1/35 Academy M1151 HMMWV

[GazB]

Hey all, back again

This was a kit I got for my birthday and which I've just completed. The vehicle itself is fully painted and partially weathered with a wash. I'm still deciding on what type of diorama base I want to do for it, so further weathering is on hold for the time being

Vehicle is completely OOB, with a few additions and modifications. Additions include the CIP panel on the hood, as well extra kit on the two as yet unpainted figures, taken from a Meng equipment set and spares from a Masterbox set. The gunner supplied with this kit (the guy at the back) didn't seem to work with the turret too well, but luckily his pose lends itself well to where I've decided to stand him. I also kitted him out with a CamelBak and helmet from the Meng kit.

The replacement gunner is from the Masterbox set, but posed a bit of a problem. Where the M2 was originally positioned, as designed in the kit, it was too low for him to look like he was gripping it. As a result, I had to glue a small section of sprue onto its mounting to raise it up, as well as move the gunshield up a bit. Luckily the darker colours hide the bit of mounting visible through the glass

Another note about the supplied figures is that the driver is bigger than he should be, and doesn't actually match his picture. His right leg is depicted as being straight in the instructions, but is bent on the actual molding. He just barely fits into position as disembarking. I had another figure from the Masterbox kit that I had planned to use, but again due to size restrictions inside the vehicle, I'll have to use him with something else, possible my upcoming Bradley.

Other extras on the vehicle include the stowage, some of which came from the Tamiya equipment set, others from two Meng sets, which includes the hardcase in the back, the cooler and the M82 in the gunner cupola. I can't recall what the M136 is from; a Dragon figure kit, perhaps.

Although the instructions can be a little misleading at times, and some smaller parts very easy to snap, this kit went together pretty well. My intention for the diorama (along with my Abrams and Bradley) is to depict its deployment into an East Asia conflict, providing options for either a snippet of an urban setting, or something muddy.

Anyway, that's a large enough wall of text. Time for pics

Gaz

[Ozzy]

Nice build.

[GazB]

Thanks, Ozzy

Gaz

[phildagreek]

Looks good!

[GazB]

Cheers, phil

Gaz