Trumpeter 1/35 SADF Rooikat AFV

Started by Gavin Snowdon · 25 · 1 year ago · 1/35, AFV, border war, bush war, recon, Rooikat, SADF, Trumpeter
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    Gavin Snowdon said 1 year, 10 months ago:

    Hi all, it’s been a while since I last built any 1/35 modern armour in my late teen and early twenties.

    To re-engage with the subject I thought it would be great to build modern AFV’s from the SADF (South African Defence Force) when they had AFV and troop carriers featuring some of the most forward thinking designs. MRAP is now a catch phrase in wheeled troop carriers, the SADF had the Buffel in the 1970’s. The French Panhard ML90, more commonly known as the the Eland 90, also fondly referred to as the “Noddy Car” due to the nodding action of the vehicle on firing it’s 90mm gun, was the mainstay infantry support up to to introduction of the Ratel APC. The Eland could no longer travel as fast as the Ratel off road in the bush warfare environment of north South West Africa (Namibia) and south Angola. It’s interim replacement was the Ratel 90, which effectively was the Ratel APC specially fitted out with the Eland 90 turret, these AFV’s ran hit and run tactics defeating Soviet T34-85’s and T55’s during the course of the bush war.

    The true replacement for the Eland 90 was to be the Rooikat, but this did not make it in time for the bush war, but embraces all the doctrines of the SADF’s mobile warfare in its design. Light, durable, range, speed, firepower.

    The version I’m intending to build is the standard 76mm variant, there is a 105mm export variant and a technology testbed variant with an automated 105mm turret as well a prototype SPAAG & SPAAM variants in the works.
    This will be fun, I intend on using SADF colours for my build and not the camo pattern sported by the SANDF version.

    Till next time.

    2 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 1 year, 10 months ago:

    A great entry, my friend @snowman! Very interesting subject!

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    John vd Biggelaar said 1 year, 10 months ago:

    A nice way to start 2023, Gavin @snowman
    Looking forward to it.

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    Anthony Ricco said 1 year, 10 months ago:

    Really looking forward to seeing this one Gavin Snowdon (@snowman) - will keep following

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    Gavin Snowdon said 1 year, 10 months ago:

    Hi ya!

    Started on the Rooikat, as expected it is not as diminutive as the “Noddy Car”, here are some images of the hull, and main hull components.
    Started the suspension, what a mission for a wheeled vehicle. You'd expect this level of complexity with a tracked vehicle.
    This is gonna take a while...

    Anyway, I’m always up for a challenge.

    Till the next update!

    5 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 1 year, 10 months ago:

    Great progress, my friend @snowman! Indeed, a good amount of work is in front of you.

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    John vd Biggelaar said 1 year, 10 months ago:

    Quite some parts indeed, Gavin @snowman
    Looking forward to see this all mounted together.

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    Anthony Ricco said 1 year, 10 months ago:

    Wow, thats going to be a great build, some excellent detail on there.

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    Gavin Snowdon said 1 year, 10 months ago:

    Well, the fiddly suspension has gone in and it's ready for wheels. (much later)
    I have included some images of more suspension assembly work as well as the rear suspension installed and full suspension fitted. That took some patience!
    After this I started the rear and front hull plates, where I came across a rather nasty pinned shackle centrally positioned on each end. Not happy with the stock item, I fitted brass rod for a neater solution.

    Till next time, thanks for watching.

    4 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 1 year, 9 months ago:

    This is great, solid progress, my friend @snowman!

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    Anthony Ricco said 1 year, 9 months ago:

    Great work - looks like lots of fiddly stuff. Going to be great when you are done.

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    John vd Biggelaar said 1 year, 9 months ago:

    Nice work on the suspension, Gavin @snowman
    The brass rod is indeed a huge improvement.

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    Gavin Snowdon said 1 year, 6 months ago:

    Hi ya all!

    I'm back in the seat, had my hip replacement op on the 28th Jan. The new one is still wearing in but more importantly, not painful. I have been busy with the Rooikat during my recovery. It is now nearing completion.
    I used Vallejo BS Dark Earth, which looked OK. But partially assembled and inside on my work bench, it looked like a very large brown turd...
    After a session of pin wash, the difference is remarkable and a major improvement.
    Well, that is where I am now and thanks for watching.

    6 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    John vd Biggelaar said 1 year, 6 months ago:

    Glad the surgery went well, Gavin @snowman
    The Rooikat is progressing nicely.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 1 year, 6 months ago:

    Glad all went well with your surgery, my friend @snowman! The Rooikat looks great!