1:35 PLA Type 86A IFV

Type 86A Chinese infantry fighting vehicle, a Trumpeter plastic kit, 1:35 scale

An injection-molded plastic kit of the Chinese Type 86A infantry fighting vehicle in 1:35 scale from Trumpeter. It is the upgraded version of the Chinese tracked amphibious IFV (also known as the WZ501A / ZBD-86A), which is based on the Soviet BMP-1. The model is richly broken up and contains separate individual track links and photo-etched parts. The exact contents of the particular box are given in the instructions inside.

The real subject

The Type 86 is the Chinese derivative of the Soviet BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle, which China managed to reverse-engineer and put into series production in the second half of the 1980s. The vehicle is fully amphibious, driven by its tracks on land and in water alike, and it carries an infantry squad under armored protection. The upgraded Type 86A version received a new turret with a 30 mm gun and a launcher for anti-tank guided missiles, which markedly increased its firepower against armored and lightly protected targets.

Building and painting tips

Assemble and fine-tune the running gear and the lower hull before closing and painting; build the separate individual track links carefully and let them bend naturally over the wheels. The low, varied hull is rewarding for panel shading. Bring the single-color green finish to life with a gloss coat under the decals, dark washes in the gaps and dust and mud pigments on the running gear and the lower areas.

Who the model is for

• For collectors of Chinese and Asian modern ground equipment.
• For fans of infantry fighting vehicles and BMP derivatives.
• For builders of dioramas on contemporary themes.
• For more advanced modelers of tracked vehicles.

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.