Hobby Boss Delta Force FAV (82406) 1:35

[Mike]

Delta Force FAV (82406)

1:35 Hobby Boss via Creative Models

 

 

Designed by Chenowth Racing Products in the 1980s, using some VW Beetle parts that shows more than a hint of its Dune Buggy heritage, over 100 Fast Attack Vehicles (FAVs) were procured and used to give troops the speed to race to an engagement over all manner of terrain, strike fast and get out just as quickly.  When the HUMVEE came into service it replaced the FAV, but didn't offer the flexibility and speed of the FAV, which were given to Special Forces until it was replaced by the newer Light Strike Vehicle, which can carry two passengers in addition to the two crew that an FAV could carry.

 

 

The Kit

This is a new tooling from our benign Chinese modelling overlords, and arrives in a smallish box that has a painting of the subject matter on the front, crewed up and moving forward.  Inside are four sprues in sand coloured styrene, plus another with only the floor tray and one other part; four wheels in hard rubbery plastic; two clear sprues; a fret of Photo-Etch (PE) brass; a small decal sheet, and of course the black & white instructions with separate colour painting guide.  As is usual with Hobby Boss vehicle kits, the level of detail is good, and the part count is respectable for such a small 2-man vehicle.  There aren't any crew figures in the box sadly, and the floor pan has some large ejector pin marks that will be visible in the side panniers unless you fill them with stowage.  Deal with these early on if you plan to, as it will get a little crowded in there later on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Construction begins with the floor pan, which has PE mesh side panels, seats and driver controls added, and here the seats are identical, so if you aren't planning on adding crew it might be an idea to adjust the drape of one seat to make it look different.  The engine is exposed, and is built up from a good number of parts that will be familiar to anyone that has watched an episode of Wheeler Dealers where Edd strips out a Beetle engine.  It includes all the tin-work that directs the cooling air around the engine, transmission and pulleys of the real thing, and is fitted to the rear of the floor pan once complete and painted.  Suspension is installed on the rear corners with drive-shafts and their gaiters, then the roll-over frame is dropped into slots in the floor either side of the crew.  The instrument panel and steering wheel are attached to a front cross-member, which slips between the two sides, and the bonnet/hood/boot then covers the front of the floor pan, hiding away a couple more ejector pin marks that won't need filling.  A stowage area at the bottom of the cage is popped in place behind the crew seats, and the front suspension turrets are fitted to the front, supporting the main light cluster, with clear lenses added.  Another stowage tray that covers the flexible fuel tank goes behind the crew on short stand-off tubes, with some more PE parts holding things within. 

 

The front bumper/fender and clear lensed headlights are glued on, and the front suspension is completed ready for the wheels later on, after which the air filters are attached to the top of the engine, and the exhausts to the bottom, with cooling fins closest to the manifolds.  The rest of the framework is complete, with 6 spare shock absorbers lashed to the sides in case of incident, and front PE mesh covers for the light clusters giving an idea of how rough the terrain these vehicles travel over really is.  A perforated armoured panel is fitted over the engine compartment, with a slot through the bottom to allow the exhaust pipe to protrude from the back.  Another panel is attached to the roof, and a clear wind deflector screen covers the lower half of the windscreen area, with a single wing mirror on a stalk to check behind.  Fenders are fitted all round on PE brackets, the chunky rubbery tires are each given 3-part hubs, and are fitted into the wheel wells in each corner, with rear lights and whip antenna finishing it off.

 

 

Markings

It's a small vehicle when completed, at barely 11cm long and 6cm wide, so it's not going to have much in the way of decals.  There are two schemes shown on the sheet, one wearing a Black/Green/Brown NATO camo with unit markings on the front, and the crew names a la "Kevin & Stacey" in black lettering on the wind deflector.  A more desert related tritonal scheme with a brown base, green camo and black edging is provided on the other page, and this has only US Army on the cowling and rear of the seats.  A couple of instrument dial decals finish off the sheet, which as it is all black apart from some sandy backings to the unit markings for the first option.

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

An interesting and seldom covered subject, but this modeller would have liked to see some custom fitted figures in the box in an ideal world.  It's still a cool model though, and will look good once painted, weathered and decked out with stowage.

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of