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This will be the 7th Meng small scale armour subject completed this year mainly due to how well there designed when compared with say Trumpeter. As with all the others the assembly was quick with only the join of the hull sections at the front being a bit difficult. Built OOB using Tamiya acrylics and some Mig Ammo European dirt powder for weathering. The only Meng kit I have left is the T72B3M until I can get the Leopard 2A5 thats just been released. Its a big vehicle, side by side with the 2A7.

By 'B41' I mean a B24 fitted with a B17 nose (24 + 17 = 41 !!). This was a one off experiment fitting a B17G nose to a B24. I saw this in an excellent article in "Airpower" January 1984 and have wanted to do something about it since. That was a few years ago and I think I've got a bit wierder since. To quote Percy from Blackadder "It is with components such as these I will make you the finest 'Green'. Rather than Green I have a Meng kiddies kit of a B24 and noticed the nose of a surplus Matchbox B17 will fit quite nicely. All I need is Mr Dremel, a saw, lots of Milliput and Imagination.

Convair Deltas - Daggers and Darts Having just finished the lovely Meng F-102A in 1/72 (32nd FIS, Soesterberg, Netherlands, 1962) it completed my current run of Daggers and Darts so I thought I would show them in one post. Other than the Meng 102 most of the others have been posted elsewhere on this forum but here they are in one place. The Meng 102 is a simpler kit than their 106. It doesnt include any internal intake trunking and the missile bay is easier to construct (though I closed mine up on the 102 with the perfectly fitting set of closed doors provided!) . Overall finish was Xtracolour ADC Grey with Xtracrylic satin varnish topcoat. I was intending to use the AK Colours laquer ADC Grey but it was a far too blue shade so went back to good old enamel Xtracolour which in my experience sprays beautifully. Meng F-102A: Hasegawa F-102A: Hasegawa conversion - TF-102A: Meng F-106A : Trumpeter F-106B: Hasegawa F-106As:

New tool kit from Meng Model - ref. LS-015 - McDonnel Douglas F-4G Phantom II - WildWeasel Source: http://www.meng-model.com/en/contents/59/512.html Box art V.P.

Hi there folks, here's my completed Apache Longbow, I've been a fan of this for a while and when I saw this at the Telford show last year at a good discount there was only one choice to make. Overall I found this to be a really nice build, the only major issue I had was with the main canopy which comes in one piece plus the two for the pilot and gunner. I had to do quite a bit of easing on the model to get this to fit properly, then fill in the gaps. (I believe Takom do all these as separate pieces which I think would be better). I added wiring to both of the engines to try to make them a little more interesting using lead wire, the figures were by R2 Miniatures and finally the cockpit detail was a set by Quinta Studio, those were absolutely amazing to use. So here goes with a few pictures, A couple of photo's of the cockpit prior to adding to the main fuselage showing the Quinta Studio detail set The set includes the seat covers and seat belts etc... hope you like what you see... all the best Ed

Have just received the new kübelwagen kit from meng...and so far it looks amazing. Haven't decided on the colour scheme yet but will be starting the build very soon. For the moment It will be a slower build for me...(working full-time as a chef and on my down time looking after our 2 year old daughter) so once I figure out what platform is best for uploading pictures... for me.. I will post some pictures (I have looked on this forum and I'm still undecided at the moment) Will keep you all posted. Happy kit bashing folks 😀

Another small scale armour subject from Meng, this time the M1A2 Abrams with the TUSK II upgraded crew protective measures and digital communication systems. As with the other Meng kits in this scale its a very well designed and made meaning a relatively quick build (this one was started last Saturday evening). Built straight OOB, the only problem I had was fitting the glass panels into the commanders shield. Painted with Tamiya acrylics and weathered with Florys Dark Dirt clay wash and Mig Ammo powders. As usual all comment welcome. Surprisingly the Abrams is not the largest tank I have, but its the Merkava that is the biggest of the modern tanks I have in the collection. I have the Meng T72 BVM and Himars to build soon but they will be smaller...

Another of Meng's small scale armour range finished, I only have 3 more to go (I have the T72B3M) and I'll have made all they make. This is the M142 HIMARS made famous in Ukrainian hands, built OOO with a few detail changed after looking online at various images. As with all the other ones already made it's a really well designed and manufactured kit and the temptation to try a larger armour kit is increasing. Painted using Tamiya and Mr Hoby Colour acrylic's, weathered with oil paint and Flory Dark Dirt clay washes. As usual all comments are welcome.

This is one of my birthday presents from the wife, the other being the T72BVM kit and I got to actually start this morning after booking the day off from work. Box an sprue shots. The chassis came together quite quickly but I don't have any olive drab green left so I have to give Elite a visit later.

Time for another small Meng armour kit, this time the Abrams. I wrote down the start time as 1756 for step 1 in the instructions and called it a night at 1930 so just under 1 and 1/2 hours work. Hull sections together. Turret mostly assembled, armour packs, antenna and BUSK II section left off to paint separately. I'll leave the commanders hatch off and in pieces so I can paint the vision blocks to represent glass.

Another small scale Meng Kit, this time the M2 Bradley kit. This come as the M2A3 BUSK III variant but by leaving off the commanders sight, digital uplink antenna's and a few other bits it can be back date to the Operation Desert Storm variant that was supplied to Ukraine and has been so effectively used. As with the other Meng kits in this scale its qiuck to build up, has lots of detail and this one even has the rear interior. I built this as one of the early Bradleys that did have all of the additional armour packs fitted on the side and the rear stowage box were made by chopping up the BUSK III Air con cooling units. Painted with Tamiya acrlics and weathered with Mig Ammo powders. All comments welcome. I leave the small scale armour for a while a go back to aircraft but I still have a few more Meng kits to build up.

Another week and another lovely little Meng AFV kit, finally received this kit yesterday after nearly 2 weeks waiting (just another 2 on the way). As soon as I opened it I realised that I could back date from the BUSK III spec to the ODS spec supplied to Ukraine without to many problems. The only thing I may have issues with is the BUSK III's had additional air con units fitted in place of the rear stowage bins but the Ukrainians removed and added so much of their own things it shouldn't be difficult to replace with something suitable. Here's the sprues shots, I was also pleased to see the rear interior is included so the back door can be in the open position. I don't intend to start this until either the Vulcan or the Vampire are finally finished...

Sneaked in another one of Meng's small scale armour kits, this time the Leopard 2A7. Again a very quick kit to assemble at 3-4 hours before paint but a bit more involved than the Merkava or ZTQ15, the turret had definitely more parts. Paint was Tamiya's Nato Green and Nato Black airbrushed freehand but I think my airbrush needs a new nozzle again as I couldn't get good flow control. Weathered with Mig Ammo European Dust powder. Now onto the Bradley!

So this is the third finish in seven days, Meng's lovely small scale ZTQ15 Chinese Light Tank. Built OOB but painted in a woodland scheme rather than the desert digital scheme on the box, I found it looking online for images, seems there is 3 camo schemes in common usage in the PLA, the desert digital, woodland digital and this conventional woodland pattern. Colours used were Tamiya XF51 Dark Green, XF57 Buff and Mr Hobby Colour H413, weathering was Mig Ammo powder mixed with water. These little kits are becoming a fast favorite, well designed with excellent detail and the advantage most of the building is done before painting, I have the M2 Bradley on the way so I can get back to aircraft for a few weeks. A quick size comparison with the Merkava and Challenger 1 shows how much smaller it is compared to MBT's

F-106 Delta Darts in 1/72 scale Meng kit : 5th FIS, Minot, South Dakota, 1975 Trumpeter kit : F-106B New Jersey ANG, Atlantic City Airport, 1987 Hasegawa kit : Michigan ANG, Selfridge, 1976 Hasegawa kit : 2nd FIS, Wurtsmith, Michigan, 1972 Having just finished the impressive Meng F-106A kit I thought I would post it up with the other Delta Darts on my shelves. The 2nd FIS aircraft (horizontal yellow fin stripe) was a rebuild that was completed way back in the 1990s. It was originally built around 1977 in 87th FIS markings (red bull on the fin - no, not the current kind found in a can and on F1 cars). The Michigan ANG example was built in the last few months using Bare Metal Foil decals from a Hasegawa kit that had been in various attics for 40 years or so! The Trumpeter F-106B was also finished fairly recently. Anyway - on with the Meng. A very complete kit with lots of fine detail. Complete intake trunking and exhaust are included and look really good. The undercarriage and weapons bay assemblies are quite complex with numerous small parts and were quite fiddly to assemble. The instructions are reasonably clear but the location of some of those parts in the weapons bay could have been clearer. A very fine photo etch sheet is included which provides extremely small parts for the weapons bay doors as well as a boarding ladder. I discovered that photo etch was beyond my skills in this case and having ruined the ladder trying to bend it into shape, consigned the rest of the sheet to the bin. I did use some 3D printed decals for the cockpit and avionics bays though. I used the Kelik item K72112 which looked fantastic.

Second finish of the year is this rather nice Meng Merkeva Mk4M in 1/72, excellent little kit with almost Bandai feel to it. Built straight OOB in just over 2 weeks, with just some heavy weathering with Mig Ammo powders. Probably the nicest M2 Browning and FN MAG guns I've seen in this scale. I did ignore the instructions as it call for Sinai grey for the paint colour and the only conversion I could find was to Tamiya XF66 which I felt was far to dark a grey to use so I went with XF78 dark deck tan and went mad with the powders. May get another and attempt to make a COPE cage as seen some picture from around 2015? As usual all comments welcome.

Hopefully this will be a quick build due to the small size and one colour finish. Picked it up from Temu well the wife did for the grand total of £11.23p! Not seen one on here yet so here's the obligatory box and sprue photo's. As long as this is like the Meng F102 Delta Dart I built a few years ago this should be a nice build.

M1A2 SEP Abrams Tusk II US Main Battle Tank (72-003) Meng via Creative Models Ltd The Abrams Main Battle Tank is the direct replacement to the M60, when it was realised that the venerable design was ill-suited to further modification to cope with emerging threats that were entering the battlespace. The new design entered limited service in 1980 and went on to become the main heavy tank in the Army and Marines branches of the American armed forces. It saw extensive action in the two Gulf Wars, where it fared extremely well against older Soviet designs with minimal damage inflicted in a tank-on-tank fight due to its composite armour and accuracy at extended range. It was developed further with the AIM programme, which upgraded the battle management systems and returned the vehicles to factory fresh condition. The A2 was improved again, giving the commander his own sighting system as well as other system changes. The SEP received additional changes to its armour and systems, with a remote weapons station added later. With the involvement of the Abrams in urban combat during the Afghanistan campaign, it became clear that the tank was vulnerable in close-quarters combat, where the top of the tank was open to attack from small arms fire, and RPGs could be used with relative safety of the firing team, who could pop up and disappear in between shots, giving the tank crews little indication of where the shot originated. The problems of IEDs buried under roads or in buildings also disabled several tanks in action, all of which led to the TUSK and improved TUSK II upgrade packages, which stands for Tank Urban Survival Kit. To counter IEDs a shallow V-shaped keel was added to the underside to deflect blast away from the hull, reactive armour blocks were added to the side skirts and turret, and bullet-resistant glass and metal cages were mounted around the crew hatches on the turret to provide protection for the crew during urban operations, or if they were called upon to use their weapons in combat. A combat telephone was also installed on the rear of the tank to allow better communication between accompanying troops and the tanks, as well as slat armour at the rear to protect the exhaust grilles of the gas turbine engine, the blast from which was directed upwards by a deflector panel that could be attached to the grille to avoid cooking the troops behind. The TUSK II kit improved on the original TUSK with shaped charges incorporated into the ERA blocks on the sides of the tank, and additional shields for the crew when exposed. Both kits were field-installable, which reduced the cost and time the vehicles spent out of commission. The A3 variant is intended to incorporate many weight-saving changes, such as internal fibre-optic data transmission, lightness of armour and gun, amongst many other improvements. This is still distant and far from guaranteed, given the changes already seen in planning that have included a totally new platform, so it looks like the A2 will be around for some time yet, possibly until 2050 while the politicians make up their minds. The Kit This is a brand-new tooling from Meng from their new 1:72 scale AFV range, and it arrives in a sturdy end-opening box that should be as hard to crush as any top-opener. Attractive box art is found on top, while painting details are on the back of the box, and inside are six sprues of light grey styrene, a clear sprue, a small decal sheet, and a black and white instruction booklet in portrait A5, with a sprue diagram on the rear page. Detail is good, with link-and-length tracks, separate ERA blocks, raised weld-lines, and detailed road wheels that are moulded individually, rather than in a long run as with earlier kits from other manufacturers. In terms of detail, this could well become the de facto standard in this scale, based on what we have seen. Construction begins with sixteen paired road wheels and two drive sprockets, all of which are made from two halves, and are set to one side while the lower hull is made up from floor and two side panels that slot into the back of the suspension mounts moulded into the floor for a strong bond. The swing arms are moulded into the floor, save for the two forward wheel stations, which are linked together by a damper, and are formed from a separate part that is slotted into holes in the side walls along with two return rollers per side. The TUSK keel, front idler wheel and rear drive sprocket are then installed so that the tracks can be made up, built from two long runs top and bottom, two diagonal lengths under the ends, and a curved section of three links to fit around the ends of the road wheels. The Abrams doesn’t have much in the way of sag in the top track run, but these won’t be seen, so it’s a little accuracy hidden away, and it’s possible the top run could be omitted to save modelling time if you feel the urge. The upper hull has headlight clusters and the driver’s hatch fitted before the lower hull it given a rear bulkhead, which also has light clusters moulded into the rear in cylindrical projections, adding a field telephone box, towing hook and eye, plus the afore mentioned blast deflector for the hot exhaust. The two hull halves can then be mated, and the side-skirts installed, followed by the curved ERA panels over the top, locating them on four lugs in the surface of the skirts. The majority of the turret is moulded as a single part, with just the rear bulkhead a separate part with the crosswind sensor pole moulded-in, adding the gunner’s hatch, the binocular FLIR box on top with optional open doors to display the clear lenses, a spare ammo box for the pintle-mounted crew weapons, and the drum-shaped gunner’s primary sight to the roof. The gun is moulded as one part with the fume extractor hump and a separate muzzle with velocity sensor, after which it is plugged into the mantlet, with coax machine gun moulded-in, held in position by gluing the top and bottom turret halves together, taking care to keep the glue away from the pivots. Each side of the turret has a set of stowage boxes with IFF placards moulded-in, topped with a lid and separate ammo can, fitted in place with the smoke discharger packages at the front on their mounts. Armour plates and ERA blocks are applied over the front portions on both sides, leaving the IFF boards exposed, and installing the top of the mantlet on a tab, again being careful with the glue. The aircon unit is fixed to the floor of the stowage area at the rear of the turret, mounting the tubular frame, IED disruptor aerials, another tubular rack for more storage that includes a couple of jerry cans, and a separate IFF board hung on the rear. Crew protection is begun by installing a protective shroud around the left of the gunner’s hatch, creating the machine gun emplacement on a ring around which the heavily modified LMG is rotated, protected at the sides by two window panels that have clear panes in the centre, and for once the thickness of the glazing is suitable for the scale. A third glass panel is fitted to the right, with another without a window on the left, which usually faces the commander’s more complex cupola. An eight-block vision-block ring is inserted from under the cupola, which has a two-part hatch inserted into the centre, then the M2 .50cal with ammo box is slipped through the front splinter guard, which has two clear panes installed, adding a three-facet fixed set with individual windows on the right, and another two-part pair of windowed panels on the left, all of which fit into the top of the cupola on slots. As if there weren’t enough guns available, the remote .50cal mount over the mantlet is attached with an ammo box on a separate bracket. To finish the build, the turret is lowered onto the hull and twisted into position, locking on a pair of bayonet lugs moulded into the turret ring that correspond with notches in the hull ring. Markings There is only one decal option supplied in this boxing, the details of which are found on the rear of the box. It’s a desert vehicle from Iraq, painted a desert tan. From the box you can build the following: The decals are printed in China, and beyond that we don’t have any more information. Under magnification they are a little hazy, but once applied they should look fine to the Mk.1 eyeball, especially after a little weathering to the finished model. Don’t let it put you off, as everything looks worse under 3x magnification. Conclusion A well-detailed new tooling of the almost ubiquitous Abrams in smaller scale, which should put some of the older tools out to grass, and allow modellers to build a more detailed, modern US MBT out of the box, and at a pretty reasonable price in our inflation-soaked world. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

I normally stick to AFVs but had to try this after seeing @TimT Atreides Ornithopter the other week. I was very impressed by the Dennis Villeneuve Dune Movies too, so now I have a piece of them. The kit is one of the easiest I have ever built and superbly engineered by Meng, very refreshing after my trumpeter T-14 Armata. Only quibble is the tabs on the transparent canopy panels which I haven't attempted to do anything about for fear of making a mess of them (I avoid aircraft for fear of painting canopies!). The paint work was black primer, shaded with white to give a mottled grey, then lightly oversprayed with Vallejo Sand Yellow. Then washed with Vallejo oiled earth wash, finally dry brushed with Portland Stone. The wing blades were gun metal but not too happy with weathering there, found it really difficult to get something effective so dry brushed with black, lightly dusted with sand yellow. Hope you like!

Meng Model is to release in October 2023 a 1/48th Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon kit - ref. LS002 Source: https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404894844073148826 V.P.

This is the 1/72-scale Meng F-102A Delta Dagger (Case X). Lovely kit. I picked up the DEAD Design canopy masks so that I could paint the yellow seal on the canopy. I also tried out the Master Models turned brass pitot tube. I deviated from the instructions to go with what I think is a more correct color: Vallejo Pale Grey Blue (70.907) which allegedly matches FS36473, which is Air Defense Command gray with which strategic interceptors like the F-102 were painted. Metallics are Alclad, and interior surfaces are Mr. Color Zinc Chromate Type 1. We have the option to make it bristle with AIM-4 Falcons, which I had to oblige. I did very light weathering since the F-102 is always clean and shiny in my mind: some enamel wash and sparing oils on control surfaces. Thanks for having a look!

Hi all! I've recently sold a few model kits I wasn't going to build so I though I'd reinvest in a kit I've had my eye on for a while now. Picked up Meng's F-4E and the Isracast conversion set to build a Kurnass, as well as the Isradecal Kurnass set and some Quinta Studios 3D cockpit decals. I also have Hasegawa's US aircraft weaponry set which includes early GBUs and targeting pods. This is my first look at a Meng kit and just looking over the sprues it looks absolutely brilliant! I've heard good things about this kit and I've never had an issue with Quinta or Isradecal parts in the past so I'm very much looking forward to this build. I'm going to take things slow and hopefully do this kit justice. As far as the scheme is concerned I have a few potential options. I own the Double Ugly IDF Phantom books so have a great source of reference images. My options are: -201 Squadron Kurnass 2000 with 4 x GBU-12s and a Pave Spike targeting pod. -119 Squadron Kurnass with 2 x AGM-62 Walleye guided bombs and datalink pod. -119 Squadron Kurnass with 4 x GBU-10 guided bombs and a Pave Spike targeting pod. Source: Double Ugly Israeli Phantoms I'm still undecided, the Kurnass 2000 would require extra work as I'd have to scratch build a few small parts but the heavily worn underside looks like a great challenge to replicate. Thanks for looking in- looking forward to this!

Type 82 German Pkw.K1 Kübelwagen - Eastern Front (SS-020) 1:35 MENG via Creative Models Ltd Hitler and Nazi Germany have a strong connection to the Volkswagen Beetle, as it was their wish (read: demand) to have a “people’s car” that could be bought cheaply and run affordably by the workers to mobilise the masses. Volkswagen literally means people’s car, and the design of the vehicle was carried out by Ferdinand Porsche of post war sports car fame. The original Beetle was very similar to the one we all know from the 50s onward, although there were some differences that become quite obvious when viewed side-by-side. The design-work of the Beetle was used largely in the creation of the militarised light transport, which started as the Typ.62, and morphed into the Typ.82 after the kinks were ironed out following testing during the invasion of Poland. The minimum speed was reduced to match the 4mph pace of marching soldiers, the already adequate off-road performance of this two-wheel drive car was improved further by the installation of a limited-slip differential, changes to hub gearing and the suspension, which coupled with the light weight of the vehicle itself gave it excellent off-road characteristics comparable with a 4x4 of the time. The design went into full-scale production almost unchanged from the revised specification, and stayed that way throughout the war, with only small changes such as a more powerful 1.3L engine and a larger dash to set the post 1943 vehicles apart from the earlier production cars. It was well-liked, reliable and capable, with over 50,000 made during the war. The amphibious Schwimmwagen was developed from the Typ.82, using much of the running gear of the 4x4 Command Car, but very little of the bodywork, as its shape was unsuited to travelling through water. After the war, the basics of the Kübelwagen were recycled as the angular Typ.181 in military service, known as the Trekker in the UK, and The Thing in the US. The Kit This is a new tool from MENG in 2024, and has expanded to three boxings based on the same base sprues. The kit arrives in a small top-opening box with a satin finish and a painting of the Kübelwagen in front of a snowy backdrop “somewhere on the Eastern Front”. Inside are three sprues in light grey styrene, two clear sprues wrapped in self-cling plastic, a bag of five flexible black tyres, decal sheet, and instruction booklet printed in colour, with painting profiles on the rearmost pages. Detail is excellent, and although it isn’t a full chassis model, the undersides of the engine and axles are depicted, and parts for a soft-top roof are also included for cold-weather situations. Construction begins with the floorpan, which superbly detailed, and is fitted with rear chassis rails, axle and transmission, adding four more structures to the area before installing the rear floor and arches over the top of the rear axle. The sump of the engine is mated with twin exhausts and mufflers, locating it on a raised box at the rear of the vehicle between the arches. The front axle is assembled with a steering linkage under the front floorpan with arches moulded-in, mating it with the main floorpan, then fitting a chassis protector along with a transmission-tunnel cover underneath. Righting the floor, a set of duckboards are installed in the foot wells after painting them a wooden colour, followed by the gear lever, handbrake, foot pedals and the steering column that locks into position through the firewall. Although the engine isn’t included, the boot is made from a firewall and two sloped sides that are mounted on the arches and are then joined by the body sides, which have extra thickness and detail added to the sills before installation. The sloped bonnet has a fuel tank applied to the underside before it is glued to the front of the vehicle, adding rear body panels and the boot flap with moulded-in handle to the rear. The rear is detailed with a chunky bumper, rear lights, convoy light and number plate holder, adding a stand-off bar with supports to the bumper. The instrument binnacle is suspended between a pair of dash bars with a single dial applied as a decal, flexing it into position over the steering column fitted earlier. A pair of crew seats are made with separate lower frames, siting them within reach of the dash, installing a bench seat in the rear for passengers, flexing a tyre over a hub and mounting it on the bonnet on a recessed cone, with a filler nozzle next to it in another depression. The front wheel hubs are unique and made from two parts, as they are handed to match their axles, but both have a flexible tyre push-fitted over the flanges around the edges. The rear wheels are interchangeable and are also formed from two parts plus a flexible tyre, mounting each one in its appropriate arch, and adding a sump-protector under the engine. Righting the model allows fitting of the headlights with a choice of slotted lenses, or covered alternatives, both with different rear housings, and joined by a convoy light with separate base on the left side of the bonnet. There are four sockets moulded into the floor to accept the buttstock of a Kar98 rifle, which are inserted in a gaggle between and behind the front seats, adding a cover over the rear of the vehicle. The barrels of the rifles are held in place by a tubular cross-brace that has four loops moulded in, and is mounted on the B-pillars between the front and rear door cut-outs. Another bumper bar with brackets is attached to the front, and four simple square doors with moulded-in handles fill the spaces down the side of the body, slipping a clear windscreen into its frame and adding two wiper-motor covers before attaching it to brackets at either end of the scuttle panel, cutting off a pair of pegs on the top edge of the frame. The soft top is moulded with creases and folds in a complete part that is detailed on all exterior sides thanks to slide-moulding. The interior is smooth, but once the side and rear windows are installed, little will be seen within, so a coat of the same colour as the exterior should hide that fact away. A pair of clamps are mounted in recesses on the bonnet, sited higher on the slope than the spare tyre, gluing a pair of rabbit-ear indicator stalks to the A-pillars, the left bracket also holding a circular wing mirror for the driver. The driver’s side also has a shovel mounted behind the arch, with an option to shave away the bracket that holds the blade in place, replacing it with a separate bracket to add a little realism. A Jerry can with moulded-in bracket is made from two halves, adding the three-handles to the top, and painting a white cross on the body that indicates that it carries water. This is attached to the left over the rear arch to complete the model. Markings There are three decal options included on the small sheet, all wearing different schemes, one of which is under new management in Olive Drab with American markings. From the box you can build one of the following: Communications Unti, 7th Panzer Division, Kursk, 1943 12th SS Panzer Division, Hitlerjugend, France, 1944 Vehicle captured and used by US Forces, Italy, 1943 Decals are by Meng’s usual partners in China, with good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin matt carrier film cut close to the printed areas. Conclusion The Kübelwagen was almost ubiquitous in German use during WWII, and is certainly a staple of WWII movie light transport vehicles. This new boxing of the latest tooling is well-detailed, available at a pocket-friendly price, and should be a straight-forward build, allowing the modeller to allocate time to the painting and weathering of the kit. Highly recommended. Currently out of stock at Creative Models Ltd, but check back soon Review sample courtesy of

Dune Spice Harvester (SS-020) 1:500(?) Meng via Creative Models Ltd Dune’s legacy began in the 1960s as a long-running series of books by Frank Herbert, and several attempts have been made to realise the initial book in movie form, with varying levels of success. David Lynch made a decent, if simplified attempt at it in the 1980s, although it was a flawed movie with irritating voice-overs (from my point of view, at least), while a three-part TV movie in 2000 was considered a reasonable adaptation, but I haven’t seen that one. This latest expedition into the deserts of Arrakis benefits from the availability of realistic Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) that can be used to enhance the scope and scale of the saga as it deserves, without looking false. It also benefitted from a massive budget and an acclaimed director, not to mention a cast of many famous actors, although David Lynch’s version also had some famous faces, including a young Patrick Stewart as Gurney Halleck before his Star Trek days. The new film has been split into two episodes to portray as much of the book’s content as possible in an effort to retain the important aspects of the original story, and part 2 has been out now for a couple of months, rounding off the original story, allegedly, with the possibility of more to come if it has made enough money for the studio, which I expect it has by now. I haven’t seen the second part yet, so no spoilers please! The Spice Harvester is an essential part of the mining of the spice Melange from the deserts of Arrakis, and they are essentially factories on tracks that are dropped by their carriers onto parts of the desert where spice has been detected, in order to extract it. The noise of the Spice Harvesting attracts the giants worms that are native to Arrakis, as they are drawn toward repetitive vibrations, and when they get there, woe betide anyone or anything that remains on the sand. Each harvester is protected by a group of spotters in Ornithopters that keep an eye out for incoming worms, as their appearance is almost inevitable. When one is spotted, the carrier craft swoops in, picks up the factory and airlifts it to safety. In theory. We see what happens to a Spice Harvester when the carrier arrives too late in the first film, although all the crew survive thanks to Duke Leto Atreides happening by with a flight of Ornithopters. The Kit We reviewed the box-scale kit of this unusual vehicle some months ago, and as part of the conclusion I recall stating that a larger scale kit of this would be more unlikely than larger scale models of the more exciting and dynamic Ornithopters. Let it not be said that won’t acknowledge being wrong, because I was, and happy to be so if I’m honest. The scale is rumoured to be 1:500, but don’t quote me on that, but the kit builds up to 200x133x57mm. It arrives in a sleek top-opening box in the black-themed Dune colours, and inside are six sprues and two hull halves in olive drab styrene, plus three bags of tracked treads that total sixty-four in all. There is a small decal sheet on this larger edition with three decals, and a colour instruction booklet with profiles for the single official colour scheme on the rear interior cover. Detail is excellent, as is normal with MENG, and has been increased with the increase in size of the kit, although looking back at the smaller kit, that too is quite well-detailed. Construction begins with the lower hull, which has the four side wall detail panels installed along with dozens of detail parts. The roof is a separate part that is also detailed with equipment before it is lowered into position over the lower hull along with two recessed axles that mount the bogies later. The mining mechanism is built from eight cranked trunks that are linked by a pivot at the centre of a long fairing so that they can conform to the ground below. The completed mining appendage is inserted into a recess under the belly, detailing the fairing and surrounding area with additional parts, followed by four bogies that fit to each end of the axles within the hull. The tracks are built in pairs of four that are suspended on a long axle with a bobbin in the centre that snap-fits onto the ends of the bogies, making up eight sets of tracks in all. At the rear of the factory vehicle are a series of five mechanisms in a row that resemble two-part heat-exchangers, all clipped into the rear of the roof or aft bulkhead in line. At the front are a trio of antennae on the roof of what appears to be the command deck that is sited in the right half of the front of the vehicle in a raised area. Markings The Spice Harvester as it appears in the film is a drab brown that is referred to as Sand Yellow in the MENG/AK and Acrysion codes, but is akin to RAF Dark Earth on this reviewer’s screen, which has been calibrated recently, although it is old. From the box you can build the following: The decals are printed in China in a single colour, and are perfectly adequate for the task in hand. Conclusion If you wanted to be cruel, you could liken the design to a tracked tissue box, but as Sci-Fi modellers, we’ll ignore those cruel people. Detail is excellent, the size is sufficient to make it worthwhile to add some weathering to your project, and it won’t get overlooked in the cabinet for being too small. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Looks great: https://armorama.com/news/merkava-mk-4m-in-braille-scale