Yaks airfix scorpion light tank in 1/76

[yak face]

Heres my entry to this GB , the old airfix scorpion light tank in 1/76 scale . This is the JB models rebox but its the old airfix kit inside , with some poor photocopied instructions of part of the airfix sheet . I picked this up at newark a couple of years ago as part of a four for a tenner deal so it cost me £2.50 !
Its not a bad little kit , not too complicated but nicely detailed . You are supposed to be able to build a scimitar too ( by changing the mantlet and gun barrel only ) but i think the one depicted is a prototype and bears little resemblance to any production machine ive seen so i think im going to stick with the early scorpion option. Heres where im at , cleaning up lots of tiny wheels under the magnifier! . Ill be asking a few questions of my mate Ian (papa695 ) as he has experience of these machines so knows whats what ( like what colour to paint it - the kit has no guide except a poorly printed black and white profile on the box and the page of the instructions with paint colours on is not included!!

 

[Steve Jones]

Always been a big fan of the Scorpion ever since Wolfie from Citizen Smith drove one over Westminster bridge. Off to a flying start I see. Good luck

 

[yak face]

I remember that episode steve!

 

[papa 695]

Nice one Tony

 

[JR]

I'll grab a seat please Tony.
John .

 

[PaulTRose]

ooo the memories of doing that kit back when i was a nipper

i think paint would be nato green and nato black but dont hold me to that

 

[SimonT]

Tony - this was always one of my favourite Airfix kits. Made a few in the past

Never seen it as a JB models release before though - have a few of the other JB's in the stash somewhere

You have got the colour chart - it is the box top picture! That is a B/W version of the colour chart that formed the back of the Airfix blister pack, labelled with Humbrol paint codes. As Paul says, basically black and green - 33 is black, 75 is dark green, 11 silver, 19 red, 27 slate grey, 29 brown

You are right about the Scimitar - if you look at the box it is listed as an MVEE trials vehicle

 

[Graeme C.]

Hi Tony, made a couple of Airfix Scimitars with my nephew for his model railway, not seen it as a JB models kit though, like Simon have built a couple of JB Land Rover. Nice choice, will follow your build.

 

[yak face]

Bit more done today . Ive got the rest of the wheels cleaned up and glued and the turret put together. Theres a few tiny very nicely moulded bits that go onto the turret , like any build though there are mould seams to get rid of which is a bit of a pain when the item in question is about 3mm -like the grenade launchers! Ive drilled out the exhaust and gun barrel and drilled a piece to take the machine gun on the mantlet which will be added later. Ive been looking at pics of scorpions and one thing that didnt look right on the kit is the area at the front where the lights are . The kit has them on the curved front panel whereas all the pics ive seen show them on the top above this so ive ground off the kit items and will make some more to ho on the top.

 

[scottie3158]

wow I cant imagine how small this is I built a 1/35th one and that was small. Your doing a great job. I cant swear to it but the lights didn't appear above the hull until later in the CVR(T) life and by that time the Scorpion had been Phased out and the hulls refitted with scimitar turrets, but I could be wrong.

 

[SimonT]

The kit light bar is based on the prototype/early production version as seen in this promo video

There are plenty of photos of vehicles with two individual lights below and ones with two above - no idea when the change occurred but vehicles were still in use in the first gulf war 1990/91 with the lights above and now housed in rectangular-ish housings


this is one I photographed as few years back at Elvington military vehicle day - got another 62 shots if you want any more references

 

[Lee Drennen]

Looking good so for Tony

 

[papa 695]

Hi Tony looking good so far, as for the lights I can only tell you that in the 13/18 RH when I left in late 1990 they were underneath

 

[yak face]

Great info guys - very useful . I think im going with the lights on top and the colour pic is very nice simon , i might do that arctic camo scheme . Cheers tony

 

[scottie3158]

Hi Tony looking good so far, as for the lights I can only tell you that in the 13/18 RH when I left in late 1990 they were underneath

Ian I was attached to the 13/18th the Unigate brigade in 82 when they took over from 1RTR.

 

[Steve Jones]

It has to be the Arctic camo Tony. That would look impressive. Great shots Mr T

 

[yak face]

It has to be the Arctic camo Tony. That would look impressive. Great shots Mr T

Yes defo steve , its going to be a brush painted job and all under the magnifier though!!!

 

[Steve Jones]

Top man!! Look forward to seeing how it comes out

 

[yak face]

After deciding on the arctic camo ive got all the pieces sprayed matt black . Im going to do the white bits by hand with a brush ( surprise) . There are a few little extra bits i want to add like headlights , front and rear indicators /sidelights and periscopes and aerials etc. I know its not really representative of a production scorpion and i havent got any decals so its going to be a bit of artistic licence on my part , i dont pretend to know the first thing about armour so i can happily plead ignorance ! Heres the pics of the bits and the turret with the first go at the camo . Id like some feedback from them wot knows best as to whether i should give the white another coat or leave it as a whitewash look ? Cheers tony

 

[papa 695]

Looking good Tony