Trumpeter 1/35 BMP 3E

 First designed in the 1980, the BMP3 is one of the most heavily armed Infantry Figting Vehicle.  The turret mounts both a 100mm low velocity gun/missile launcher (along the same lines as the old US Sheridan) which can fire conventional rounds as well as the 9M117 Bastion laser guided missile (also referred to as AT10 Stabber).  The missile is loaded and fired like a conventional artillery round and after firing a cover falls away and after a delay of 1.5 seconds the rocket motor fires.  Being laser guided, it would have a problem if the firing vehicle is knocked out but an interesting weapons combination.  Alongside it in the turret is a more conventional 30mm cannon.  Even more unusualfor this type of vehicle, the engine is at the back rather than the front, so the driver has a central position forward, with two of the infantry team sitting either side of him.

The kit is very nice and is complete with interior detailing for the turret and crew compartment.  With internal details such as the sights on the turret cupolas and the detail for the turret basket, auto-loader and crew positions withint he turret, then seating in the rear section, which can be displayed if you model it with the large roof hatches open, this is a well detailed kit straight out of the box.  Outside there are extra armour panels on the forward aspect of the turret and good detailing around the rest of the hull.  The one thing that some may find a little off-putting are the tracks.  Great that they are individual track links (and you either love them or hate them rather like a certain food product) but the hollow guide horns, which are small, are al parts, and need to be fitted to every track link.  The result iss excellent but there is a degree of patience needed to get these all removed from the sprues and put together even before you assemble the tracks lengths themselves.

Colours are suggested on a colour sheet which Trumpeter commonly do these days, and the multi-colour camouflge will make for an interesting finish.  The one thing that is illustrated on the box art which is not in to the kit itself is the wading snorkel that is obvious on the box art but then not in the model.  I don't find that an issue but if you wanted to fit it, you won't find it.  For anyone interested in this current Russian IFV, one which has found export customers around the world, then this is a good model to lookk out for.

Thanks to the UK importers, Pocketbond, for our example.
 
For more details of the Trumpeter range, see their website