Academy K9FIN to KRAB conversion

[rustybaer]

Every time I try and Google pics of this thing I get dog stuff. Oh well. It's a recent Academy offering of the Korean K9 Thunder, picked up at a last chance sale for beer money, so I thought I'd do something easy. This issue is Finland's version, but I'm pretty sure the only thing Academy changed from the initial ROK release is the decals when there are actually small differences in the vehicle. I'll ponder that. The actual K9 has been sold to several users, maybe I'll look into that.
My goal is to do something as near to OOB as is possible for me, and so far so good. I did cheat and use a set of Tamiya Challenger tracks to replace to yucky old melty pin tracks in the kit. Come on Academy, use the same plastic as Tamiya, AFV Club, Takom, etc. I opened up an air intake on the engine deck and substituted some PE mesh, cleaned up some louvers on another and hollowed out the exhaust . Otherwise, good kit.
Hull nearly done, turret started:

IMG_3720 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_3721 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Small parts are a bit clunky, minimal flash though. It's engineered for an interior, practically begs for it actually. I would think DEF Model would have done one already.

[JCON]

Quite the ride...

[rustybaer]

Change of plans: After a couple of inquiries about who uses this thing other than Korea and Finland, it was suggested I build the KRAB, the Polish SPG that uses the British AS90 turret on the K9 hull. I just happen to have a Trumpeter AS90 in the stash, so it's on. Quick pic:
IMG_3722 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

[Dukemaddog]

Now that is gonna rock! I can't wait to see this!

By the way, what other users bought this gun?

[rustybaer]

I've read at least Australia, India, Egypt, Norway, Finland and Poland but the Poles are buying it with the AS90 turret. See my edited post above. And add Ukraine now, using units donated by Poland. My build will be as used in Ukraine.
And since I have an "extra" K9 turret, I started on another back-burner project I've had in mind for a while:
IMG_3724 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
I call it "Slammer Mk3", another of my fictional IDF vehicles on obsoleted Merkava hulls. It's also a good way to use up an Academy Merkava 3 hull which has a pretty noticeable goof, but for this, who cares?

[JCON]

Fun build!!!

[rustybaer]

Nov 21, 2022 18:34:29 GMT -6 JCON said:

Fun build!!!

Just what I need after three Challengers in a row. They were "challenging".

[Dukemaddog]

Good info on the other users. I'll do a bit of research to see if I can replicate a couple in 1/72 scale.

Excellent work so far!

[rustybaer]

I'm going to devote this thread to the KRAB build since it's the K9 hull with the AS90 turret and start another fore the what-if Slammer, just for clarity. Of course my bench is anything but "clear" since I'm doing two an once......
Here's where the KRAB is now:
IMG_3743 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_3742 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_3741 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
I had to do some changes to the hull at the rear corners and various details at the front. There's a few things to change on the AS90 turret as well, the major one being a stowage basket on the rear that looks like a giant bingo basket. I'm still thinking on how to do it.

[JCON]

Nice changes!!!

[JED]

I'm liking this

[rustybaer]

I've very nearly run out of pics detailed enough to do anything else on this, so I'm going to take a break and see if I can dig up some good pics. All I have are a few parade shots that don't help a lot. I need good pics of the whole rear of the turret, gun rest, front and rear lights.... well, lots. I also have to scratch a muzzle brake and re-do the gun tube.
I'm not happy with the hinges on the big side access doors either.
IMG_3765 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

[JED]

Its looking good to me

[rustybaer]

Okay, I'm liking it better now. I re-did the hinges on the big access doors, making the things look more like production items rather than one-offs made in a blacksmith shop in Middle Earth somewhere. I also tackled the gun tube, since the Poles changed the AS90 gun for something else. I had to move the parts around behind the bore evacuator and add stuff between the accordion and mantlet. I also added some detail to the mantlet itself, missing in the Trump kit or not there on the AS90. I suspect it's the latter. Anyhootch, pic as it is now, ready to do the muzzle brake:
IMG_3775 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

[rustybaer]

A quick pic of the gun tube all done and in basic green. It's on one of my shelves of shame, only because it's too big to go anywhere else...
IMG_3778 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

[JCON]

That is long...

[ogrejohn]

Reach out and touch someone with that! Looking good Rusty! 

[JED]

Yep, certainly looks BIG

[rustybaer]

I had to use telescoping tube to get it rigid enough to not sag as I built it up. It's long. It makes the barrel on the K9 look dinky.