1:35 Chinese BJI212A w/105mm Type 75 Recoilless Rifle

BJ212A with the Type 75 recoilless rifle in 1:35 scale

A plastic kit of the Chinese light off-road car with a 105 mm recoilless rifle in 1:35 scale. The pairing of a civilian-looking vehicle with a heavy weapon is among the most striking subjects Chinese equipment offers modelers.

The real subject

The BJ212 is a light off-road car with all-wheel drive, built in Beijing from the 1960s. It has a short wheelbase, an open body with a canvas roof and a payload that is enough for a few men or for a light weapon. In the Chinese army it served as a command, signals and reconnaissance vehicle and, in various modifications, stayed in production for decades.

A recoilless rifle vents part of the propellant gases to the rear and so balances out the recoil. That is exactly why a vehicle of this size can carry a 105 mm weapon that a conventional gun of the same caliber would tear apart. The price is a conspicuous cloud of dust and a flame behind the weapon, so the firing position had to be changed immediately after the shot.

Building and painting tips

• The parts are polystyrene and are glued with liquid cement for plastic.
• The open body lets you see inside, so paint the interior before closing the vehicle up.
• Darken the muzzle and the rear venturis of the weapon; after firing they were scorched.
• Dust on the wheels and in the wheel wells shows that the vehicle has been off the road.

Who the kit is for

For modelers of modern military vehicles and for diorama builders looking for something other than tanks. Thanks to the simple bodywork the build is straightforward, but the small parts of the weapon and its mounting call for calm and a sharp blade.

Paints, glue and surface finishing products are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.