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Zvezda Dog Tank Hunters WIP- update 4/4/12

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  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Zvezda Dog Tank Hunters WIP- update 4/4/12
Posted by stikpusher on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 8:41 PM

I picked up this set at a LHS a few weeks ago. I thought it was a very intruiging subject, and have been enjoyed Zvezda figre sets in the past.

So today I sat down at my work desk and knocked out building them. I gotta say these figures were a pleasant suprise. The fit was great, detail was nicely molded, and even the heads/faces look pretty good. On par with Dragons stuff of a few years ago. Anyways teh set comes with three sets of dogs and handlers.  I know there was some controversy with folks on here when this set was announced. But when one thinks about war as a whole, it is cruel,not just to animals, but to all.

All three sets of dogs and handlers

Walking handler with dog

Crouching handler, commanding alerting dog

Prone handler giving cover to advancing  dog

All dogs are currently seperate from their handlers, but I will likely be attaching one if not both of the leashed dogs to their handlers.

More pics to be posted as painting progresses

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Truro Nova Scotia, Canada
Posted by SuppressionFire on Thursday, April 22, 2010 6:12 AM

stikpusher,

Interesting this offends some people, it was a terrible conflict for all.

People often are more humane to animals than each other, look at modern medicine prolonging life when really the person wants and needs final peace with their creator.

Well to put the loyalty of man's best friend in context I would fight to the death for my mutt, I know he would do the same.

In Vietnam dogs were used for many missions that required scent identification. They scouted ahead on trails for traps and ambushes, saving lives for their sacrifices. Also in harbors they sniffed out sappers who used bamboo snorkels to infiltrate the perimeter. The worst chapter was leaving these canine 'heros' behind when the US forces left country.

The Soviet Union was facing complete destruction and annihilation, these desperate times called for sacrifice without regard to individual life. Every and any means to retaliate was needed in the context of the situation. The canine anti-tank weapons were not used after WWII yet training for these units continued into the late 70's.

All that being said I am looking forward to your figures. Plan on placing the canine units in a diorama? Post WIP's of your progress.

 

 

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpg

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State
Posted by rjkplasticmod on Thursday, April 22, 2010 7:38 AM

I have no problem with the Subject matter.  Looking forward to seeing these painted.

Regards,  Rick

RICK At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...
  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Canada
Posted by JTRACING on Thursday, April 22, 2010 1:03 PM

cool guys! cant wait to see some paint!

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Friday, April 23, 2010 8:55 PM

Looks like another really well-crafted figure set from Zvezda. Sure it will be disturbing to many to learn about starving dogs that are trained to look for food under tanks as they blow themselves to smithereens, but it's hardly the worst thing war has offered . Maybe the worst part of it is it wasn't a terribly effective effort--though they did take out a few panzers that way. Even with that kind of history, I see this this kit as a tribute to a little-known part of the struggle, mighty interesting , and the figures look just great.

I recently recieved these kits from Zvezda, and am blown-away by the quality

 

 

 

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Truro Nova Scotia, Canada
Posted by SuppressionFire on Saturday, April 24, 2010 7:09 AM

Indy,

If you approve figures from Zvezda then I will have to give then a go! Always wanted to build a Stalingrad diorama with snipers, looks like the first kit you pictured would work perfectly! Thanks for your expert opinion on their figures.Yes

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpg

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Saturday, April 24, 2010 1:36 PM

SuppressionFire

Indy,

If you approve figures from Zvezda then I will have to give then a go! Always wanted to build a Stalingrad diorama with snipers, looks like the first kit you pictured would work perfectly! Thanks for your expert opinion on their figures.Yes

Thanks for the credit--they really are great styrene figures--some of the best along with Master box--these two companies I'd say make the best sculpted, moulded and thoughtout interesting styrene figures going. That said, they do of course require tons of cleanup of attachment points mainly and joint seems as you assemble them, like any plastic figures.

That sniper set looks really good on the sprue--It's a tribute to Enemy at The Gates ( I'm sure you've seen it--if not you MUST!)  No one in the box is a dead ringer, but close enough--some memerable things from the movie are included like the entire manaquin/sniper/scarecrow, the monoperiscope, a good-looking female soldier, and great looking sniper rifles.

The Soviet Machinegun crew set is very cool too and includes 4 men posed just like the boxart-with complete equipment kits--and not indicated on the box-BONUS- there are 2 DSHK MG's in the box -- one is as pictured on the heavy  portable tripod...the other on the wheeled 'Sokolov mount' like we typically see the Maximgun on. They include a clear part and decal for the AA sight.

Recomended  Big Smile

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Truro Nova Scotia, Canada
Posted by SuppressionFire on Saturday, April 24, 2010 5:22 PM

Indy,

DSHK MG's

Was that the heavy machine gun on 'Apocalypse  Now' the Vietcong used in the beach scene? A 51 caliber heavy MG if I recall correctly.

'Nice shooting Red 1, I will buy you a case of beer for that!' ~ Kilgore

Thanks for the advice on the figures, I will pick up a few sets next visit to a local hobby shop.Yes

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpg

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 24, 2010 6:08 PM

K-9 IED'ds or homicide bombers?  I shot two of these bastards near Tula in Decemeber '41...

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Saturday, April 24, 2010 7:13 PM

Lets call it a K9 ATGWWhistling But didnt one get your chow truck?Wink

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Sunday, April 25, 2010 1:46 AM

~Suppresion Fire~ I remember the scene and have plenty of that film memorized but I can't say I remember what MG was in that scene---Wikipiedia does list North Vietnam among users of DSHKM a slightly more modern version of the DSHK and they show a picture on that Sokolov mount

I don't know about you but usually when I see these machineguns they're mounted atop tanks & APC's

~Manny~ROFL~~never get out of charactor....

..sorry...now back to our regularly scheduled thread.................

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Truro Nova Scotia, Canada
Posted by SuppressionFire on Sunday, April 25, 2010 8:53 AM

Indy,

Thanks for that bit of research.

The scene showed three Vietcong soldiers using the heavy machine gun on a anti-aircraft mount similar to the box art on the Zvezda kit you pictured. They fired in short bursts, possibly 3 rounds at a time and managed to down a Huey before being taken out by another firing rockets.

Looking forward to seeing your tank busting dawgs painted up! Yes

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpg

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Monday, April 26, 2010 12:31 AM

I've been really impressed by most of the stuff coming out of Eastern Europe recently. I'm going to have to pick up these sets.  Frankly I've been a little burnt out by Germans, Germans, and more Germans in the figure category and I'm quite happy to see more Soviets and UK/Commonwealth subjects. 

Though with the dogs I'd be tempted to do a small diorama with a political officer holding up a diagram of a Panzer IV with the words 'GOOD TARGET' and a T34 with the caption 'BAD TARGET' for the dogs to look at...

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Truro Nova Scotia, Canada
Posted by SuppressionFire on Monday, April 26, 2010 5:40 AM

Frankly I've been a little burnt out by Germans, Germans, and more Germans in the figure category and I'm quite happy to see more Soviets and UK/Commonwealth subjects.

Ditto

Well said buddy, it can be difficult to find ANY decent figure kits that are not WWII Germans. Hopefully the AM resin manufactures will step up to the challenge as well.

I have started the shift to commonwealth subjects recently. Harder yet is finding research material on Canadian forces and units. Predicting this trend I picked up a AM decal set for 4 Canadian 1/24 scale Mosquitoes! Yes that only means the Airfix kit will be purchased eventually. Now I need some decals for Shermans in Canadian units. Hmm

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpg

 

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Monday, April 26, 2010 4:03 PM

Same here. I like the occasional set of Germans that is off the beaten track, say the recent Gebirgsjager Defenders from Dragon, but otherwise I give most of them a pass these days. I have plenty already. I did pick up a neat new set from Masterbox- Scotland the Brave, three standard Commonwealth figures in action poses, and one upright marching piper in a kilt and bonnet. Very nice! Now if we can get some more PTO and CBI figures from both sides.Yes

Suppresion fire, if you need decals for a Canadian Sherman, look up Ultracasts decals. They have small sheets for various Canadian units

http://www.ultracast.ca/Armour%20Decals%20-%2035%20Scale.htm

 

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Truro Nova Scotia, Canada
Posted by SuppressionFire on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 6:24 AM

stikpusher,

Suppresion fire, if you need decals for a Canadian Sherman, look up Ultracasts decals. They have small sheets for various Canadian units

Tanks for the link! Once another reference book arrives I will order directly from Ultracast. I never realized they had that many products or a site with direct order capability. Guess its a must in this day and age!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpg

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2007
Posted by Boomerang on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 7:56 AM

I saw a dio with the dogs in it. The pics are here somewhere in my favourites. Do you think i can find it... Hmm

 

Boomer...Australia

  • Member since
    February 2007
Posted by Boomerang on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 8:36 AM

Woooohoo!!  I found it!.Big Smile It's quite a well done dio...

 

 

Here is the link to where the dio (some awesome dio's here) is featured.....

                                  http://www.schusterdiorama-35.cz/en/gallery/94/68/

Hope this inspires you for a dio Stikpusher...

 

Boomer...Australia

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Truro Nova Scotia, Canada
Posted by SuppressionFire on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 12:28 PM

Excellent link Boomerang!

I just browsed the site and was really impressed by the quality of work they are producing.

There is a detail missing from the canine anti-tank dogs, there should be a stick about 1' long sticking up from the explosive pack they are wearing. The idea was it triggered the explosion when it bent over from the dog running under the vehicle. I recall the Zvezda kit is missing this as well from the pictures posted. I have a reference book with a photograph of this if need be.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpg

 

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 5:59 PM

Boomer that diorama is beautiful. I love how the dog is just trotting allong and al the Germans are in various states of reaction. Which one is Manny? Wink

SF, the Zvezda dogs do indeed have the tilt stick on top. Look closely at each dog on this pic here. I thought they might be too thick when I saw them at first. I figured it would be more like the tilt rod on the AT mines I once trained upon. But after reading up on these dogs, the little stick looks right.

I do want to do a diorama, but since these handlers are in the padded winter uniforms with the felt boots, a winter scene like somewhere near the German advance finally being halted in the snows outside Moscow in late 1941 is what I have in mind.

But that spring scene of the lone dog is wow!Bow Down

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: San Francisco, CA
Posted by telsono on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 6:26 PM

I have read about these dog teams and they turned out not to be terribly effective. They were trained to find food under armor vehicles so to be familiar with them, which were mostly Russian vehicles. The dogs knew the scents and sounds of Russian vehicles and took them to be targets at times as well. I have never seen any figures on how many vehicles were destroyed by these teams, but there is a mention that 11 vehicles were damaged in one battle. But neverthe less, the project was dropped.

Mike T.

Beware the hobby that eats.  - Ben Franklin

Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out. - Ben Franklin

The U.S. Constitution  doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. - Ben Franklin

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Truro Nova Scotia, Canada
Posted by SuppressionFire on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 7:01 PM

But that spring scene of the lone dog is wow!Bow Down

Yes it is a excellent diorama, the viewers focus is directed at the dog advancing on the left as the soldiers are alerted to its threat. The dynamic part of the scene is the other dog sneaking up from the center right, giving the viewer unexpected danger with a few possible outcomes. The animated poses and faces really bring the scene to life!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpg

 

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 8:45 PM

I completely missed the second dog until you pointed it out SF.

Well here they are- primed as of this afternoon. Tomorrow I can start the painting.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 10:39 PM

Boomerang!

Man-thats like the best thing you ever did--pointing out that site. thanks for that. That is the best bunch of Dio's I've seen in one place since Missing Lynx ! Fantastic work The CZ modellers just seem to have a general high standard.Excellent~!

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    February 2007
Posted by Boomerang on Thursday, April 29, 2010 3:54 AM

stikpusher

Boomer that diorama is beautiful. I love how the dog is just trotting allong and al the Germans are in various states of reaction. Which one is Manny? Wink

SF, the Zvezda dogs do indeed have the tilt stick on top. Look closely at each dog on this pic here. I thought they might be too thick when I saw them at first. I figured it would be more like the tilt rod on the AT mines I once trained upon. But after reading up on these dogs, the little stick looks right.

I do want to do a diorama, but since these handlers are in the padded winter uniforms with the felt boots, a winter scene like somewhere near the German advance finally being halted in the snows outside Moscow in late 1941 is what I have in mind.

But that spring scene of the lone dog is wow!Bow Down

    Hey fellas, glad you liked it. Took me ages to find it. I have been looking for it since this thread started....Stick out tongue. I had the image of the dio in my head, i just couldn't remeber where i had seen it....lmao

Stikpusher....  lol....you didn't see the second dog? I guess that's exactll what the Russians were hoping would happen for the Geramns...Wink

                           It is a great dio and the builder has captured that precise moment when the Germans are reacting to the threat. Some have obviously comprehended what is happening and are taking action and some are still in a state of..... WTF!!?

SF....   the dogs in the dio i linked you to do have the little trigger sticks. If you go and look at the photo that shows just the dog you can clearly see the stick. It even has a little spring going from the stick to the trigger....a nice little detail...

INDY....   hey mate, i am not sure this is quite the best thing i have ever done....LOL!......and sorry.....i can't tell you about that on here...Whistling. I am glad you liked the link though. I agree, they are some of the best dios i have ever come across.

             For all you good fellas, here are links to two other websites with other awesome and inspirational dios that i have discovered. I check these sites out frequently for new content....enjoy!!!

             http://www.diorama.ru/         (you can switch this one to english text. It's in the top right corner)

             http://homepage.ntlworld.com/rs_wells/Index.htm

 

 Boomer...Australia

            

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Saturday, May 1, 2010 10:21 PM

UGH!

I give you credit for being able to do these figures---I couldn't even attempt them., knowing the history of these cruel commando's. Crying

They shoulda used cats...Devil   ....lol

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Sunday, May 2, 2010 4:08 AM

I hear ya... I can think of many critters I would rather see go boom than a dog. But none of them listen to humans very well.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Truro Nova Scotia, Canada
Posted by SuppressionFire on Sunday, May 2, 2010 8:20 AM

stikpusher

I hear ya... I can think of many critters I would rather see go boom than a dog. But none of them listen to humans very well.

I too am not a cat lover, in fact I am deathly allergic to there dander. Being independent companions perhaps the best delivery would be a Cat-a-pullit or Trebuchet?

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpg

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Ventura (at the beach) in California
Posted by *INDY on Sunday, May 2, 2010 9:57 AM

I've got 1 cat & 1 dog and though they love me, i doubt seriously either of them would cooperate long enough to blow up a panzer for me  Stick out tongue

"Well...you gunna pull them pistols, or just whistle Dixie?"

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Goffstown, NH
Posted by New Hampshire on Sunday, May 2, 2010 4:37 PM

the doog

UGH!

I give you credit for being able to do these figures---I couldn't even attempt them., knowing the history of these cruel commando's. Crying

They shoulda used cats...Devil   ....lol

Knowing Stalin I am surprised he did not convince the average foot soldier to do it.  "For the Motherland!"  Had to be a better outcome than 40 more years farming on a steppe Wink

Brian

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