Zvezda 1/100th scale Nashorn

 Having sold my 20mm Nashorn (converted from no less than three Airfix kits!), I just had to get one to replace it in my 15mm collection. I have a couple of specific scenarios in mind, and it is a fun vehicle. You can get these from a range of manufacturers, but I wanted a Zvezda one if possible as I like building plastic kits.

The 'plastic kit man' at Partisan had his usual pile of Zvezda stuff (including the SU 122s previously featured), and buried in amongst it all was a Nashorn, far more reasonably priced than getting it from Hannants. This is one of their 'big box' kits so a bit more expensive than some of the others.

It really is a lovely kit, very crisply moulded and went together like a dream. I slightly cocked up putting on the air grille on this side and there is a visible gap around it. Oh well, battle or travel damage perhaps. Medium complexity build as it still has that stupid internal frame affair inside it due to Zvezda obsession with 'push fit' kits.

It has rather nicer internal detail in the fighting compartment than my bodged up Airfix one. The gunners are Peter Pig and QRF. Some of the panel lines and details are moulded quite lightly, as you can see on the rear doors, so you have to work at them a bit to make them stand out.

For the colour scheme I was slightly inspired by the Overloon Nashorn. I did a basic dunkelgelb paint job, pin washed it with brown ink then did oversprayed brown disruptive. I was rather pleased with the 'spray' camouflage as I did it with my very, very old stippling brush, dating from Airfix Magazine in the late 1960s  and before the fancy days of airbrushes etc. 

Otherwise the running gear and wheels were slathered in mud and I picked out the insides of the wheels in rubber but left the muddy outsides. I just did a plain balkan cross on the superstructure as none of my references showed tactical numbers, although I imagine some units must have had them.

The other fun thing is that just like my Airfix conversion, the gun still elevates on this one! 

It probably isn't going to get much use as it was such a rare vehicle, but I enjoyed building it and it is a lovely model. I've got one specific scenario in mind which requires it, so at some point I will get around to using it in a game.