This is my new 1:10 scale 4D Puzzle Model company kit of the famous AK-47 Автома́т Кала́шникова automatic rifle. The AK-47, officially known as the Автома́т Кала́шникова (Avtomat Kalashnikova), or just AK, is a gas-operated, 7.62×39mm automatic rifle developed in the USSR by Mikhail Kalashnikov (1919-2013) near the end of the Great Patriotic War. It is the originating firearm of the Kalashnikov rifle (or "AK") family. The number 47 refers to the year it won the design competition - 1947. It is a myth that this is a copy of the Nazi-scum rifle, but it is true that such captured weapons impressed the USSR leadership which then ordered work to begin on similar weapons. All of the real original types were manufactured at the Иже́вский машинострои́тельный Заво́дor, or the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant.
Over 75 000 000 of the original versions of the rifle were made, and another 25 000 000+ of derivatives. It is the world's most popular and single-most available combat type automatic weapon.
Most of the weapons in African and Middle East and South-East Asia conflicts which appear to be AK-47 rifles are usually Chinese-made copies called the Type 56 (56式自动步枪 Type 56 Automatic Rifle) also known as the AK-56 as made by NORINCO (China North Industries Group Corporation Limited 中国北方工业集团有限公司) near Beijing.
The kit comes with several build options for modernized weapons, so a lot of parts are leftover. I chose an original classic look. The metal is painted Vallejo flat black with a hint of steel. The wooden parts are painted Vallejo goldenbrown then washed with a reddish colour then glossed with floor wax to imitate the wood varnish. The bayonet, which is too modern for the look I wanted, has a silver powder-rubbed metal blade. Dry brushing with steel brought out the edges of the rifle.
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| AK-47 Автома́т Кала́шникова "Kalashnikov" |
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| AK-47 Автома́т Кала́шникова |
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| AK-47 Автома́т Кала́шникова |
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| AK-47 Автома́т Кала́шникова |
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AK-47 Автома́т Кала́шникова
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| Mr. Modeller on the range near Beijing with a laser training AK-56 |
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| Mrs. Modeller on the range near Beijing with a laser training AK-56 |
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AK-47 family of weapons in Moscow's
Museum of the Russian Armed Forces |
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Display devoted to M. Kalashnokov and his weapons in the
Petrograd Museum of Artillery and Air Defence |
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Display devoted to M. Kalashnokov and his weapons in the
Petrograd Museum of Artillery and Air Defence |
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Display devoted to General Kalashnokov and his presentation swords
in Petrograd's Museum of Artillery and Air Defence
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