Maschinen Krieger Nutcracker 2

1/76 PKH 103 a3m Nutcracker (Manned Type)

This is a custom build of the 1/76 version of the Nutcracker (Nutrocker) hover tank from Maschinen Krieger (SF3D). The original version was an unmanned vehicle with a basic AI used by the Strahl forces. The type was pretty successful until the Mercenary forces started to field the SAFS.

My idea with this was that the Strahl army would take older, worn out Nutcrackers and retrofit them with extra sensors, an additional heavy laser gun, and a crew compartment for human control (thus, much more effective than the original AI).

For the kit, I used strip styrene to strengthen the banding of the armor plates (the original banding was rather soft), add grab handles everywhere, so the human crew could get around the tank easier, lots of stuff from the parts box, and antennae all over it for the better sensors.

Painted in Tamiya acrylics and weathered with The Detailer brown and black and Tamiya weathering powders.

This was done a few years ago before I discovered Mr. Mark Softer, so the decals are a little thick, but ah well. I'm still happy with how it turned out.

I'm still trying to figure out what I'm gonna do with my 1/35 version... As a side note, my build of one of these kits back in 1987 (I was 14) was my first award in a "real" model show-- an Award of Merit in the Junior division at an IPMS show. Not bad, considering that my competition was a bunch of 7 and 8 year-olds that had plenty of "extra help" from their fathers....