Scale Plastic & Rail

1:35 PLA ZSD89 APC from HobbyBoss

1/35 PLA ZSD89 APC
Hobby Boss
Catalogue # 82472
Available from Creative Models for £24.99

If one family of armoured vehicles can be said to have come to the fore since WW2 came to its end, then it has to be the Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and its descendent, the more heavily armed and armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Prior to the APC, troops entered the battlefield on foot, inside soft-skin vehicles or open-topped half-tracks, or riding on the back of tanks. Only the RAM Kangaroo could be said to be a true APC of all the vehicles developed during the war. When the USA developed and brought into service the fully tracked M113 and the Soviet Army adopted a long running series of BTR 8-wheeled APCs did the vehicle find its true place on the battlefield. These were followed by Britain's tracked FV 432, France's wheeled VAB and the Dutch/German wheeled GTK Boxer. Of course, today's armies have descendents of these vehicles in the form of Infantry Fighting Vehicles such as the US M2 Bradley, German Marder, Soviet BMP and Britain's Warrior. One vehicle that is often forgotten is China's Norinco Type 89 APC, or ZSD89 to give it the correct title (below).

Credit and copyright: http://otvaga2004.narod.ru/otvaga2004/armour-china/btr_yw534.htm

Entering service in 1999, it was a larger, heavier version of China's first mass-produced APC, the Type 85. With over 1,000 vehicles having been produced to date, it is apparently a popular and reliable vehicle in service. It s armed with a 12.9mm anti-aircraft machine gun and 8 smoke grenade launches; there are also 7 firing ports for troops inside to fire out. It is powered by a 320 hp air-cooled diesel engine and has a combat range of around 500 km (310 miles). It can carry up to 15 infantrymen in addition to its 2 crew members. Many sub-variants have appeared, including heavier, cannon-armed APCs, command vehicles, ambulances, mine layers, supply carriers and even a specialised crowd-control vehicle.

Hobby Boss have now provided the market with a 1/35 model of this widely used vehicle in its standard form. There are over 450 parts contained on 6 different sprue types, some of which are duplicated; an upper and lower hull; individual track links; a photo-etched fret, brass wire and decals. Examining everything in no particular order, first we have the upper hull (below); using slide mould technology, the standard of detail contained is exceptionally high and the texture, so often the downfall of larger scale AFVs, is well portrayed.

A close-up photo (above) shows both of these features clearly; the weld seams are beautifully executed. The lower hull (below) is just as well executed. One query I do have is that when the two hull parts were placed together and compared with photographs, I believe the hull may not be quite tall enough. Things can be deceiving at the pre-construction phase, so we will have to see if my concerns have any foundation during the build.

Sprue A (above) is replicated in the box to give 5 sprues; this basically provides the roadwheels and suspension arms, along with the smoke grenade dischargers and a couple of fittings. I have come across negative comments on the hub detail of these roadwheels, but Hobby Boss have got it correct; there are 2 different patterns of roadwheels used on the ZSD89 and the kit parts are spot on for one type, critics have just compared them to the other type. There are 2 examples of Sprue B (below) provided in the kit which give the modeller the sprocket and idler wheels along with the smaller rollers, some of the hull hatches and lights amongst many parts. Detail on the sprockets was particularly praiseworthy.

Sprue F (above) holds the hull rear, larger hull hatches, side fenders, front upper hull reinforcing panel and smaller moulded tow-rope amongst its parts. I felt this rope was the weakest single part in the kit, being unconvincing as moulded and crying out for immediate replacement. Sprue E (below) contains the rear hatch (which can be modelled open or closed, though this is not clearly shown in the instructions), the rear box panels, the remaining hull hatch, exhaust and the tools and equipment to fit to the hull. The tool clamps are pretty good, but many would have preferred these as etched brass fittings.

Sprue D (above) is largely concerned with the small turret and with further smoke dischargers. I loved the detail on the turret, it is really well realised by the kit parts. The 12.7mm machine gun is provided on Sprue K (below); this is simply superb in way it is portrayed.

A close up photo of the gun (above) reveals the excellent detail of these parts. I suggest other manufacturers could take a lesson from Hobby Boss in the moulding of smaller weapons from this item, it is really that good. The tracks are provided for as individual links (below); detail is good, but there will be a little more cleaning up to do with each link than would be ideal.

The etched fret (above) is dominated by the 2 engine grills, which will need very careful bending to achieve the best result; this will need extra care because the etched material feels a little more stiff than the etch we are more used to in Europe. Also provided are the smoke discharger mounts, light mounts and air filter grill amongst its parts. The major tow rope hawser is provided as a length of twisted brass wire (below); this is a much better solution to this type of part than the poorly moulded item mentioned earlier.

The decals are not quite up to the standard of the rest of the kit (above). They are well in register, but the decal film looks thick and I do not think the white used will be as opaque as we normally expect. Two specific vehicles are catered for, along with some generic numbers. A colour sheet shows both of these PLA vehicles, along with colour matches from several paint manufacturers. Vehicle 445 (below) has a standard 3-colour PLA camouflage close to most patterns I have found;

Vehicle E001 has a broader camouflage pattern which does change the look of the APC, particularly in the head-on views (above)

So, in conclusion, Hobby Boss have produced a really nice kit of a little modelled vehicle that remains in widespread use. Excellent value by today's standards, as well.

So What Do We Think?
A really good kit; only a couple of smaller pieces and the decals are below the high overall standard of the rest of the model. The standard of moulding of some of the parts, including the armament, is of the very highest quality.

Recommended

Our thanks to Creative Models for the review sample. To purchase directly, click THIS link.

Robin Jenkins.