This is one of Airfix's new generation of kits, and it shows. The kit is clean and crisp & on the whole fits together really well. It has some nice detail without being too painfully fiddly. It is useful for wargamers both as troop transport & re-supplying guns/AFVs- which is allowed for in KGN.
This kit does not come with drivers, and the drivers which I put in were a tight fit as far as height, so a small amount of filling was required.
I found the Bren gun supplied with the QLT to be a bit fine & potentially fragile, so I replaced it with a Sgts Mess metal Bren. The passengers are from the HaT British Tank Rider set. The driver of the QLD is from the Italeri (ex-Esci) Quad Tractor, and the QLT driver is from AB Miniatures.
You may notice I have left out the plastic windows which came with the kit- I did not like them, I found them too chunky & not the best fit. I tried a bit of clear plastic, but wasn't happy with this & in the end opted for a "glass" free zone. Some people may not like this, but hey, it's for my collection.
Overall, a set worth picking up- oh yeah, & the bicycle is anice touch too.
The decals are a combination of the ones supplied with the kit & some from Dom's Decals. hand painted using acrylic paints & washes. Weathering is a combination of paint and weathering powders.
I hope you find this brief review & pictures useful.
They look sooo cool! The passengers in the lorry really set the whole thing off...as does the bike!
ReplyDeleteGreat work my friend.
Thanks bro, glad you like them. I think Airfix putting a bike in is a nice touch.
DeleteReally good weathering and realistic dirt. The bike is awesome! :-)
ReplyDeleteCheers. Took me a bit of trial & error on the weathering of the QLD, as I got carried away with the pigments & had to do a bit of repainting to bring it back. Plus some solvent dissolved a couple of the decals & needed to be replaced.
DeleteJust brilliant, good to see the sides of the tarp open to show those lovely figures.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dan. Yep that's how the kit comes with rolled up tarp- are you relieved that the little chaps aren't completely hidden?
DeleteThey look great Sarge. It's a pity they're 1/76th as I use Valiant figures and I think these may look a little too small alongside them. Great models though and really nice paint job.
ReplyDeleteThankyou Steve, glad you like them. Yes, scale can be a problem if you are trying to mix different figures & models. I mix 1/76 & 1/72 but try and be consistent, like make sure that a whole troop of Churchill tanks is 1/72, or a convoy of the same sort of trucks are all 1/76.
DeleteThey look sweet rides John. Really nice work. I agree with the glass free look wholeheartedly.
ReplyDeleteCheers Paul- I glad someone else agrees about the absence of "glass" in these little beauties.
DeleteVery handy items of kit - just the thing for my Army of Great Brit- I mean my Army of Gran Bolivaria. These look like 'medium trucks' according to certain wargame definitions, does that seem reasonable?
ReplyDeleteVery nice models, Jacksarge, and, yep, it takes a lot of work to get the casual accumulation of weather, wear and dirt looking 'right'. Well done!
Cheers,
ion
Appreciate your comments Ion.
DeleteYes, I would say they would be classed as medium trucks.
I'm glad you liked the weathering it took a bit of palava to get it looking about right.
those look really good!
ReplyDeletenice work I like it allot
ReplyDeleteCan't get over the unit badges on the troops - your eyes are clearly much younger than mine! Really nice work
ReplyDeleteAndy
Thanks Andrew.
DeleteNot so young, mid 40s & I wear glasses. I find good brushes & good light help a lot- I use a hobby lamp with a "daylight" bulb (blue lightbulb.
Looking great Jack!
ReplyDeleteThe figs you used as passengers are making them even more realistic!