1:72 3Ro Italian Autocannone da 90/53 crew

The crew of the Italian Autocannone 3Ro da 90/53 in 1:72 scale

The set brings 3D printed figures of the crew of the Italian self-propelled 90 mm gun from the production of the Polish brand IBG models. It is not a model of the vehicle or of the gun but an accessory meant to give a finished model scale, movement and a story. The figures are designed for the 3Ro truck with the da 90/53 gun at the same scale, so they fit on the bed and around it without modification.

The real subject

The Italian 90 mm anti-aircraft gun da 90/53 was among the best guns of its category and proved itself against armored equipment as well. To give it mobility, the weapon was mounted on the bed of the heavy 3Ro truck. The autocannone thus created was deployed mainly in North Africa, where the crew worked directly from the bed and relied during firing on folding side panels and outriggers. Only a few dozen were built, which makes it all the more interesting a subject for a modeler.

Assembly and painting tips

First wash the printed parts with lukewarm water and dish soap and let them dry perfectly. Remove the supports with a sharp scalpel or a fine file and glue the joints with super glue. Then comes a thin coat of filler, the base tone of the uniforms and the skin, and finally a dark wash into the folds of the cloth, which does the most work at a small scale. A dry brush on the edges literally puts a figure on its feet. The figures are supplied unpainted.

Who the set is for

• modelers building Italian equipment from the campaign in North Africa
• creators of dioramas and display case scenes in 1:72 scale
• anyone interested in 3D printed accessories with fine surface detail
• builders who want to give a finished vehicle a living crew