Border 1/12 BA-001 Tesla Trooper — Red Alert 30th Anniversary

With the Command & Conquer: Red Alert 30th anniversary community celebration beginning in October 2026, it seemed like the right time to finally complete a long-shelved project: Border’s BA-001 Tesla Trooper in 1/12 scale.

The kit was received as a gift several months ago. The parts had already been painted according to their moulded runner colours, but only the first few assembly steps had been completed before the model went back into its box.

The original paintwork was done using GSI Creos Mr. Hobby Mr. Color paints. Parts from the black runners received a uniform grey coat; the red runners received a black base coat followed by red weathering; the orange runner received a black base coat followed by orange weathering; and the silver runner was given a uniform silver finish.

Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color was then used throughout: Black on the grey, orange and silver parts, and Light Grey on the red parts.

The kit also includes rubber-moulded components, including the gloves, tubing, pouches and sling. These were left in their original rubber material rather than airbrushed. Light Grey Panel Line Accent was used on the black rubber parts, while Black was used on the orange rubber parts.

The head sculpt is also made from a rubbery material and came as a separate piece. It was left in its original finish and mounted onto the body, with the Tesla Trooper’s distinctive, Juggernaut-like headgear fitted over it.

Nitrile gloves proved useful during the final assembly and handling of these flexible components.

Once assembled, the different materials become much more apparent. The figure combines metallic-looking painted surfaces, rigid plastic components and flexible rubberised equipment, giving the Tesla Trooper a convincing multi-material appearance.

There is no particular faction preference behind the build. The appeal is the Tesla Trooper’s suit design as a piece of fictional science-fiction technology — an armoured infantry system built around an electrically powered weapon.

The actual 30th anniversary of Command & Conquer: Red Alert falls on 22 November 2026, but with the community celebration already beginning on 2 October, there was little reason to keep the unfinished Tesla Trooper in its box.

After months of waiting, the Tesla Trooper is finally assembled.

Red Alert — 30 years.