I've had the Trumpeter
GAZ 39371 "Vodnik" for a while, but haven't had a "use case" for it yet. The Vodnik is modular, with various boxes that can be added to the rear section for different missions. The rear module in the Trumpeter kit has a 14.5mm KPVT in a BMP style turret. The gun and turret are nicely detailed, but it just didn't interest me.
Instead, I decided to make it into a "pickup" with the rear area configured to support a long distance scouting mission:
This kit has been on my bench for a while - at least three full builds have been completed since I started tinkering with this kit.
The cargo area floor is from an ABS printing raft, with styrene sheets for the walls. The kit's fit is outstanding (with a little sanding) so I may just press fit the crew compartment on and not glue it in place.
My "internal working name" is "Gopnik Pickup truck" but I'm not going to make this a Russian vehicle - I may go with Ukrainian or Uruguayan.
I started by adding a side door for the rear compartment. I cut a hole for the hatch and moved the front module lifting handle forward and added a rain gutter from a leftover strip of ABS support from a printing project.
The hatch is two pieces of styrene, cut to fit in the hole:
I've since added a hinge from a Stryker hatch (from the great AFV Club M151 kit) and some other hardware.
Here the crew compartment so far:
The cabin lights are just clear sprues sanded round and painted with Tamiya clear blue (the Prime Portal walkaround shows similar lights). The fire extinguisher is from a Tristar Panzer 38(t) interior kit. with a scratchbuilt hose and handles. I made a second one from a section of sprue (not installed yet). The speaker is from the 3D printed PRC radio from another thread. The white box is a first aid kit made from a couple of parts from the Panzer 38(t) kit. The rear compartment has a 3D printed 24" monitor, an M151 joystick and a seat from a Military Wheels UAZ-469 kit.
Top view with the "bored buy at the computer" in the seat, for a size reference:
Here's a view from the rear seat. the radio and handset are from the PRC radio I recently printed:
There isn't much room in the front, so I limited the amount of gear. I may add a couple of objects then start painting. I'm thinking of a light green lower section (similar the the color on now) with a light blue (or light gray) and black, camo pattern similar to this KZT-537L - maybe a digital camo version:
I'm also thinking of adding one of the external fuel tanks and mounts from a Tamiya T-62 to the rear of the cab.
