Reference number L3520
Our thanks to The Airbrush Company Ltd for supplying our review sample. Get this kit here now at: www.airbrushes.com
Initial assessment…
This is a re-jig of earlier kits using the same sprues minus some parts with the same decal sheet. I haven’t actually seen the other kits but looking at reviews and the build in this magazine I think I’m right in saying that. That said by looking at the parts in the box I can say this is a very good kit, in fact excellent.
The kit follows conventional construction with a one piece chassis with the torsion bars fitted through two piece cylinders inside the chassis. The front wheel and steering looks to be a fairly complicated design but with care and patience it should make into a fine representation of the original. The front wheels are in slices so as to get the tyre pattern correct they will need to be assembled in the correct order and I think marking them in some way (number with pencil) will help so as not to end up with wrong tyre tread.
The cab has fine detail on the floor and the dash has two injection marks placed under items fitted so as to hide them. The detail inside the cab when assembled is excellent but when the cab is completed, it will be difficult to see most of it. No engine is supplied with the kit but GWH do make one as a separate item.
The rear load bed has etch brass which has a fine weave pattern on one side only so care will need to be exercised to ensure this goes into the frame facing outward, or get some double sided from the aftermarket suppliers. The tracks are single links and uses the same number for each side and have good detail on them.
Accuracy…
From the plans I have this compares very well and it looks right, not to mention a mean look about it.
Quality…
Quality of the mouldings are state of the art and with care, a great model should be within the grasp of most modellers. Some injection marks but they look to be hidden when the model is built and with the amount of small pieces care will need to be taken cutting from the sprue. Clean up should be easy as the plastic seems to me to be on the soft side.
Instructions…
The instructions come in the form of an eight-page booklet which is printed black on white and is broken down into sub assemblies. This starts with the chassis completed in seven stages, tools giving the option of moulded on or etch clamps in one stage, the cab and engine covers which comprise the hull are made in three stages and the cargo bed and tracks completed in two stages. The hull top is kept separate till the end which should help painting the interior. This may sound simple but each stage has a good number of parts to assemble. When all subassemblies are finished it is time to bring them all together. This is a standard approach to building and is easy to follow with well laid out fine line drawings. This is accompanied by a colour 5 view drawing of the vehicle showing a camouflage pattern with paint codes for, GSI CREOS Hobby Colour, Tamiya and Vallejo. A point for new modellers to German WWII vehicles is that there are no references to colours for the cab interior so some research will be needed.
Decals…
There is a small decal sheet included with shipping/loading stencils for the hull. Dials for the instrument panel and number plates, fore and aft, are for a Luftwaffe vehicle. The number plate is printed with the WL but all subsequent numbers have to be added singly, this is not my idea of fun, but it gives you scope for a lot of vehicles.
Conclusion…
From out of the box, this looks like a great kit (As were its predecessors) and with care should produce a stunner. I have seen a picture of one of these towing an 88 Pak 43/41 and this just could be how this turns out.
Highly recommended
Bill C.