1:35 Russian BTR-80 APC Weighted Road Wheels(Narrow)

Resin wheels with deformation for the BTR-80 in 1:35 scale, narrower form

This set from E.T. Model replaces the wheels from a plastic kit with resin castings in which the lower part of the tire is cast slightly flattened. On an eight-wheeled carrier this detail is clearly visible, because in a side view all the wheels are seen at once. The designation for the narrower form refers to the width of the tire that the vehicles carried in various periods and with various users, so choose the set according to the particular variant you are building.

The real subject

The BTR-80 is an amphibious armored personnel carrier in an 8x8 configuration with water jet propulsion, a diesel engine and a small turret with machine gun armament. The armored hull takes the crew and the dismounts, and entry and exit are handled by side doors between the second and the third axle. The vehicle has a central tire inflation system, so in practice the flattening of the tires differs with the pressure set and the surface.

Fitting and painting tips

Wash the castings free of the mold release agent first, cut the casting blocks off and sand the surface. It is glued with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue). Because there are eight wheels, it pays to glue them all at once on a flat board and let them cure, so that the vehicle stands without rocking and all the flattened faces sit down. Apply a base coat before painting. Rubber looks better in a dark gray tone; bring the tread out with drybrushing and add mud or dust with pigments or textured paste where the wheels meet the hull.

Who the set is for

• Modelers building wheeled armored vehicles of Eastern design.
• Builders of dioramas with a vehicle in the field.
• Modelers who want to even out and refine the wheel detail on an eight-wheeled chassis.

An accessory set, not a complete kit. The base model, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.