1:24 PA-72C "Krembo Commander" (Dorvack) with R2 hand laser

Dizzyfugu · January 04, 2020, 02:32:52 AM

Dorvack +++ 1:24 PA-72C "Krembo Commander" powered armor suit with R2 hand laser (Whif/converted Aoshima PAM-74 kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Every now and then I feel a dire urge to tackle one of the Dorvack PA kits from my pile, and towards 2019's end it was time to succumb to this drive once more. This one is a non-canonical, fictional creation, based on a "real" PAM-74, from a re-released (2008) Aoshima twin kit combo . The first one from this set had already been built as an anti-aircraft PA-72, armed with missiles, a while ago, and since this personal variant of the PAM-74 without its missile pods and some other cosmetic changes looked very good, I built another one.

Even though the Dorvack PAs are rather simple kits, they need some skill because the parts do not fit THAT well. However, you have to keep in mind that the molds were created in the early 80ies, as a quick merchandising shot for another new "Real Robot" TV series which were all the rage in Japan at that time. The series flopped, however, but the mecha designs left a deep impression (some later appeared as Transformers!). The Powered Armors are quite unique, and they are older than Yokoyama Kow's Ma.K./ZbV3000/Maschinenkrieger stuff, which they actually inspired!

Dorvack +++ 1:24 PA-72C "Krembo Commander" powered armor suit with R2 hand laser (Whif/converted Aoshima PAM-74 kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The kit and its assembly:
This time, however, I wanted to create a rather "normal" version of "my" PA-72, a classic infantry piece as a kind of successor to the bulky PA-36HD, which, in the TV series, seems to be equipment for higher Earth Defence army ranks. The idea of the PA-72 series and behind this conversion was a predecessor for the PAM-74 series, of which two authentic models are available. The PAM-74 appears to be an artillery support variant, primarily armed with mini missiles – lots of them! It carries three mini missile launcher arrays on its shoulders that hold a total of 75 rounds, plus more in an optional hand-held twin launcher (resulting in 105 rounds!). The other kit, the PAM-74AM, seems to be an anti-aircraft system, which carries six additional missiles on its back, cramped in between the standard mini missile launchers and additionally armed with a light laser weapon that replaces the right hand.

While the first PA-72 was an anti-aircraft variant, with two missile containers on the shoulders and a radar dish on the back, this one was to become a standard foot soldier variant, operated by a commander or a platoon leader. These frequently carry a kind of radome on their PAs' back, and integrated weapons are also common.

Work on the PAM-74 basis started as usual with the assembly of the major components. Arms and legs were built OOB. The modification of the torso was more thorough. As an initial move I erased the triangular "cheeks" on both sides of the visor, sanding them away. This time I kept the original vertical visor slit, but filled it with a thin piece of styrene sheet to fill the seam that runs through this area and normally is hard to sand even.

Dorvack +++ 1:24 PA-72C "Krembo Commander" powered armor suit with R2 hand laser (Whif/converted Aoshima PAM-74 kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Dorvack +++ 1:24 PA-72C "Krembo Commander" powered armor suit with R2 hand laser (Whif/converted Aoshima PAM-74 kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Then the original missile launcher boxes had to disappear from the PA's shoulders - they were genrously cut away and the opening covered with styrene sheet. Then a new back section was sculpted from styrene profiles and finally covered under 2C putty. In order to make the PA's shape more interesting I added a leftover fairing from a PA-36 onto the left shoulder, and for the radome I added a matching adapter from a PA-58 kit between the shoulders. Intergarting all these new parts required some serious PSR, but the result is very good, the PA-72 looks very natural and believable.

As personal weapon I gave the PA-72 a standard R2 Hand laser, taken from a PA-36 kit. Adapting it to the slightly smaller PAM-74 arm was difficult, though, and I had to switch the small display from the original left hand to a right hand position. Into the laser nozzle I added a clear lens, and cables connect the new heavy hand weapon with the PA's hull - and authentic detail that is omitted on the Aoshima kits.

Painting and markings:
The paint scheme is pretty simple and was actually inspired by an 1:35 scale resin model of a PAM-74 that I saw many years ago in a Japanese modelling magazine: overall dark blue with a light blue "head" section. I cannot tell whether it's an authentic livery - I haven't seen such a variant in official OAV material that I have seen. But the livery looks plausible enough to adapt it.

Dorvack +++ 1:24 PA-72C "Krembo Commander" powered armor suit with R2 hand laser (Whif/converted Aoshima PAM-74 kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The basic overall tone became Revell 350 (Lufthansa Blau, RAL 5013), while the helmet was painted with Humbrol 47. As a unique detail carried over from the resin model in the magazine, I painted the ball joints on the arms and legs in glossy black instead of a silver tone. This creates a more coherent overall look of the armored suit.
As per usual, the kit received a black ink wash for weathering and some dry-brushing for light effects and panel shading. I wanted a noticeably worn look that would add some seriousness to the colorful PA - after all, it is a piece of military equipment, fighting an alien invasion!

Dorvack +++ 1:24 PA-72C "Krembo Commander" powered armor suit with R2 hand laser (Whif/converted Aoshima PAM-74 kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

In order to add some more contrast to the model and to avoid a too uniform look I added a white "chest box" and white trim to the upper arms, lower legs and the lower back, created with decal stripes. The visor slit was first painted black and finally filled with a piece of blue metallic PET foil. The radome was painted seperately in Humbrol 56 (Aluminum Dope), the "lamp" on top of it was laid out with silver and finally painted over with translucent red paint.

Almost all stencils and markings come from the PAM-74's OOB sheet, but I wanted a white tactical code on this one. The latter had to be improvised: the "17" was created from single white decal strips of varying width. Fiddly, but the result looks very good.

Dorvack +++ 1:24 PA-72C "Krembo Commander" powered armor suit with R2 hand laser (Whif/converted Aoshima PAM-74 kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Dorvack +++ 1:24 PA-72C "Krembo Commander" powered armor suit with R2 hand laser (Whif/converted Aoshima PAM-74 kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Once the kit was sealed with matt acrylic varnish (the black joints were treated with a semi-glossy varnish) I gave the model a thorough coat with mineralic artist pigments, simulating dust in general and mud crusts around the feet in specific. I even added some grass fibres to the feet, at the large 1:24 scale this does not look out of place.

Basically a quick build, but while the kit itself went together with relatively little problems, the whole thing called for constant attention and corrections. The surgery on the back was easier than expected - the former build of the other PA-72 certainly helped.
The paint job was also not free from trouble, since the Revell enamel paint would not adhere so well to the plastic like other enamels I frequently use. And the glossy Humbrol enamel for the helmet section took ages to dry... Patience helped in both cases. The result looks very convincing and purposeful, though.

Another family member.

NARSES2 · January 05, 2020, 02:14:45 AM

Fascinating

You are introducing me to a whole new world I knew nothing about

My initial thought on glimpsing the top picture was that he/it was patting it's hell-hound on the head with their left "hand", then realised it was a tree trunk or similar

Dizzyfugu · January 05, 2020, 02:42:52 AM

I see what you mean!

1:24 PA-72C "Krembo Commander" (Dorvack) with R2 hand laser

Dizzyfugu

NARSES2

Dizzyfugu