Revell P204(f) Armoured Scout Vehicle. 1:35

[Shar2]

P204(f) Armoured Scout Vehicle

Revell 1:35

 

The Model

Originally issued by ICM in 2015, Revell have now re-released the kit with new decals. The kit is packaged in the standard Revel end open box, (I wish they’d stop this habit), with a nice representation of the vehicle on the front. Inside there are four sprues of grey styrene, four rubber tyres, and a small decal sheet.  All the parts are very nicely moulded, with no sign of flash or other imperfections and very few moulding pips. Since the kit has a full interior there are quite a few parts, also the fact that there are a few versions of this kit there are also quite a few parts that will end up in the spares box.

 

 

Construction begins with the fighting compartment floor being glued to the lower hull, followed by the rear driver’s bulkhead and both drivers seats. The longitudinal bulkhead between the rear driver’s compartment and engine compartment is then glued into position, followed by the eleven piece engine. The drivers steering columns and steering wheels are next, along with the gear sticks and foot pedals. The rear drivers transverse bulkhead is then fitted as is the rack of shells for the main gun, which is glued to the fighting compartment bulkhead.

 

 

Each of the two sides of the hull has a door that can be posed either open of closed. On the inside of each side there is a plethora of ammunition drums, for the machine gun, to be glued into position, along with the driver’s instruments and a spare machine gun. The sides are then glued to the lower hull, followed by the front and read bulkheads and front glacis plate. The rear mounted engine deck is then attached, along with the fighting compartment roof. The engine louvers and rear mid-bulkhead hatch are then attached, and can all be posed open should the modeller wishes. The rear wheel arch mounted storage boxes are then fitted and finished off with their respective doors.

 

 

Fortunately, the running gear an suspension on this kit is really simple, just the two axles with two piece differentials and drive shafts are assembled, the four suspension spring units are then fitted to the underside of the hull, followed by the axles/drive shafts. The steering linkages are then attached, along with the brake accumulators, drop links, horn and towing hooks. The wheels are each made up from two part wheels and a rubber tyre. Once assembled the four wheels are glued onto their respective axles. The rest of the hull is then detailed with grab handles, door handles, pioneer tools, headlights and a rack on the rear bulkhead.

 

 

The turret is then assembled; beginning with the co-axial machine gun, which is assembled from three parts before being fitted to the left hand front of the turret. The main gun comes in two halves, which once joined together are fitted with the trunnion mounts and elevation wheel. This is fitted to the turret ring along with the turret traverse mechanism. The turret ring and turret are then joined and the commanders and gunners seats are assembled and glued into position. The commander’s hatch is fitted with a handle and vent before being fitted into position. The two rear hatches on the turret can be posed open or closed. There are two, two piece periscopes fitted forward on the turret roof, and two lifting eyes on the rear sides.  The completed turret is then fitted to the turret ring on the hull, and the last parts added.  These include the two, two piece drivers viewing ports, which can also be posed open, the two piece exhaust silencer, wing mirrors and four miscellaneous panels.

 

 

Decals

There are two decal options, the decals are ok, although they appear a little fuzzy around the edges, although they have good opacity and are in register. The options are:-

 

• Wehrmacht, Operation Barbarossa, Eastern Front, Russia, 1941 – 1942 in overall panzer grey.
• Wehrmacht, Anti-Partisan Role, France, 1944 in overall yellow, with red and green squiggles.

 

 

Conclusion

It would be nice if Revell actually produced more kits of their own, but while we wait for them to do that, we can have at least this nice kit from ICM. With the interior it allows all the panels and hatches to be posed open, and the grey plastic is actually better than the original ICM colour. It would certainly be a good kit to practice your internal weathering on.

 

Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model retailers. For further information visit

 

[Panzer Vor!!!]

Saw this at £20.00  at Tiger Day  looks great value

[Eric-Vista]

Already built 2. A very pleasant kit.

A french camo option would have been a real bargain.

[Panzer Vor!!!]

Finished my kit and must say it was great build , I,m very pleased with the result  other one in my German armoured car collection

 

At the price the inclusion of the internals make for a bargain don't pass this one  by guys