Battlefront Kit Review BRDM-2 Recon Platoon (Plastic) (TSBX24)

By Tom Burgess

Though I already have plenty of BRDM-2s, SA-9 Gaskins, and Spandrel AT launchers I could not pass up the great deal that the new World War III: Team Yankee (WW3:TY) Soviet army box was.  This gave me five BRDM-2 sprues that I was not sure I needed. I considered selling them or giving them away but decided I’d go ahead and build them to help get me to my goal of completing 365 Flames of War and WW3:TY teams in 2020. I also thought I could do a decent review article since I could compare these new plastic models to the older resin-metal models.

Though the TSUAB04 Soviet Starter Force: T-80 Shock Tank Company comes with five BRDM sprues while the BRDM-2 Recon Platoon (Plastic) (TSBX24) has four sprues. As advertised, these are all plastic.  There does not appear to be a crew sprue included with the BRDM-2 Recon Platoon (Plastic) (TSBX24) box, but the right forward hatch can be modeled in the open position to accept a crew figure. [Edit: Though the box does not show it, I have been informed that this TSBX24. box does include a crew sprue]

The cost of BRDM-2 Recon Platoon (Plastic) (TSBX24) box is only $36US which is a good bit cheaper than the $54US than you would have paid for four SA-9s or for BRDM-2s in resin-metal. Best of all, you get to supergluing metal wheels on resin hull, one of my least favorite things in this hobby.

The sprue will build all three variants of the BRDM-2. The box set comes with unit cards for all three variants, but only for Soviet. You’ll have to get your unit cards elsewhere if you want to add these models to your East Germans, Poles, or Czechoslovakian forces.

A single sprue contains the parts for all three variants.

These models were quick and easy to assemble. I chose to leave one hatch open on one of my five models and I also elected to assemble all parts. Note on the far right there are some SA-9 Gaskin reload boxes, which we’ll discuss a bit more later.

Here are the three base variants assembled and primed. With the use of magnets, you can make these kits so you can swap parts back and forth adding great flexibility to your collection. Switching between the BRDM-2 Recon and the SA-9 Gaskin variant is straight forward, but the Spandrel AT models are a bit trickier.

To make sure the Spandrel AT parts could also be swapped out I added a small magnet into the base of the launcher mount. You can see the size magnet I used on the right in the photo above, while a standard Battlefront turret magnet is on the left. The Spandrel AT system has a special hatch cover, seen in the center front of the above photo.

This piece snaps on snugly to the normal hatch cover and will not need magnets, but eventually taking it on and off will damage your model’s finish. I will likely just leave this piece off when running the Spandrel AT version of this kit. It’s small and barely noticeable.

In the above photo, you can compare the new plastic BRDM-2 on the right to the resin-metal version on the left. Dimension and proportion size are a good match.

One aspect I did not like with the new kit was the join line between the upper and lower hull that I could not get rid of. A better modeler than I likely could. I prefer the nice crisp edge of the older kit. I based coated my new plastic models with Vallejo Russian Green 4BO spray.  My older models had the Battlefront Colors of War “War Paint” Soviet Green spray. This is no longer available. The closest match in a spray can to that I have found is Vallejo US Olive Drab.

Above we have the newer and older Spandrel AT models.

You can see the launcher sight hatch in the above photo that snaps on to the normal hatch very well.

Are are the older and new SA-9 Gaskin models.  The SA-9 launcher has noticeable seam lines along the edge. I will add that the model came with SA-9 launcher reload boxes that you could glue to the side of the hull. But if I had added these then they would not look good when using my models as BRDM-Recon or Spandrel AT platoon. I left them off and may later add them to my old resin-metal SA-9 Gaskins, or if I can find a 1:100 Soviet GAZ truck I may make an objective diorama with a truck bringing up a reload supply.

The sight window on the newer plastic model is much wider than it should be. The older model had more a more accurate depiction of this. The new model also had a seam line that goes right down the center of the window that I found displeasing. Special note of caution, the two halves will do not accept the insertion of a turret magnet very well. The cavity is not big enough. I had to go in and enlarge the hole so the magnet would fit without splitting the two halves of the mast mount apart.

Here are all five of my models fully assembled and painted with all components. I did mine in a camo pattern to match the new Shock T-80s and BMP-3s I’ve been working on. Four of my models can be put on the table as all three variants. Because I modeled on hatch open and added a crew figure, that model can only really be used in the BRDM-2 Recon or SA-9 Gaskin modes.

Above are all five models in BRDM-2 Recon mode. Not the open hatch and exposed crew on “231.” I made these proper “Guards” shock units by adding the Guards decal. My T-80s and BMP-3s will have these also.

Above are three molded as a Spandrel AT platoon. This is probably the last time I will bother to add the sight hatch on top of the normal hatch when using my models as Spandrel AT systems.

Above are four of  my models set up as a SA-9 Gaskin platoon. You can really see how off the sight window in the mast is for size here.

Conclusions.

Pros: More versatile and lighter models with some extra options like a hatch that can be left open and the SA-9 reload boxes.

Cons: Some bad seam lines, turret magnets not fitting into the SA-9 mast mount properly, no decals included, no crew sprue included, and only included unit cards are for the Soviet army.

I wish I could compare the price, but the new kit will make buying the older kit no longer an option. BRDM-2 Recon Platoon (Plastic) (TSBX24) is listed at $36US. So basically $9 a model. That seems reasonable even with the flaws I noted above. The minor flaws to me are superseded by the kits versatility and so I can overall recommend these new models.

Models NOT provided by Battlefront.