Model Armour

Russian BTR-60P APC Basic Set

Manufacturer: ET Model

Scale: 1/35

Material: Photo-etch, Acetate & Resin

Serial Number: E35-120

Price: Unknown

Introduction

ET Model from China has a rapidly expanding catalogue of photo-etched and detail sets for a wide variety of kits in varying scales, together with a very prolific release schedule.  This set is intended to detail the Trumpeter 01542 kit.

Set Contents

ET Model keeps doing this. By 'this' I of course mean releasing a 'Basic' set that by all appearances is anything but 'basic'. My first impressions are that it's fairly comprehensive. Makes you wonder what they have in store for the all dancing, all-singing detail set when it's released.

The set consists of six photo-etched brass frets of varying sizes, plus a small acetate film, and one small resin part in a ziploc bag. The instructions run to four sides of A4, and all this contained within a plastic wallet stapled to a cardboard header.

I can describe what's in the set, but not having the Trumpeter kit is a bit of a hindrance, since I don't know exactly what's in that set! Anyhoo....first off, all the photo-etched frets are in different gauges of brass....which speaks volumes about the design of the set, i.e. some serious thought has gone into its design. The instructions begin with illustrating the construction of the large propeller assembly at the rear of this amphibious vehicle and the water intake mesh on the lower surface of the hull.

The propeller assembly for the water jet is constructed of several parts that must be annealed and rolled to shape to produce the surrounding frames, whilst the actual kit part is used for the propeller itself. The two twin rudders are produced in photo-etch, to which short lengths of styrene rod must be added, and sourced from elsewhere to act as the pivots on which they're mounted. Although the set does not provide replacement sideways opening doors for the propeller assembly, it does provide some small fittings to detail this area, so that the twin doors can be opened to display the propeller etc. The large circular mesh over the water intake on the bottom of the hull is provided as a new photo-etched part, and for this ET Model use a method of producing it that I first came across when using a photo-etched set to make the various steps for the Trumpeter Kriegslocomotive. To make the grid appear three-dimensional, all the strips in one direction have small slots etched into them, into which all the other slats fit into to. It makes for a surprisingly strong structure, and looks extremely effective too. Whilst on the bottom of the hull, there are also new inspection hatches supplied, along with fender supports for the sides of the hull.

The small clear acetate sheet supplied in the set has dials printed onto it to use with the replacement driver's dash supplied. There are other details for the interior supplied too, which are fairly noticeable on the finished model since it was an open topped vehicle. Various details around the cabin area, including panels, data plates, seat mounting frames, etc. are provided with replacements. All the various tools mounted to the outside of the vehicle are supplied with replacement clamps, and some, such as the spade for example, are supplied with a new blade for example, whilst the instructions indicate you should supply your own styrene rod again for various handles, and suggests an appropriate diameter to use.

Inside the troop area, the two hatches through to the engine compartment are provided with new details such as the locking dogs and handles, whilst above them on the top of the engine compartment and the sides, the two exhausts receive two new shrouds apiece, a narrow one on each pipe, and a wider one on the box at each side. Along the lower edge of each hull side there are step strips provided, along with various other details for the hull sides such as covers for the crew vision ports, tie downs and hatch hinges for the crew compartment hatches.

On the front there's a replacement searchlight mounting, along with headlight brackets for both the infra red and normal lights, one on each side, fascia and shroud guards, windscreen wipers, hatch hinges and handles, and antennae bracket, for which there is also a resin antennae base supplied in the set.

The last set of installation instructions are for the 12.7 mm DShK Heavy machine gun mounted on the hull in front of the co-driver/gunner. Aside from a complete replacement for the ammo can, and various parts to improve the detail on the mount, there are several parts to enhance the detail on the gun itself, such as sights, trigger mechanism, handles etc.

Conclusion

An extremely well thought out and designed set that enhances all the right areas. It will still be interesting to see what else ET Model come up with over and above this 'basic' set...but I've a feeling this one will suffice for most modellers! Recommended.

My thanks to ET MODEL for the review sample.