kit: L3508
Reviewed by Bill Curtis
Our thanks to The Airbrush Company for supplying the review sample – get this great kit here now at: www.airbrushes.com
Initial assessment…
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On opening the box the contents are; three main sprues, four for the tyres and rims, one clear, one etch, a set of preformed spokes, a bag with two metal springs, decal sheet and finally the instructions. The sequence starts with the motor and in this stage you have a choice of cylinder heads but there is no mention which is which, 68 and 69 are for the early type.
The wheels come next and a nice touch is the preformed spokes. I think great care will need to be exercised in this stage to line up all the parts correctly and a build in stages having numbered all the parts first should help with this.
Construction then carries on in a logical progression but I do think that this is a kit that will need to be painted in stages as one builds each sub assembly.
(do check out Graham Thomson’s excellent Feature Article (in Finished Now) on the Mini Art WWII U.S. Motorcycle WLA (Kit: 35080) – some excellent tips on building small scale motorcycles – Geoff C.)
A nice touch and a bonus is the inclusion of two trailers with different wheels so if you only want one to go with the motorbike then you have a spare for future use.
Accuracy…
I have no plans for this motorbike so am unable to comment as yet, but it looks good to the naked eye against images.
Quality…
The quality of this little kit cries out for some careful building and painting. With a few minor additions like brake cables etc this will build into a very nice motorbike kit but care will be needed in removing some of the smaller parts. Here the manufacturer has made the attachment point big enough to help remove the piece but not overly large so, parting and clean up will not damage the part.
Instructions…
The instruction sheet is a single folded out sheet with exploded views and follows a logical sequence. The stages are not over busy which helps to get the sub assemblies put together without trouble. Three painting options are included one in desert yellow for the 15th Panzer Division and two in Panzer Grey, being for the Grossdeutschland Division and lastly the 24 Panzer Division.
Decals…
A small decal sheet is included for the three options included. They look to be in good register, well printed and from looking only, appear to be thin. Looking at this kit wets ones appetite to get cracking on it, as the quality is excellent and the etch spokes (if fitted correctly) will really enhance this kit
Highly recommended
Bill C.