Airfix Supacat Jackal 1:48

Reviewed by Geoff Coughlin (Nov 2012)

• Price around: £15.99 GBP
• Product Ref: A05301

Our thanks to Airfix for supplying our review sample, get this kit here now at: www.airfix.com

A little bit of background

This release is part of the Airfix range of Operation Herrick Afghanistan kits, enabling the builder to build a comprehensive range of dioramas and settings using multiple options of products in this Airfix range of kits. There are figures too (all reviewed in your Here Now area of SMN).

Designed and developed by Supacat at their facility in Devon, England, the Jackal or MWMIK (Mobility Weapon-Mounted Installation Kit) is a wheeled, armoured vehicle used by the British Army. Its primary role is one of deep battlefield reconnaissance as well as rapid assault and convoy protection. In all of these roles, good mobility and visibility are paramount and it is in these areas that the Jackal excels. The Jackal has seen extensive use in Afghanistan where it has proved to be a very useful machine, becoming much loved by its crews.

• Speed:      80mph on road, 49mph cross-country
• Weight:      6.7 Tons
• Length:      5.39m
• Width:      2m
• Armament      1 x 12.7mm machine gun or 40mm grenade launcher plus 1 x 7.62 GPMG

The kit moulding…

This is a great release and a timely addition to the Airfix Lynx and Merlin helicopter kits available now in the case of the Lynx and soon to be released Merlin. Add to that the British Forces Infantry Patrol figures, Snatch Land Rovers and Supacat Jackal vehicles also just released as I write and you’ll have great modelling opportunities as you cross-kit these sets – superb stuff!

Back to this release – This vehicle is very well tooled and despite some excess flash has realistic and accurate moulding. The flash is a little odd, given the fact that they are newly tooled but this is easily removed and doesn’t detract too much (just a little bit annoying really given they are new-tool) from what are excellent additions to any modern British Army diorama that you may wish to create. Some ejector pin marks exist too and you will need to remove some of these to prevent them showing.

Having got that out of the way, the plus points are extensive:

• Fully detailed sub frames, chassis and cab/rear interiors
• Nice tread plate detail on these areas
• Extensive fit-out of features applicable to the type
• Innovative way the front of the vehicle is assembled and attached in one piece
• 50cal MG, although watch the excess flash
• Decals for dials on instrument panel.

Airfix has a good video…

… that you might want to watch available from their website…

Instructions…

Colour painting guides are provided in the box for both vehicles and although Humbrol colour references are given, the colours are named and this will help you to match the colours from your own source to complete your model authentically.

To conclude…

I am very impressed with what is a neat addition to the Airfix ‘Operation Herrick Afghanistan’ range. The fact is you are getting new-tool state-of-the-art armour types that are well detailed even though they do have some excess flash is excellent. Co-ordinating the release to cover multiple types is a new and innovative approach that’s great for modellers. 1:48 scale is extremely popular now, especially amongst armour modellers and deserves to sell well and undoubtedly will, of that, I’m sure. Given what’s included this package offers great value for money in my opinion.

We will certainly be building this and other models within the range in SMN, so keep an eye out on Build Now.

Highly Recommended

SMN Quick Summary Star Rating out of 5

Geoff C.