MiniArt Generator PE-95 with Fuel Tanks (35662) 1:35

[Mike]

Generator PE-95 with Fuel Tanks (35662)

1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models Ltd

 

 

The PE-95 generator housed a Willys (of Jeep fame) petrol engine that could produce up to 10kw of power for use away from any wired source of power.  It was used extensively during WWII, often towed around behind a truck in a Ben Hur trailer, or in the load bed of a truck.  Wherever it went, a copious source of fuel would be required to keep the generator running, either in cans or drums, depending on the likely use case, or whatever was available to the operators at the time.

 

 

The Kit

This kit has been seen before as part of a previous boxing of a G503 truck with trailer, and is now available separately for those that want to depict a generator on-site, or in the back of another type of truck.  It arrives in a shallow top-opening box, and inside are nine sprues of various sizes in grey styrene, plus a decal sheet, Photo-Etch (PE) fret in a cardboard envelope, and an A5 instruction sheet, printed on both sides.  Detail is up to MiniArt’s usual standards, and the inclusion of PE parts goes a long way to enhance the model further.

 

 

 

 

The generator is made from four sides, adding support rods internally, one end having the control panel, the other a recess where the radiator will fit, while both sides are moulded with columns of louvres along their length.  The control panel can be posed open or closed, using several dial and stencil decals if they will be seen.  The open option involves two PE door sections, the largest of which is the door that pivots up and slides into the housing with a styrene handle that is also found on the closed door option, which uses a styrene door part.  PE handles are glued between the columns of louvres on the sides, plus a pair of styrene tie-down loops, and at the opposite end a radiator core is mounted in the centre, and the top cowling has curved edges, and four more PE grab handles, a lifting eye, and a filler cap on the rolled edge.

 

There are two fuel drums included, one with two stiffening ribs moulded around its middle, the other with more ribs on the top and bottom sections, fitting top and bottom end caps, remembering to pose them with the raised writing on the inside, as it’s not appropriate for this situation.  A manual pump with dipstick and nozzle is included, making a hose out of wire from your own supplies, drilling a hole in the drum cap to facilitate its use.

 

Four small oil/petrol cans are made from halves with a PE handle and filler cap, plus another pair of rectangular cans made from four parts and a moulded-in wire handle next to the filler cap.  Two more similar cans are made from simpler parts that have no framing moulded-in, creating two simple Jerry cans from two halves plus triple handles and filler caps, with another two that have a PE seam insert trapped between the halves, and a choice of a fully styrene filler cap, or one with a PE retainer clip.  Four more Jerry cans have stowage rack bases moulded-in, and have PE straps threaded through their triple-handles, and a castellated filler cap to finish them off.  A tapering funnel is included in the set to assist with topping up the generator from the fuel containers, which can be left lying around nearby for effect.  The final accessory is a large rectangular stowage box made from two parts for the carcass, a small divider that slots in a groove inside, and a separate lid, which has a PE hasp & staple fixture, with a padlock included.

 

 

Markings

There are no colour profiles, but the instructions have colour call-outs in a number code format throughout, which corresponds to a paint chart that gives codes for Vallejo, Mr Color, AK RealColor, Mission Models, AMMO, Tamiya, plus generic names for completeness.  The predominant colour of the generator is olive green, as you could probably guess.

 

 

The decals are used throughout the build, consisting of stencils, dial, logos and warning notifications.  Decals are by Cartograf, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin matt carrier film cut close to the printed areas.

 

 

Conclusion

MiniArt put the same level of effort into what most companies would consider “accessories” as they do with their full kits.  If you have the urge to include a ‘Jenny’ in one of your projects, the detail will help to enhance it.

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of