Anti-Radiation Ball Tank (шаротанк с противорадиационной )

[frank2056]

I recently finished a wheeled M113 build over at BTS and had even cleaned up my work area for a non-modeling project. As I was putting away some parts that that I didn't use in the build, I saw the Das Werk German Kugelpanzer.
I don't build NAZI stuff anymore, but the Kugelpanzer comes with two kits - great for whiffing. The box was sitting on top of the ICM Chernobyl figure sets, in particular the Chernobyl #3 Rubble Cleaners and Chernobyl #4 Deactivators. This gave me the idea of a small manned vehicle to inspect a highly radiated area. The vehicle would have radiation shielding to protect the lucky pilot.

The Kugelpanzer Sharo-tank is a pretty quick build. Annoyingly, the tracks have a joint about 2/3s of the way across. I added a light in the front (I didn't want to use the Notek light that comes with the kit) an exhaust in the lower rear and a PE hinge for the "cockpit" I wasn't t sure if the hatch shown is an entry into the vehicle or a cover for the engine section. I've seen some online drawings and now believe it's how the driver would enter the vehicle. For this build, the driver lifts up the front section (with the vision slit) to enter.

I used "Boris" with the Geiger Counter from Chernobyl #3 and "Artyom" with the decontamination sprayer from Chernobyl #4:





The figures are quick builds, but they need some detailing before painting. I added filters to Boris' mask; it looked dangerously basic otherwise. I still want to add some more details to the tank and decide if it's going to be self propelled with a combustion engine or if it will be electrically propelled with power provided via a cable. I'm also thinking of adding one or two scratch built manipulators.

[philp]

Fun idea.

Will be watching.

[zenrat]

 

[NARSES2]

Those figures look very nice

[frank2056]

The figures are OK; better than some of the latest Master Box offerings but they still have some fit issues. The guy with the long coat required some clamping and Tamiya quick setting Extra Thin cement. Luckily the plastic is soft and responded well.

[Rheged]

A nice example of lateral thinking.............and therefore high quality whiffery.

[kerick]

Open the pod bay doors Hal !
Needs some grappling arms!

[Wardukw]

This is going somewhere good and ill be very interested to see where it ends up..😁
I love these sort of weird arse do dackies the other half of my family came up with 

[frank2056]

Weird donkey/arse indeed! You'd have to be well fortified with vodka to get into one and roll into some radioactive hell. There were many radioactive accidents and the Kyshtym disaster was the worst until Chernobyl.

I followed Kerick's suggestion and added... arms!



Well, one arm with two pincers/cutters. The smaller arm has a camera, made from a flash covered ejector nub from a part:



I also added a small "mushroom cap" to act as an air intake.

[kerick]

Awesome! So what color? Orange, yellow or a camo scheme?

[Mossie]

Popcorn and pint at the ready. 

[Old Wombat]

Awesome! So what color? Orange, yellow or a camo scheme?

Red, with big black-on-yellow RadHaz symbols on the bulged sides!

[frank2056]

I was just going to ask for color suggestions... red sounds good.

[Rheged]

I'd suggest a two colour stripe......red and white.........black and yellow.....whatever.....so that  those observing from an allegedly safe distance can see whether it is moving or not.

[frank2056]

Jeff over at BTS suggested using rubber pads to cover my less than great gluing of the track halves, so I printed some tank pads on my FDM printer in ABS. I set the print parameters to produce a quick (and crappy, on purpose) set of pads - once separated, they look pretty well worn. I also painted the tank; I was going to go with red overall, but found this remote vehicle used in Chernobyl:



So I compromised and went with a Christmas ornament pattern:







I used Molotow chrome paint on the arm; the metal parts of the tracks still need work, but the rubber pads to cover my not-great gluing of the track halves worked, I think. The tank looks like it just came out of the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant and will be suitably weathered soon.

I may give the kit's other ball tank an overall red to see how it compares.

@Rheged - I may add a pair of stripes or a Russian star on the sides.