Greetings everyone,

I just stumbled across this kit. I like building unordinary kits (too many Panthers, Tigers, Panzers, Shermans and the like roaming around). I have googled for this but couldn't find any solid info about the kit. I haven't built any HobbyBoss kits (except for their tracks sets which I liked), so I need your help.

How's this kit, plastic quality, parts, etc.? Any aftermarket items available, especially wheel sets? Any reviews and previews you can point out?

Help will be much appreciated.

It just got released a couple of days ago so I doubt if you'll find any reviews yet.

I ordered mine from hobbyeasy and should get it within a week or so.

But I have other hobbyboss kits, like the M4 tractor and they are pretty good kits, especially if you consider their price.

Hisham

Agreed - it just got released, so I don't think you'll see reviews so quickly. I've got mine coming in from HobbyLink Japan, but don't anticipate seeing it for a few days.

However, try googling it - I think the IPMS Chapter in Manila has a copy of the kit and sprue shots posted...

I just saw that HLJ was carrying it as a new release, so I don't expect to see mine (pre-ordered from Burbank House of Hobbies) for a little while still. I have scratch-built one in the late 70s using the Armour in Profile book, and I still have the Verlinden resin "brick", and am happily looking forward to the Hobbyboss release.

Hi Guys,

I just got the kit and it looks very nice on quick inspection.
I've always had a liking for this vehicles and have been waiting for this one as have others.

The hull is moulded in one piece to give the side angles a clean uncluttered finish, no join seams along the hull edge. You slide the lower hull/chassis in from the ends due to the hull angles, nicely thought out and the fit is very good.

I'll be giving it the full once over shortly but looks very promising.

Cheers
Terry A

While I known the info is coming, is the interior detailed.

Terry Ashley's preview on PMMS
Hobby Boss M706

HTH
Frenchy

I have the kit and I must say I was impressed but let down all at the same time. The vehicle is well executed and a superb buttoned up example can be built despite having a nice interior. The reason I say this is that they did not give any interior for the T50 turret, not turret basket or even gun breeches. This would be patently obvious if you depict it with open hatches. Most dissapointing on what is otherwise a superb (and cheap) kit
Al

Thanks for the link Frenchy, much appreciated. Looks like I will be buying this kit after all, but I will have to wait for the F/X rates to become stable first (USD is appreciating fast against Turkish Lira currently, let's see what happens).

I got the kit from a German online store were it was sold out pretty quick.
My review would not have been as optimistic though. It looks really great from the outside, but there are serious issues with the interior. It is NOT the interior I have seen on quite many pictures:

- wheel houses are round here, I have only seen them angular on pictures. That will be quite a challenge to put it right.
- instead of the compartment encasing the engine, they only provide some kind of box that doesn't even go close to the roof of the vehicle
- there is no turret basket or any interior of the turret. If you look inside through the driver's hatch, you will only see a gaping hollow where the turret basket should be visible.
- The layout of the vehicle floor is... Well, not as in the pictures I know. Especially that characteristic encasing of the gearbox is missing.

Then there are some more challenges, if you decided to build it with open hatches:
- hatches seen not to be constructed for that configuration, could be quite a lot of work
- vision blocks in clear styrene are not vision blocks but merely windows, you would have to find replacement, especially on those doors they would be missing.

I could go on some more about accuracy, parts that look too small or too thick, tires look too soft (hoping for some resin replacements in the future) All in all, for a 2008 kit, it's pretty half-baked, but still I am happy that there is a V100 available in styrene...