Bobkit Commandos

During the 1980s, Heller started a line of models under the Bobkit/Bobcat brand that was aimed at novice modellers, as well as the Cliclac brand for children.

Mingling also occurred between these brands, with some Cliclac models being sold under the Bobkit name.

The Bobkit Commando set is pretty hard to find, as are most of the individual Cliclac vehicles it includes. However, everything in the kit except the Hughes Cayuse is included in the seemingly more common Bobkit C-160 TransAll kit.

The vehicle models come out of the box packed in a clear plastic bag, along with two sprues of French commandos.

The Hotchkiss M210 is a simple 8 piece model in green plastic.

The Renault TRM-2000 consists of a black sprue with 7 pieces, a green sprue with 6 pieces, and a clear sprue with one piece.

At least two civilian tanker versions (Shell and Elf) of the TRM-2000 were produced under the Cliclac brand.

The Renault VAB is made up of just 6 pieces in green plastic.

The green figures are from the TransAll kit, while the tan figures are from the Heller UN Force set (which I think was also boxed as the Opération Pamir set).

A review of these soldiers can be found at PSR.

The canvas top of the M201 had a solid back, so I cut a window in the rear using a Hasegawa Trytool Template (TP-1).

I drew a centering mark for the template, and used a scribing tool to etch the templated shape (4⁵ x 6⁵). When I could see the outline of the window on the other side of the plastic, I used a hobby knife to pierce the remaining plastic and pop out the oval panel.

Clear UV curing resin was used to add glass to the front windshield and newly created rear window.

Other than adding windows, I only painted the tires of the M201 and VAB black. The models were otherwise unmodified.

The fronts of the vehicles are pretty much devoid of detail, and decals would have been used to give the appearance of having grilles and headlights, but unfortunately my kit was missing the decals.

I actually want to preserve the toy-like appearance of these kits, but I may try to fashion some details to make them look a little better in the future (cupola, machine gun, and armored shutters for the VAB; front grille and headlights for the M201 and TRM-2000).

T-34 & S-35

2010 ended on a rather difficult note, so it is only now that I find myself making the first post of 2011. In any event, I'm still walking and talking, so I guess there's not much to complain about.

This year I've resolved to complete all the near-finished models that I have laying about in order to clear out some benchspace for starting my 1/72 Dora railway gun.

The first two kits that I'm almost done with are the Armorfast T-34 mentioned in a post from 2008, and a Heller SOMUA S-35. The models still need markings and to be weathered, but are otherwise mostly finished.

The only problem I have is to find some way to simulate lenses for the headlamps. I'll probably just shape some pieces of clear sprue and glue them into the appropriate areas already carved into the headlamps.

Armorfast and Forces of Valor T-34s

The Armorfast T-34 is slightly taller, and slightly longer than the FoV T-34, but the turret of the FoV T-34 is larger than the turret of the Armorfast T-34. I have no idea of which is more accurate.


I'm not sure if it is so obvious in this picture, but I used a heated splatter screen to make tread pattern imprints in the previously smooth tracks of the Armorfast kit. They're not the prettiest or most accurate tracks you'll see, but better than the smooth featureless treads of the typical quick build kit.

Altaya and Heller S-35s

I believe that these are the only S-35s in 1/72 scale. They're practically identical in size.


The Heller kit is actually rather nice, despite soft details and the horrible tracks. I actually would like to build a couple more of these sometime in the future.

Late September Progress (Armor)

Here's where I'm at with several kits that I've started this year:

The Bulgarian Hetzer that I started back in May is almost done. I bought some 1/300 Soviet aircraft decals for the stars on the Hetzer, but they turned out to be too small. What I had to do was use some Archer U.S. stars, and then Soviet armor decals from a PST kit on top to get the red star with white outline for this model. I still need to spray with a flat coat, and weather, but this kit is 90% done.


I have posed the UM Hetzer alongside the Pegasus E-25 and the Fujimi Hetzer. The E-25 is huge compared to its smaller cousins.


For the FSV I started last month, I used Archer Fine Transfers to make the name (Bewitched), and I'll add some Milicast crewmembers. I'm still trying to find some black triangle decals or transfers though.
Next to the FSV is the Heller Somua S-35, which is in the process of being painted, and last in line is the Emhar A7V. I started the A7V about four years ago, and am finally 90% done with it. I only need to spray with a flat coat, and weather. I'm looking forward to do at least two more A7Vs, but will definitely work much faster on them this time.


Another view of the FSV, S-35, and A7V.