BTR-60P Armoured Personnel Carrier
Roskopf 1:100 Scale Vehicle Review
The Roskopf 1:100 scale BTR-60 armored personnel carrier represents the BTR-60P with open-topped fighting compartment, introduced in 1960. Instead of a single 7.62 mm SGMB Goryunov machine gun, Roskopf sold the BTR-60P with a 12.7 mm DShK “Dashka” heavy machine gun and two 7.62 mm SGMB Goryunov machine guns.
Contents
- BTR-60P Armoured Personnel Carrier
- 12.7 mm DshK “Dashka” Heavy Machine Gun
- 7.62 mm SGMB Goryunov Machine Gun (2)
Evaluation
Good choice of subject, the amphibious BTR-60 armoured personnel carrier was an important Warsaw Pact vehicle, until it was replaced by the BTR-70 and BTR-80 in the 1970s and 1980s. The BTR-60 is still in use in many countries in Africa, South America, and Asia.
The Roskopf BTR-60P was sold fully assembled, ready to play. Mould lines and sprue on the hull and tires need to be removed prior to painting. Unfortunately, the open-topped fighting compartment is incorrectly depicted in the model: the three bows have been repurposed as backrests, giving the impression that the model has four U-shaped benches. In reality, the motorized riflemen in the BTR-60P sat on two benches along the sides of the fighting compartment; only the machine gunner had a single seat facing forward. Those who want to avoid the considerable effort of correcting this error can simply cover the fighting compartment with a tarpaulin. To do this, the incorrect backrests are extended into bows using 20 x 9 mm polystyrene strips glued on, thus reaching the height of the rear roof edge of the driver's compartment. The upper edges are then beveled with a needle file and covered with a piece of tissue paper. The side machine gun mounts need to be removed beforehand so that the tarpaulin fits snugly against the side walls. New pintle mounts made of 1 × 1 mm polystyrene rod will later be attached to the outer hull, namely between the first and second firing ports. See our tutorial: “BTR-60P Armoured Personnel Carrier” for more detail.
The three firing ports in the sides of the fighting compartment and the two-man crosscut saw mounted below them were mistakenly combined into a gunner‘s hatch with two additional firing ports. Wargamers might be able to overlook this error, but collectors and diorama builders probably won‘t. After sanding down the superfluous hatches, the firing ports, crosscut saw (left), and shovel (right) are recreated using thin polystyrene. An antenna mount made of a 1 mm diameter polystyrene rod is glued onto the roof of the cab, next to the commander‘s hatch (right). Once the glue has completely set, the antenna mount may be drilled out with a 0.3 mm micro-drill to accept a paint brush bristle as the antenna.
The missing steps between the wheels and the handrails to the right of the two gunner's hatches can be recreated using 0.5 mm copper, brass, or piano wire. The taillights on the rear bumper are removed. Instead, the BTR-60 receives a rear reflector, directly above the bumper, and two new taillights made from short sections of 0.5 mm diameter polystyrene rod at the top of the engine cover. The round cover of the waterjet drive is visually divided into two semicircular covers by engraving a vertical dividing line.
The dark olive green plastic of the Roskopf model is a good match for Humbrol 114 »Russian Green«. The model may be used unpainted, but it does look much better with a two or three colour camouflage pattern and a little weathering.
Good value for money, the antique Roskopf 1:100 scale BTR-60P is available for little money at flea markets and online auctions.
Compatibel with ArmiesArmy, Battlefront Miniatures (Flames of War, Team Yankee), Eureka Miniatures, Flashpoint Miniatures, Forged in Battle, Irregular Miniatures, Khurasan Miniatures, MJ Figures, Old Glory, Peter Pig, Plastic Soldier Company, Pico Armor, Skytrex (Command Decision), Quality Castings, Quick Reaction Force (QRF), Rebel Minis, Zvezda, and similar 15/18 mm or 1:100 scale miniatures.
Possible Conversions
- BTR-60P with closed Canvas Cover
- BTR-60PA with armoured Roof
- BTR-60PB with armoured Roof and Machine Gun Turret
The Roskopf 1:100 scale BTR-60P armoured personnel carrier is a useful model for wargamers who want to field a motorized infantry company with ten BTR-60 APCs in three motorized infantry platoons. While the Roskopf model is no longer in production, it can be found cheaply at flea markets, model railway shows, and auctions.