Thanks Jim, I didn't want to start a "bush fire", but rightly so, many comments about kit innacuracies.....after a million and one kits, is there yet a Sherman that has everything right. OK bad example, but I think you know what I mean. There dosen't appear to be a Boyes supplied, though the MB set has some nice British weapons......however there is the bren, ground/AA mounting.....supplied in the stowed position. Resicast has the mounting that can be assembled in either the groung (fixed) role, or the AA role.....[I made the master]. Not sure if Riich would release a seperate kit, but looking at the sprues, the engine assembly appears to be on its own sprue......so if no one wants to include the engine....I know a good home!!! I will be looking at the possibility of backdating the kit, there are similarities of the early Bren/Scout carriers with the MkI.....but some major differences too. One thing, and this came out during the early planning stages, there were a number of detail changes throughout the life of the MkI, so we had to go for a "generic" type. George.

Always liking the thought of what could come in the future, my personal vote would simply be for the following: Mark II Loyd Carrier The latter, IMO, wold be the perfect complement for Riich's announced Mk IV 6 Pounder it'd also be a real bonus if they did the mortar carrier with trailer as a seperate update...

Mmmmmmmm nice idea.....worth a thought and contacting them. The running gear is already done, so is the V8 and axles.... The Lloyd used a lot of components.....the slave battery vehicle, 4.2" mortar/6pdr etc.....even have one photo of a Lloyd left behind by the BEF! 40% of Lloyd is already in the Carrier. Nice one! Email to be sent toot sweet! George.

I love the Universal Carrier, and I definitely welcome this kit, about time we had a Mk 1. That's a ton of crazy detail they've put in, I'm anxious to see a built up kit. I do feel the pain of a kit with too many parts, but if the parts are engineered in such a way that it's easy to build, well that's not too bad. I hate it when it's hard to know whether the parts are lined up or not, plus more parts means more cleaning up... oooohhh

Not complaining, but 450+ parts for something this small? Seems a bit excessive, when you consider something the size of a Trumpeter T-64 only has about 100 more parts, or the Trumpeter BTR-60 with about the same amount of parts, and it has a full interior. However being a Riich kit (aka Bronco), it is understandable, as their kits are always a ton of parts detailed to the 9's

I'm really happy about this kit and will buy at least one. I figure Resicast is already lined up to pop out the mortar and Vickers carrier versions (in their catalog). So I say, "if there are too many parts or the kit is too expensive, the Tamiya version is still readily available."

You know, I just knew this was going to happen. The kit is not even in the shops yet, we don't know how much it will be. But I think there are going to be a lot more "likes" than "dislikes" It has been said, if its too many parts, then buy the Tamiya kit, or go resin...there is plenty to chose from....Scout, Bren, Mortar version, MG version, MkI, MkI AOP, T16, Windsor and the Lloyd...if you dont like resin, or too many parts, stick with the Tamiya. It's probably cheaper...and looks it. But with new tracks and etched brass sets....some decent figures, weapons and stowage, will it be cheaper. So all the internals are in the Trumpeter kits, does that include engine, a crew, weapons and the stowage, choice of radio sets and alternative parts for country, in this case Canadian or British. There are going to be a lot of parts, its open so everything is in view......we dont want a 1/2 a***d attempt at a vehicle, too many kits available that need a lot of work, so this means a lot of work too. 450 parts for an open topped AFV, with a mass of small tracklinks, detailed suspension and fully detailed may seem a lot to some people however. George.

C'mon George, there's a VERY nice Loyd Carrier (and a Windsor)up the road from you at Cobbaton, i'm sure Tim would be delighted to let you crawl all over it for measurements... Damn sure you've already got the plans in your archives already?

Have to admit, drawings done and photographs taken, a small collection of references too, plus the info in Nigel Watsons book. I actually converted a Tamiya kit, then AA brought their one out. Just to add, the MkII was brought out by Tamiya, which is why I suggested they do the MkI....a few reasons.....more MkI were made, more MkI were captured and converted, so the dark side would be happy, I think the MkI looked a lot more interesting with the armoured box and can stowage on the rear, a choice of radios, a choice of theatres, France 1940, UK, North Africa, Greece, Crete, Italy, and some still seen in NWE, most MkI were upgraded to MkII configuration, with little effort this can be done, the really neat Welsh Guards version was a converted MkI to MkII, with a superb "bespoke" canvass cover. Have a look at my website LINK there is a selection of the conversions I did of the Tamiya kit, 13 in all.......ALL with ModelKasten tracks....now you know why I am totally insane. George.