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Andreas' Armour Pages

TPz 1 „FUCHS“

The FUCHS serves in many variations in several countries. REVELL’s kit can be build in three versions named Combat, Milan and Ambulance, However the kit does not include the add on armour necessary to assemble any of the versions typically for the Balkan campaigns KFOR/ IFOR/ SFOR.
The combat version is a Fuchs APC with a combat engineer kit. The version called Milan is the Fuchs APC with the MILAN ATGW added, this is the one I have decided to assemble.

For ease of handling I have glued the upper and lower hull halves together as one of the first steps prior to attaching any smaller parts that would be subject to damage at a later stage.
The headlights’ parts no. 25 and 26 are only very rough representations of the actual parts. I did not use them but replaced them with scratchbuild ones. I used wire bend to shape to simulate the guard railings and plastic sheet cut and bend to form to shape of the nightlight and the base plate of the same.
I wanted my Fuchs to have the windshield cover completely lowered. I had to scratch build the two-piece armoured cover as REVELL has decided to mould it as one retracted piece. Finally I added supports to both sides of this cover.
I did not use part no.116 of the exhaust as this is a later addition. The exhaust itself was drilled open and part no.15, a “deflector” rebuild from plastic sheet in corrected size and form.
The antenna part no. 29 at the right aft of the vehicle was not used, the opening sealed by a round plate.
At this stage I attached the four lifting rings on the vehicle top. The notches in the vehicle roof are already moulded, but REVELL has forgotten the “eyes”. I used brass wire and drilled holes to insert it. I have also replaced the handles parts no.30 by smaller dia. brass wire.
The following assembly of the suspension parts needs to be done carefully  step by step to avoid confusion. You will have to follow the instructions closely to achieve correct positioning of all parts. In step 10 and 11 you have to take care that parts nos. 50 and 51 are attached relating to step 13, part 52! Check the correct positioning prior to final assembly.
There are a number of tyre versions in use and there are quite a lot aftermarket kits of these available, too. Choose your version for either early, middle or current vehicles.
The tool stowage varies as well, I did boost my kit by adding handles and leaving a few cramps free to show use of those tools. Especially the wire cutter on the vehicles right side needs some additional detail.
As I could not find any evidence for the use of parts nos. 117, 127A and 128 on the early MILAN versions I did not attach these, to my knowledge these were used on up-armoured vehicles only. REVELL has not included any add on armour as earlier said, so …
The netting, part no. 147 is quite often not attached so I did not use this part but used PE strapping parts bend to simulate loose strapping. Finally I used bare metal foil for the rearview mirrors and reworked the mirrors attachments.
I did not attach any weaponry as the Bundeswehr seldom uses any during training or exercise. Instead I have covered all attachments. Therefore I used only parts 111 – 115 of the MILAN ATGW and did not attach the machine gun.

I have included the FUCHS into a diorama together with the M88A1G.

SOURCES :
The INTERNET and
CONCORD Publications - Michael Jerchel - German wheeled fighting vehicles
ISBN 962-361-657-0

 

Copyright © 2000 by Andreas HĂĽger. All rights reserved. Reproduction without written consent is not permitted.