopItemCode/GAS50219K

[pocoloco]

Nice find those Maisto ones Rob. Will look good once painted.

[Rob_bresnen]

Here they are finished.

There are a load more photos of my Nigerian Army force over on my new Force on Force Blog- Hotel Zugando. Here is a linkhttp://ultramoderngaming.blogspot.co.uk/.

[Dave Knight]

Following with interest

I would love to play some more FoF but its no so popular at my club

[dsmith]

Nice stuff Rob...... who makes the T -55 in the last photo?
good stuff love your blot btw.....good gun. D

[Mason]

Great result, Rob!
Very well done!
 

[Rob_bresnen]

Nice stuff Rob...... who makes the T -55 in the last photo?
good stuff love your blot btw.....good gun. D

That T55 is a diecast from the film goldeneye. It came with one of those collecters magazines. I bought it on eBay for about£14. I just repainted it. I is 1:50 scale.

[carlos marighela]

If you need any more Rob, there are a few ebay stores in China that produce 1/50 scale T-55s for about $15.00 a pop.