BTR-80 hull + T-72 turret = BTR-72 tank destroyer (UPD #2 - Assembly complete)

[ChernayaAkula]

Very cool.  I take it you've seen the Cuban take on a similar conversion (though with older pieces)?

No, I actually hadn't. Thanks for the pic. Any further info regarding lineage of the turret and armament?
My first idea was something like the Centauro, with the turret at the far back. But that would have been problematic, as the BTR-80 has its engine there. So I moved it forward. I did find a pic of a real Soviet design of that layout, the 2S14 Zhalo-S with an 85mm gun. More profiles and pics in the BTR-XX THREAD

[Sauragnmon]

The side vertical of the extensions is fine, there's not much else you can do to re-slope it really.  The main point of note is on the sides of the extensions.  You could widen the extension tops a little, and potentially make the side a little more trapezoidal along the center line, in order to increase slope and deflection over the extensions.  That would be the first method to remodel them, if you wanted to.

[Logan Hartke]

No, I actually hadn't. Thanks for the pic. Any further info regarding lineage of the turret and armament?

Yeah, it's a heavily modified and updated BTR-60 chassis/hull with a cut down T-55 turret.  It's their own turret, but they've taken the entire front part of the turret with gun, mantlet, sights, etc and incorporated into their new, slimmer, lighter turret.  You can see they did the same thing with the upper hull that you did to accommodate the turret.

Logan Hartke

[General Zod]

Great looking project 

[ChernayaAkula]

Assembly is now complete! 



The "big-arse muzzle brake"^TM is evident. I sandwiched two pieces of the white styrene I used for the hull insert (actually train modelling sheets for making roads or concrete surfaces, but they're cheap) to make a thicker slab and cut it to shape. Then I used a hacksaw to cut in the gills. They're a bit irregular, but I'm happy with it. Not the world's most-advanced muzzle brake, but it should be effective. 

Close-up:



Profile:



The muzzle brake only lengthens the gun a tiny bit, as I cut of one segment where the muzzle brake now sits.

Top shot:



I thought I'd retain the handrails. Something for the crew to lash their stuff to.



The turret was a joy to assemble. Even the IR searchlight didn't pose much of a problem. Only one of the stowage boxes was a bit tricky to fit.

It's just missing the ubiquitous Dushka 12.7mm MG -  and a paint job. I'm still leaning towards the sand and olive drab with black stripes.

[BlackOps]

     Looking good!

[rallymodeller]

Now, that is one Big-Assed Muzzle Brake™! It'd be like shooting three rounds -- one to the front and one to each side! Area-fire weapon!

That looks great. Surprisingly, it actually seems more plausible than the Stryker MGS...

[Sauragnmon]

Very wicked, and very Soviet looking.  The handrails do seem fitting, they avoid the sides looking too... smooth.

You might consider mounting some extensions into the sides so you can hang some armored skirts over the wheels in a thought.  The big arse muzzlebrake looks fitting too, and it would be beautiful to behold that sucker firing, just awe inspiring, and frightening.

And it does look more plausible than the MGS... I don't quite like the MGS, really, it just doesn't look... complete.

[GTX]

Looking great!!!!

regards,

Greg

[sudzonic]

NICE can't wait to se it with some paint on it.

[ChernayaAkula]

Thanks, guys! 

Don't know when I'll get round to painting it.

Side skirts? Interesting idea, although I rather like the look of the big wheels on wheeled fighting vehicles.

[John Howling Mouse]

This is the kind of "crazy" I really respect.  BOOM, baby!!!         

[wagnersm]

Ooo. Interesting.

I believe the technical term is 'extendo bits', but bays works for me.

Maybe sponson?

Steve

[wagnersm]

Nifty concept there Moritz.  I wonder if it would be stabler than the Stryker MGS?  Knowing Ivan, it'd be like cast iron & nice and heavy to alleviate any 'issues'.

Regards,

Mav

Probably not -- the 125mm has pretty hellacious recoil, if you watch any vids.

But when has realism stopped any of us? Really? It looks cool, and that's what matters.

Maybe add a big-arse muzzle brake?

I've got this image in my head of the BTR-72 on its side, barrel of the 125 sticking straight up, hatches open.  Two tankers are standing looking at the BTR, one saying to the other, 'You had to fire the big gun with the turret to the right, didn't ya. . . '   

[nev]

This is Officially Cool (tm)