AS-90 Braveheart Trumpeter 1/35 scale

This kit is considered as one of the “nice ” kits from Trumpeter, a brand that every day take more and more distance from their murky past, from crude copies of Tamiya’s kits.
When opening the box, we come across with parts to build both the short and long gun barrel’s versions (39 and 52 calibres), but actually, It’s only possible to model an As90 Braveheart, as it’s called the long barrel’s version since the travel lock and other details in the kit don’t match with the 39 calibre’s version.

This kit was released in 2002, before the Gulf War II, so, It’s hardly surprising that the kit in the box represents a vehicle seeing service in Kosovo and not in Irak.
This same kit was reissued by Hobbycraft Canada (Ref. 6004) but this time in Gulf War II version. It includes new decals (besides of the ones from Trumpeter).
According to my references, the only version used in this conflict was the 39 calibre’s.

Improving the kit
At first sight, this kit looks very complete and well detailed. Beyond the basic improvements and some minor correction, it´s ideal to bring an out of the box project.
The headlights guards were scratchbuilt from 1 mm and 0,7 mm wire. The ones coming with the kit are not bad but with flashes, so, it was easier for me to make new ones than cleaning up those flashes.

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