Hi guys. You know I can't resist a bargain if it comes in a big box! Here's the latest.
Before I start, if anyone is looking for a 'shake and bake', straight OOB easy build and/or superfine details, look away now 'cos this one's not for you. But .....
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Good job this isn't a normal Revell 'end opening' box - it'd be bent and battered before it even got to your LHS! There are sprues in medium grey, white, black, clear, chrome (shudder!) and 'rubber' tyres.
Grey:
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White
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Black
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A very nice touch are these:
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These are jigs for holding the two ends of the main chassis parts. This should make sure you get everything square and lined up properly.
And the chrome
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View attachment 259651
Nice, big decal sheet
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The decals all seem to be in register with bright, sharp colours. Notice the 'wood effect' instrument panels. A little crudely done but acceptable.
And instructions in the usual Revell style
View attachment 259657
There is just one sprue of clear parts for the light lenses and windshield. The windshield is a single piece which fits from the inside and includes the two quarterlight windows. The other side windows are not included, so unless you have some clear styrene sheet, you'll just have to have these open!
First I have to say that there's not a lot of detail for such a big scale. The parts count isn't given, but the biggest part number I've seen in the instructions is Part 236. Even allowing for multiple copies, the total is going to be less than 300. This is typically why the parts count is so low:
View attachment 259639
This is a single piece which represents one half of the engine/gearbox block. If Academy or Trumpeter did this kit, you'd have easily 100 parts for an engine this big. Total count for the engine parts here is only about 20. The detail that is there is soft but with careful painting, you should be able to get something reasonable. If you want to see separate spark plugs, fan belts and wiring - buy a Pocher kit!
This is an old kit so expect flash and mould seams. They're here on mine, but there's nothing that should cause problems even for an average modeller like myself. Certainly, anyone who has built any sort of old-style kit will be able to cope with this one. But it does mean you'll have to spend some time cleaning up parts before fitting and maybe even afterward with seams to sand and fill.
Now to the worst bit - the chrome parts.
I suspect these were originally included so kids could build something with nice, shiny parts just like the real trucks (Don't forget, this was originally made long before air brushes and metallic paints such as Alclad were available - certainly to the average modeller at least). All the parts have mould attachment points, seam lines and flash. Parts that need to be joined will also have joint seams to be cleaned up. Once the clean up has been done, there's no way to my knowledge of replacing the chrome finish that's been filed/sanded away so you'll end up with the original colour plastic showing. For those that can use Alclad type metallics, get rid of the chrome by soaking in strong bleach; clean up and join the parts, then re-spray. For those that can't use Alclad or similar - remove the chrome then paint as best you can; it will still look better than parts that are half chrome and half some other colour!
This sounds like a lot of criticism for one kit. It isn't really. If you accept the limitations that this is an old kit originally created for children, then it's excellent - I'd recommend it to anyone. You end up with a BIG truck (about 20 inches long) which looks really good on your shelf. Add a suitable trailer, and you've got yourself a real eye-catcher! Just don't expect it to win any prizes for fine detail.
I got mine on special offer from Wonderland Models - just over £50 including P&P - and I think it's worth every penny. Whether it will ever get to the top of my 'to do' list is another story ....
PS Graham - this is just for you! I was going to put it the Latest Acquisitions post!
Before I start, if anyone is looking for a 'shake and bake', straight OOB easy build and/or superfine details, look away now 'cos this one's not for you. But .....
View attachment 259635View attachment 259636
Good job this isn't a normal Revell 'end opening' box - it'd be bent and battered before it even got to your LHS! There are sprues in medium grey, white, black, clear, chrome (shudder!) and 'rubber' tyres.
Grey:
View attachment 259637View attachment 259638
White
View attachment 259640View attachment 259641View attachment 259644View attachment 259646
Black
View attachment 259647View attachment 259648View attachment 259649
A very nice touch are these:
View attachment 259650
These are jigs for holding the two ends of the main chassis parts. This should make sure you get everything square and lined up properly.
And the chrome
View attachment 259652View attachment 259653View attachment 259654
View attachment 259651
Nice, big decal sheet
View attachment 259656
The decals all seem to be in register with bright, sharp colours. Notice the 'wood effect' instrument panels. A little crudely done but acceptable.
And instructions in the usual Revell style
View attachment 259657
There is just one sprue of clear parts for the light lenses and windshield. The windshield is a single piece which fits from the inside and includes the two quarterlight windows. The other side windows are not included, so unless you have some clear styrene sheet, you'll just have to have these open!
First I have to say that there's not a lot of detail for such a big scale. The parts count isn't given, but the biggest part number I've seen in the instructions is Part 236. Even allowing for multiple copies, the total is going to be less than 300. This is typically why the parts count is so low:
View attachment 259639
This is a single piece which represents one half of the engine/gearbox block. If Academy or Trumpeter did this kit, you'd have easily 100 parts for an engine this big. Total count for the engine parts here is only about 20. The detail that is there is soft but with careful painting, you should be able to get something reasonable. If you want to see separate spark plugs, fan belts and wiring - buy a Pocher kit!
This is an old kit so expect flash and mould seams. They're here on mine, but there's nothing that should cause problems even for an average modeller like myself. Certainly, anyone who has built any sort of old-style kit will be able to cope with this one. But it does mean you'll have to spend some time cleaning up parts before fitting and maybe even afterward with seams to sand and fill.
Now to the worst bit - the chrome parts.
I suspect these were originally included so kids could build something with nice, shiny parts just like the real trucks (Don't forget, this was originally made long before air brushes and metallic paints such as Alclad were available - certainly to the average modeller at least). All the parts have mould attachment points, seam lines and flash. Parts that need to be joined will also have joint seams to be cleaned up. Once the clean up has been done, there's no way to my knowledge of replacing the chrome finish that's been filed/sanded away so you'll end up with the original colour plastic showing. For those that can use Alclad type metallics, get rid of the chrome by soaking in strong bleach; clean up and join the parts, then re-spray. For those that can't use Alclad or similar - remove the chrome then paint as best you can; it will still look better than parts that are half chrome and half some other colour!
This sounds like a lot of criticism for one kit. It isn't really. If you accept the limitations that this is an old kit originally created for children, then it's excellent - I'd recommend it to anyone. You end up with a BIG truck (about 20 inches long) which looks really good on your shelf. Add a suitable trailer, and you've got yourself a real eye-catcher! Just don't expect it to win any prizes for fine detail.
I got mine on special offer from Wonderland Models - just over £50 including P&P - and I think it's worth every penny. Whether it will ever get to the top of my 'to do' list is another story ....
PS Graham - this is just for you! I was going to put it the Latest Acquisitions post!
