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Public Relations

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It was not too far back in time that the very idea of a single 35th scale kit of a modern South Africa armoured vehicle, let alone 3, would have been a distant fantasy. Takom recently surprised us with the G6, along with Trumpeter and Hobbyboss tossing their respective Rooikat and Olifant MK2 kits into the ring as well.

This diorama presents a scene from one of a number of annual display days where the South African army shows the public where some of their hard - earned tax money goes. The Rooikat is a good kit, nice detail and fit with no real issues to speak of. The Hobbyboss Olifant is a slightly different story. Overall fit was good with no trouble encountered with the hull and turret, but the tracks were a real issue. Best replace them with an aftermarket set if you can. One major issue is that Hobbyboss failed to include parts for the prominent main gun mantlet under the spaced turret armour. All you have is a flat plate where the whole assembly should be, a surprising and rather mystifying omission on their part. Despite that and a few other minor issues, it builds into a nice replica of the real thing, plus it's the only game in town except for some obscure and expensive resin offerings. Kudos to both Trumpeter and Hobbyboss for the subject choice of two rather rare and little known vehicles. May we yet hope for a Ratel 20 or 90?
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About the Author

About Mark wells (mwells63)
FROM: GAUTENG, SOUTH AFRICA

I live in the city of gold otherwise known as johannesburg. I have been building models for more or less 45 years and still learning. Soviet and Germany armour are my main area of interest although I build just about any other kit that takes my interest. I simply cannot limit myself to only one subj...


Comments

Awesome diorama Mark! As an expat Safa I am delighted to see more kits arriving on the scene. I have already built the Rooikat and have the G6 in the stash. Just waiting for an Olifant MK1A to come along (Come on AFV Club!) Also an Eland and a Buffel and a Ratel....
JUL 09, 2019 - 03:37 AM
Nice stash of SA kits. We need to fly the flag once in a while. Both were a nice break from the usual stuff I normally build, hopefully I'll start on the G6 at some point before the end of the year.
JUL 09, 2019 - 07:00 AM
Nicely done, though I would suggest a lot more dust and dirt on the armoured car's wheels and tires. These are a bit too pristine for my tastes. What they drive on they wear.
JUL 09, 2019 - 09:42 AM
Point taken. There are dust effects on the tyres, but unfortunately it does not reflect well due to the cameras light settings which emphasises darker tones that overwhelm the light dust effects. Thanks for your comments, always appreciated.
JUL 09, 2019 - 06:04 PM
Very nicely done Mark. Hard to believe there is a Centurion hiding under all that armour on the Olifant.
JUL 10, 2019 - 09:01 AM
Mark, Great diorama as always - It’s good to see South African armor builds (these two kits don’t seem to get built very often if you can judge by what’s posted online) and that‘s a nice adaptation of those Evolution figures of the girls taking pictures in the Russia/Ukraine conflict. I probably would dusted the vehicles up a bit more myself, but it is an exhibition after all, and the light weathering you‘ve done looks really good. I built the Rooikat a year or so ago (nice kit, like you said, goes together very well) but still need to finish painting it - your work has inspired me to get it done! Jerry
JUL 10, 2019 - 08:51 PM