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REVIEW
AFV Club Stryker M1128 MGS
wbill76
Joined: May 02, 2006
KitMaker: 5,425 posts
Armorama: 4,659 posts
Posted: Friday, October 03, 2008 - 10:57 AM UTC
Robert Burik reviews the 1/35 AFV Club Stryker M1128 MGS.
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If you have comments or questions please post them here.
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If you have comments or questions please post them here.
Thanks!
Burik
Joined: March 12, 2002
KitMaker: 1,437 posts
Armorama: 1,303 posts
Posted: Friday, October 03, 2008 - 11:33 AM UTC
Gremlins ...
I have seen a fair amount of MGS's but never noticed footman loops (other than the ones described on the engine hatch - which they all had), but now that the review is published I just noticed one of the photos in the review shows additional footman loops! Anyway, as you can see, they are just behind the nose of the vehicle and straps are there for the tow bar? So, if you have a few left from your Eduard detail set of the other variants you may want to consider adding a few footman loops.
Sorry about the typo regarding the 'Dremel tool conical bit' - that was what I meant to say.
Reading it now it may seem confusing to some. If you slide a wheel ring over a conical bit it will stay on, then you can run at low speed over sandpaper and get a nice even job done, quickly.
Bob
I have seen a fair amount of MGS's but never noticed footman loops (other than the ones described on the engine hatch - which they all had), but now that the review is published I just noticed one of the photos in the review shows additional footman loops! Anyway, as you can see, they are just behind the nose of the vehicle and straps are there for the tow bar? So, if you have a few left from your Eduard detail set of the other variants you may want to consider adding a few footman loops.
Sorry about the typo regarding the 'Dremel tool conical bit' - that was what I meant to say.
Reading it now it may seem confusing to some. If you slide a wheel ring over a conical bit it will stay on, then you can run at low speed over sandpaper and get a nice even job done, quickly.
Bob
LeoCmdr
Joined: January 19, 2005
KitMaker: 4,085 posts
Armorama: 3,917 posts
Posted: Friday, October 03, 2008 - 01:13 PM UTC
Hi Bob,
Good review and thanks for providing the updates to your initial review.
I find it odd that the jerry can straps and 13 straps for the top of the turret were included yet the small straps required to hold the two .50 Cal boxes on the side of the turret are not included.....the .50 boxes are just glued on the small rails on the side of the turret.
You refer to adding the "canvas sun screen"....are you talking about over the top of the turret in general that appears to be canvas or camouflage netting or a combo of both......or is this specifically over the panoramic viewer? In some of the images I have seen it looks like even the turret hatches are coverered over with cam net.
The extra jerry can rack on the left hand side.....is this now standard or a field mod?
I can't see it being too long for a PE set to be coming out for detailing a basic production M1128.
It will be very nice once more reference images are made available.
Good review and thanks for providing the updates to your initial review.
I find it odd that the jerry can straps and 13 straps for the top of the turret were included yet the small straps required to hold the two .50 Cal boxes on the side of the turret are not included.....the .50 boxes are just glued on the small rails on the side of the turret.
You refer to adding the "canvas sun screen"....are you talking about over the top of the turret in general that appears to be canvas or camouflage netting or a combo of both......or is this specifically over the panoramic viewer? In some of the images I have seen it looks like even the turret hatches are coverered over with cam net.
The extra jerry can rack on the left hand side.....is this now standard or a field mod?
I can't see it being too long for a PE set to be coming out for detailing a basic production M1128.
It will be very nice once more reference images are made available.
PantherF
Joined: June 10, 2005
KitMaker: 6,188 posts
Armorama: 5,960 posts
Posted: Friday, October 03, 2008 - 01:26 PM UTC
Very good write up. I knew what you were talking about with the dremel. I need to find one of these on sale soon, especially now after seeing inside the box.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Tankleader
Joined: April 29, 2003
KitMaker: 718 posts
Armorama: 684 posts
Posted: Friday, October 03, 2008 - 01:54 PM UTC
Great review and can't wait to get my hands on one.
Tanks
Andy
Tanks
Andy
Burik
Joined: March 12, 2002
KitMaker: 1,437 posts
Armorama: 1,303 posts
Posted: Friday, October 03, 2008 - 04:02 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I find it odd that the jerry can straps and 13 straps for the top of the turret were included yet the small straps required to hold the two .50 Cal boxes on the side of the turret are not included.....the .50 boxes are just glued on the small rails on the side of the turret.
You refer to adding the "canvas sun screen"....are you talking about over the top of the turret in general that appears to be canvas or camouflage netting or a combo of both......or is this specifically over the panoramic viewer? In some of the images I have seen it looks like even the turret hatches are coverered over with cam net.
The extra jerry can rack on the left hand side.....is this now standard or a field mod?
Jason: Yeah, no straps for the .50 cal boxes. None for the tool rack either. I suppose they decided they had to draw the line somewhere.
The cover is for the commander's pan viewer. I have seen it on deployed vehicles. It's hard to explain, but when more reference photos become available I am sure this will be seen. It might actually be vinyl, but it is khaki colored. and is sort of like a hood over the pan viewer.
Yes, I have seen camo nets too draped around the turret - I suppose to break up its shape. It is not used as an anti sniper net like on the other Strykers, it seems to just be laid over parts of the turret.
I believe the extra water can rack (which seems to be the exact same as the standard rack already on the right side) is a unit thing; just a matter of getting hold of more racks - they are not home made or anything like that. I would not say it is standard. I think we will have to wait to see if other brigades do it.
It looks like Bill Plunk fixed that Dremel bit typo for me - thanks Bill.
Note - as a clarification regarding the weld beads on the turret recoil housing. My kit does have a very small and subtle weld bead, but if you compare the kit welds to the real ones (see Andy's photo in the review) they are way too narrow and not really a double bead like they are in real life. I didn't mean to say there was no weld bead on the kit, but that it should be enhanced/corrected.
Bob
wbill76
Joined: May 02, 2006
KitMaker: 5,425 posts
Armorama: 4,659 posts
Posted: Friday, October 03, 2008 - 04:27 PM UTC
No problem on the fix Robert, when I read it the first time I figured it made sense on some level but now it's a lot clearer and so edited as you posted with the clarification. 
LeoCmdr
Joined: January 19, 2005
KitMaker: 4,085 posts
Armorama: 3,917 posts
Posted: Friday, October 03, 2008 - 05:11 PM UTC
Thanks for your answers Bob.
Violetrock
Joined: March 09, 2003
KitMaker: 831 posts
Armorama: 791 posts
Posted: Friday, October 03, 2008 - 11:48 PM UTC
Very nice review- but let me add one more shortcoming: They still do not include the signal horn which is already isnstalled for several years on the Stryker.
Voyager has one planned, but still not released. You can even see it on the pictures of the Stryker PE sets. Hopefully they will release it soon. Maybe we should all write to Voyager to push them to a release.
An item which is also missing in the Trumpeter kits.
Thomas
Voyager has one planned, but still not released. You can even see it on the pictures of the Stryker PE sets. Hopefully they will release it soon. Maybe we should all write to Voyager to push them to a release.
An item which is also missing in the Trumpeter kits.
Thomas
Burik
Joined: March 12, 2002
KitMaker: 1,437 posts
Armorama: 1,303 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 04, 2008 - 03:43 AM UTC
Quoted Text
They still do not include the signal horn which is already isnstalled for several years on the Stryker.
Thomas
Thomas, that is an interesting point, and correct for the other Stryker variants. My photos of visits with MGS's from May 06 through April of 2008 do not show the long black horns on them. These are MGS's from 5/2 and 4/2. However, I am aware the horns are on MGS's from the 56th and they may be retrofitted of course. I just want to point out that it is okay to not have the black horn on your MGS model.
Thanks for pointing that out. Has anybody looked to see if a horn can be sourced from elsewhere, like dollhouse stuff? I have not looked yet, but I suppose I need to start checking. I don't want to pay for a whole aftermarket set to just get that horn.
Bob
Frenchy
Joined: December 02, 2002
KitMaker: 12,719 posts
Armorama: 12,507 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 04, 2008 - 04:38 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Has anybody looked to see if a horn can be sourced from elsewhere, like dollhouse stuff? I have not looked yet, but I suppose I need to start checking. I don't want to pay for a whole aftermarket set to just get that horn.
Maybe you could "borrow" one from a 1/34th scale diecast truck or a 1/32nd scale fire truck kit...
Frenchy
Epi
Joined: December 22, 2001
KitMaker: 3,586 posts
Armorama: 2,556 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 04, 2008 - 01:45 PM UTC
I got a horn in 1/35th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It came in the AFV Centurion Shot kit that I reviewed. It is Sprue H. The sprue fit was on says it was from the WC-57 kit. It's part 15 and 17.
Picture curtious of PMMS.
Picture curtious of PMMS.
Removed by original poster on 10/05/08 - 00:52:16 (GMT).
Tankrider
Joined: October 07, 2002
KitMaker: 1,280 posts
Armorama: 1,208 posts
Posted: Monday, October 06, 2008 - 01:33 AM UTC
Bob,
I used .010 rod for replicating the welds on my MGS... It was actually to fill the gaps in the sides of the recould housing. I plan on sanding down the delicate molded beads on the next one and replacing them also with .010 rod. The resulting "welds" might be a bit overscale but they add some visual interest to the area. I also replaced my PE straps with aluminium foil for easier working...
One the next one, I am looking at replacing ALL of the tiedowns as well as tweaking up the hull & turret, to include the skate ring and shield for the TC's .50 caliber.
Jason,
The two can rack on the hull side is standard as the M1128 does not have the racks on the back like the M1126 due to the way the read doors open to afacilitate maintence and loading of the 105mm Ammunition.
John
I used .010 rod for replicating the welds on my MGS... It was actually to fill the gaps in the sides of the recould housing. I plan on sanding down the delicate molded beads on the next one and replacing them also with .010 rod. The resulting "welds" might be a bit overscale but they add some visual interest to the area. I also replaced my PE straps with aluminium foil for easier working...
One the next one, I am looking at replacing ALL of the tiedowns as well as tweaking up the hull & turret, to include the skate ring and shield for the TC's .50 caliber.
Jason,
The two can rack on the hull side is standard as the M1128 does not have the racks on the back like the M1126 due to the way the read doors open to afacilitate maintence and loading of the 105mm Ammunition.
John
35th-scale
Joined: November 21, 2007
KitMaker: 3,212 posts
Armorama: 2,807 posts
Posted: Monday, October 06, 2008 - 05:37 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I also replaced my PE straps with aluminium foil for easier working...
Sounds like a good idea. Any pics of how they turned out?
Cheers,
Sean
Tankrider
Joined: October 07, 2002
KitMaker: 1,280 posts
Armorama: 1,208 posts
Posted: Monday, October 06, 2008 - 06:17 AM UTC
Sean,
I do have some pics that I need to get mounted on my Photobucket account tonight. The model is a full build review for AMPS. The foil straps were easy to do... I clipped off the posts that the PE was supposed to mount on, drilled holes to fix the straps to the turret with Grandt Line NBW castings. I used the kit PE to establish the length of the strips. Again, simple and effective
John
I do have some pics that I need to get mounted on my Photobucket account tonight. The model is a full build review for AMPS. The foil straps were easy to do... I clipped off the posts that the PE was supposed to mount on, drilled holes to fix the straps to the turret with Grandt Line NBW castings. I used the kit PE to establish the length of the strips. Again, simple and effective
John
LeoCmdr
Joined: January 19, 2005
KitMaker: 4,085 posts
Armorama: 3,917 posts
Posted: Monday, October 06, 2008 - 01:48 PM UTC
Thanks John,
I look forward to your build review.
I look forward to your build review.
sgtreef
Joined: March 01, 2002
KitMaker: 6,043 posts
Armorama: 4,347 posts
Posted: Monday, October 06, 2008 - 11:27 PM UTC
Thanks for the Review.
Looks to be a killer kit.
Can't wait for mine to arrive.
Only thing I could see was Manufacturer price is $64.95 reason I had to go to Hong Kong to get it my LHS wanted that plus tax.
Looks to be a killer kit.
Can't wait for mine to arrive.
Only thing I could see was Manufacturer price is $64.95 reason I had to go to Hong Kong to get it my LHS wanted that plus tax.
tmont007
Joined: December 27, 2008
KitMaker: 2 posts
Armorama: 1 posts
Posted: Friday, December 26, 2008 - 11:41 PM UTC
Just got my AF CLUB MGS Stryker. Very nice, great detail, blah, blah blah. It's old. To be expected I suppose. I work for General Dynamics as a tech on these things so I am privy to changes that may or may not come out on the models. The most noticable major change that is not present on this kit is the .50 cal set up. It now has a completely different mount and a small arms shield has been added. There are numerous other small changes implemented in the past few years, cooling fans for FCU's, changes to CREW kit jammers, etc, I wonder if aftermarket kits will be available for this. Like the slat armour kits. We'll see I guess.
Burik
Joined: March 12, 2002
KitMaker: 1,437 posts
Armorama: 1,303 posts
Posted: Saturday, December 27, 2008 - 03:04 AM UTC
Quoted Text
The most noticable major change that is not present on this kit is the .50 cal set up. It now has a completely different mount and a small arms shield has been added. There are numerous other small changes implemented in the past few years, cooling fans for FCU's, changes to CREW kit jammers, etc, I wonder if aftermarket kits will be available for this. Like the slat armour kits. We'll see I guess.
Tom, welcome to Armorama. Nice to see an MGS expert here. Please post some progress photos of your build. Will you be adding any detail to the kit?
Bob
Frenchy
Joined: December 02, 2002
KitMaker: 12,719 posts
Armorama: 12,507 posts
Posted: Saturday, December 27, 2008 - 03:22 AM UTC
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