Takom 1/35 SADF G6 Rhino

[Snowman]

Before it went into production the prototypes were fielded against Soviet & Cuban backed forces in the then not so Cold War, conflict on the border of the then South West Africa (Namibia) and Angola. This indigenously developed 155mm mobile artillery shares dna with the current German Panzerhaubitzer 2000 fielded in the Ukraine. The 52 calibre variant of the G6 has a world record ballistic range of about 76km.
Anyway, this will be the early version that served on the border.

For a 90km/h, 6 wheeled, behemoth, this is not a small vehicle.

The kit is not small either.

Funnily enough, my images are too big to post, so I'll post them later.

Till next time.

 

[Snowman]

Here is the kit.


Surprisingly, there is quite a bit of flash around the ejector points. Most of it is not visible, but there are two in the drivers cab, but relatively easy to deal with.

The suspension is quite complex, have a look at this.




The stabilisers and drivers cab are mostly done.


Now I have to work out a painting strategy.

Till the next update.

 

[JR]

Getting on well .I'm in .

 

[Snowman]

Just give you an idea of how big the turret is, about 6 fully grown men can stand in it.

 

[JR]

, found this on U Tube, it's a massive thing isn't it and it weighed enought.

 

[Snowman]

I'm adopting a modular build approach.

There was a nasty surprise with regards to the copula's as the vision blocks and the body are one and the same. Some careful masking is required.

Onwards and upwards, till the next update.

 

[Jakko]

That looks like an impressive model of an impressive vehicle.

 

[Snowman]

As you can see into the driver cabin, I decided to add a driver.
I chose the driver from the MiniArt British AFV crew to adapt for the job.




His uniform only comes in one colour, Nutria Brown. So, I'll probably paint him dark earth/buff, the interior is Cremeweiss and khaki green, with a black dashboard and steering wheel.

In wanting to build the early "prototype" variant that drove 2400km from South Africa to the deployment zone on the Angolan border, I will have to "junk" some of the later mods and accessories that are featured in the kit.

This will require some thought and pondering.

Till the next update.

 

[papa 695]

Very nice work so far Gavin.

 

[Andy the Sheep]

Very interesting, Gavin; I'm pulling a chair.

 

[Jakko]

Cremeweiss

Is that the official South African name for it? (My mind also connects “Nutria Brown” to Nutricia …)

 

[Snowman]

Is that the official South African name for it? (My mind also connects “Nutria Brown” to Nutricia …)

Have a read here.

Nutria Brown

Part IV of our series South African on surplus gear for arid climates. Please find the previous parts here, here, and here. In America, we’d see someone dressed head to toe in a brown uniform and g…

leansoliddogs.blog

A very interesting read.

 

[Snowman]

Is that the official South African name for it? (My mind also connects “Nutria Brown” to Nutricia …)

Actually, that is interior colour called in kit, supplied by AK.

 

[Jakko]

I kind of would expect it to be plain white, not cream white, but trying to find pictures of the inside of a G6 is proving a bit difficult. I did find that the glass has a very clear green hue to it, though, undoubtedly because of its thickness:

(from a walkaround on Armorama)

I guess if you also incorporate that, then the exact shade of white for the interior is not that important anymore

 

[Scratchbuilder]

That is an impressive beastie, will keep an eye on your progress...

 

[Snowman]

I kind of would expect it to be plain white, not cream white, but trying to find pictures of the inside of a G6 is proving a bit difficult. I did find that the glass has a very clear green hue to it, though, undoubtedly because of its thickness:

(from a walkaround on Armorama)

I guess if you also incorporate that, then the exact shade of white for the interior is not that important anymore

Yes, an interesting point there. Why cremeweiss and not just plain white?
Anyway, that is a small point.
Till next time.

 

[Snowman]

Well, I have been tinkering with the turret and almighty 44 calibre 155mm main gun.
Removed to top storage rail that I had initially fitted, removed the bush bar mounting detail around smoke launchers.

Fitter rear access door and decking, just missing a deck chair...

Mounted rear flood light and tread plates and trial fitted the rear storage/electronics module.


The main gun mount is proving to be a pickle and may require scratch building to simplify to look similar to the prototype.

The storage boxes were not there...

Anyway, some more pondering to do.

Till next time

 

[Snowman]

Here is something different. When land mines are a constant menace, you get inventive.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/1334352976643803/permalink/7013008545444856/

A converted Ford F250, nicknamed " telefoonhokkie " which is the telephone box in English.

 

[Jakko]

Was this in Namibia or Angola, or is it a South Rhodesian vehicle? As they had similar ones in service in the 1970s. Telefoonhokkie makes it sound like it’s from Amsterdam, though

 

[Snowman]

Was this in Namibia or Angola, or is it a South Rhodesian vehicle? As they had similar ones in service in the 1970s. Telefoonhokkie makes it sound like it’s from Amsterdam, though

Yeah, Dutch is the root language of Afrikaans. Though, today some say that Flemmish is closer. Apparently that vehicle featured on the then South West African and Angolan border. Necessity is mother of invention. They had similar beasties in the then Rhodesia that featured water filled tyres and a circular roll cage to counter the plague of landmines. These all predated what we commonly refer to as the modern MRAP, that are follow on's from the SADF Mamba that was made under licence in the USA. The Mamba which is the descendent of the Buffel/Caspir will be a future build, which will be based on a simplified RG-31 kit.