"BMD-1 Inquiry" Topic

Question to pout to the boards.

BMD-1.

Almost every photo of the real thing I've seen and about 90% of the models have that distinctive v-shaped structure on the front of the hull

– but some don't.

What is not clear is which versions do and which don't (assuming that it is not one of those things like M113s where the splashguard/drops tanks/lights ect vary from vehicle to vehicle even in the same group)!

Can anyone shed any light on this subject?

(I mean, it'd be trivial to release it with and without, but it would help to know what the difference in designation is – if any.)

While I was TDY to the army in Irag I noted that we had something similar on our Humvees – I asked one of the soldiers what it was and with a straight face he told me it was a FEW. Aka, a Field Expedient Washboard! I think in the Humvee's case it had something to do with IFF gear.

It is a splash shield to deflect water away from the driver vision blocks when crossing water obstacles. I don't know which version.

@Cold Steel

So its an addition to the regular folding splash plates? (I.e. the ones nor present in this particualr photo that would normally be at the "point" of the hull?)

yes a device for getting the water out of the drivers view, bit like the 'V' on the t64,72 & 80 glacis

Okay, well that at least helps me understand what it is; so we're back to the question of what BMD-1s had it (and I suppose ultimately whether or not people want it on the model or not!)

we put it on ours and no has complained!

I can take it or leave it, depending upon what you decide, and how well the surface detailing would come out, when printed.

Would love to see the little, West German, Spz Kurz (Spz 11-2) with 20mm cannon (lots of other variants too, of which I especially covet the little 81mm mortar carrier).

A PBV-302 for the Swedes would be really great also.

@Mako: QRF just released a 1/100 PBV302 model.

Excellent news!

Thanks for that, and I do want a few. Would like more, but the military budget is extremely limited/non-existent right now.

Plus, they're a little large to go with the company of 1/144th scale S-Tanks and T-54s/T-55s I have.

Hello!
This V-shaped piece – "panel to capture the lead spray" (панель для улавливания свинцовых брызг). This is due to the peculiarities of the geometry of the body of BMD – bullet when hit in the top of the frontal armor plates can ricochet in triplexes, or damage these triplexes fines. Accordingly, this item should protect vision devices.
Sorry for the bad English – I use Google translate

UsmanK, What is you nationality. I assume Russian given you can read Crylic. Thanks for the translation that is very helpful.

Hello, UshCha2!
I am Tatar (living in Russia), but I understand only two languages – Russian and English (and can't understand Tatarian language).
But not for that! If you need any help in translation from Russian – I can help (as part of my rather poor knowledge of English).

Your English is certainly a lot better than my Russian, so no worries there.

Hello, Mako11!
Well, the Russian language is very illogical – to really know him only linguists. Ordinary people like me often use such linguistic construction that when a linguist would have hysterics.

Some about this V-shape thing – this piece inslalled at the end of 1970s on the BMD-1P (with new ATGM Spigot and Spandrel) or early BMD-1, upgraded to the new standard.

That's early BMD-1 on parade, end of 1970-s
By the way, there can be clearly seen, for what officers in the Soviet army called the "screws" – a stupid and inconvenient cap gave him a resemblance to the screw. And in reality, the landing on the machines do not sit, it is only for parades.

That's BMD-1P on display, modern Russia

@UsmanK

Thank you, that is extremely helpful.

I will go for two versions, then, I think, early (without) and late (with), and will try and look into a BMD-1P. If I'm understanding this and wiki right, the ATGM on the -1P is the same (and in about the same place) as the one on the BMD-2 (which I've already done as well.)

Hello, Aotrs Commander!
Yes, it's same – Spigot or Spandrel.

This is the one at the military museum in Kyiv:

I've sat on that – dont ask :-)

Version without grill – you can see the exposure of the vision blocks:

With grill:

How much difference it made it reality may be questionable. I suspect it's more to do with diverting water or mud.

BMD-1 in the Kiev museum is incomplete – it has, for example, there is no shield to repel the waves.
Here's how it looks in the clear:

Actually, that he intended to remove water and other splashes of mud.
In addition, the observation devices BMD-1 is a system of air-liquid purification (Боевые машины десантные БМД-1П и БМД-1ПК (original soviet instruction, p 113-116 – mirknig.online/p/3hif).

The machine on the second photo is very similar to "victim of repair" – she, as far as I can tell, on the headlight of the early BMD-1.

Here is an article from the journal "Arms and equipment", dedicated to the design and operation of the BMD-1.
coollib.com/b/237493/read

And the fact that the V-shaped piece is designed to capture ricochets bullets speak all russian-language publications about this machine.

Right – back from holiday…!

Thanks UsmanK!

Okay. So, if I have got this right then, this is what we're looking at, with the (visible external) differences (at 144th scale) of BMDs.

BMD-1 (no bullet-splashguard)

BMD-1P (1977 onwards, with ATGW and bullet splash guard)

BMD-2 (different turret)

That look about right?

(Got all the way through and then realised the -1 and -1P had somehow lost the left MG, probably when I sorted the -2…!)

The rectangular piece on an M113's front hull is a deployable Trim Vane. Locked into position for swimming across rivers, etc. … It's only made of plywood. … Just FYI … ghqmodels.com/store/n25.html

is not clear is which versions do and which don't (assuming that it is not one of those things like M113s where the splashguard/drops tanks/lights ect vary from vehicle to vehicle even in the same group)!

I've served in 3 Mech Bns, and I've never seen that ? The only difference I saw. The Mech Bde HQ/TOC were the version with the extended fuel tanks. On the rear hull on both sides of ramp.

And our M113s in the ROK had the ACAV turret mod. But didn't stateside. So I'm not sure what you mean, otherwise ?

Hello, Aotrs Commander!
It looks good, and detail is good for this scale!

@UsmanK

Cheers. I can realse them later this week, then!

(And now of course I realise I labelled them "BMP" not "BMD" on that picture, but nevermind…!)