AMX Mk. 61 105mm Self Propelled Howitzer (1/72)
Just a few days before he underwent major heart surgery my father in law told me about his military service. During that time he was trained to drive an “AMX-tank”, but this being more than 50 years ago, unfortunately he didn't remember the exact type.
His two-week stay in hospital and a picture my wife digged up, gave me the chance to work on this project and build “his” AMX, which after some research happened to be an Mk. 61 105mm. The surgery went well, so I'm able to give the finished product to him as a Christmas present next week (and then of course ask him in private who this intriguing ‘Belinda' was… ;))
The Royal Netherlands Army called this type ‘AMX-PRA' (abbreviation: Pantser Rups Artillerie). It was put into production in France in 1952. In the Netherlands, a total of 82 AMX-PRAs were assigned to the artillery from 1965 to 1984.
Ukraine-based company ACE is the only manufacturer who produces a Mk. 61 kit. It has been the first 1/72-kit I've build. That's a real difference to 1/35 scale. The kit offers a painting and marking scheme for the Dutch AMX-PRA. The military letters in white were the smallest I could find to honour Belinda. To finish it of I used a 1/72 driver-figure and the Heller Diorama Base Piste.
Merry Christmas everybody!
But who is Belinda?
I hope to find out…
Great model, great story! Your father in law will be thrilled! I hope this is not your only foray into 1/72 scale armor, you do quite well with it.
Thank you Jeff @inchhigh. Reading your message I realize I’ve built a Dakota in 1/72 as well, but armour truely is something different compared to the 1/35 I’m used to. I’m always open to explore, so do you know some 1/72 armour or trucks to recommend?
What a wonderful gift for your father in law, Harm @hptiggelaar
Glad the surgery went well.
Excellent build, especially considering this tiny scale.
Were those license plate decals included in the kit or did you create those yourself.
Thanks John @johnb! The license plate decals were in the kit. ACE took them from the AMX-PRA that is in the Nationaal Militair Museum in Soest. So you must have seen it there a short while ago. 😊
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.