VCC-80 Dardo IFV (1/72)
Comments
Nice project!, fore sure, i follow your progress 😁
I got the BMR-1 from Red Tank Miniature.
Wanted to see how these kits would look like.
Actually quite good quality, only the underside becomes difficult to clean.
And even with these, the individual layers can be seen somewhat.
The individiual layers being visible is - and will likely for the near future be - a thing with 3D printed kits. A major issue I ran into with this particular kit is the fit of the side fenders between the tracks , the lower and the upper hull... it is very thight and I have not yet managed to get everything lined up properly. I will have to put in a bigger session sometime to get everything to fit
Album info
The VCC-80 Dardo is an Italian IFV currently in use. It is an analogue of other western IFVs as such as the ASCOD. Being in development since the 80s, the vehicle entered serial production in the late 1990s. Several variants were considered and even build, including a 30mm-armed variant, an upgraded variant from 2010 with heavier side armour and OWS as well as a variant featuring the OTO Melara 60mm HVMS. The Italian army operates the vehicle in the normal configuration with a 25mm Oerlikon KBA and optional TOWs. It saw service in Iraq and Afghanistan as a part of peacekeeping forces. Plans to select a replacement vehicle are in motion since 2021.
The kit is made by WIP3D, a company from Italy specializing in 3D printed models. I bought this kit, when I stumpled upon it at EME 2022. Overall quality is nice, although printing layers are visble and one will need to wash the parts before painting at least. Apart from the upper hull and turret, supports are still attached to the parts. Removing them has to be done carefully, as the 3D printed resins are rather brittle.