1:35 A-222 Bereg

A gun that guards the coast on wheels

This Russian system of one hundred and thirty millimeter caliber came about in the 1980s and the public first saw it in 1993 at the arms exhibition in Abu Dhabi. The idea behind it is simple and at the same time unusual: instead of fixed coastal fortifications, which an opponent can pinpoint on a map, the gun is simply driven somewhere else. The complete system consists of a command vehicle, a combat support vehicle and up to six gun units.

Why this chassis in particular

All the elements of the system ride on eight-wheeled off-road vehicles, which gives them a mobility that fixed batteries never had. The gun turret itself is of naval origin and sits on a heavy tractor that historically carried missile systems. The task is to engage surface vessels and fast attack craft, but it can also deal with targets on land. It can fire up to twelve rounds per minute, and one to two minutes pass between the order and the first shot.

What the build involves

The model combines two different building disciplines. From below it is a demanding truck with a multitude of axles, springs and linkages, from above a gun turret with its own vision ports and shielding. It pays to build and paint the two parts separately and to join them only at the end. Finish the wheels before you come to painting the chassis, otherwise it is hard to reach the inner hubs. The system suits a dusty coastal look with salt stains low on the fenders. The contrast between the civilian-looking chassis and the strictly military superstructure is exactly what makes the finished model interesting, and it is worth bringing out with paint: sharp edges and a matte varnish above, dust, mud and worn areas at the level of the steps below.