I have just finished my review of the Academy M151A1 kit. This is an "in-box" review, but very detailed with several photos, including some of the real vehicles. I tried to find out if we really got the A1 version this time, and discovered that were are close, but still not quite there...

To read my review go to my web page Review section here:
http://www.vodnik.net/index_rv.htm
then select the review from the short list.

Hope you find this article useful - any comments welcome!

Regards,
Pawel

Nice review Vodnik. I agree too - it's interesting why the A1 seems to elude the manufacturers...

Gunnie

Great review Pawel. Now I know what you ment about the windshield wiper motor on the left side. Thanks for posting this. I have six more of these little Mutts to build and I think by the time I get to the sixth one I finally get it right.

Yeah

I think this little model is well suited for many, many, gun jeep models...

Gunnie

You are right about that Gunnie. I have a couple more started towards my quest. (Building them all). I have the Museum staff at the US Army Tansportation Museum helping me with the research on the Known versions of the Gun Trucks and Gun Jeeps. Barbara Bowers and Her Staff are fantastic.

Yes - I've received nice emails and assistance offers from them in the past too. I'm building mine with eyes on publication though...

Not the best picture in the world because I took it so fast, but, "Sopwith Camel" is one that I'm wrapping up presently. I'm going to do a gun jeep and finish my V-100 all around the same time, which is why I've been spending what little free time I can get away from the site lately...



Gunnie

Great review Vodnik ...... as good and thorough as I ve seen anywhere ....... and a great site. Ive just spent the last 1.5 hours there. Loved the big foot review also.... looking forward to further updates. If your willing to do reviews ... how about the M978 Oshkosh Fuel Truck? No chance you´ll get around to building this someday soon?

I should receive all available Pro Art resin sets for this tanker soon, so I may indeed try to write reviews of the kit and all this additional stuff. However I must first check how much reference material I was able to collect to this moment. I only write reviews when I have enough reference to really get to know the subject. I don't have any books about HEMTTs - except for a few photos in several Concord publications, but I already have almost 200 pictures of various HEMTT variants, including a few walkarounds, downloaded from the Internet. I also have all the technical manuals for these trucks. I must browse through all this stuff and if I find it sufficient, I'll write a review.

Best Regards,
Pawel

well, not to be a downer, but I think the article on the Fuel HEMTT will be quite a ordeal. I know that Italeri really simplified the kit.

Personally, I think Italeri did a fine job...it looks good when built, but compared to the real deal, you can see how much is missing.

Well, my review is "in box" type, so I cannot tell anything about the fit of parts. I know that older Academy and Tamiya kits indeed had a problem with the fit of the rear wheels, but didn't try to fit them in new model.

As for the HEMTT review... Oh boy... I took a closer look into boxes of Italeri M977 and M978 kits yesterday and I'm scared These two will required A LOT of work. What bothers me most is that decals are almost useless I can print my own, but only in black - this may limit my choices of camouflage to overall sand or overall forest green vehicles. Now I regret that I didn't buy Revell of Germany rebox of Italeri M977 - it came with superb decals and MLRS rocked pods... It is unfortunately OOP now

I already have a Pro Art cab interior set for HEMTT and it looks nice, although the instructions are almost illegible. I have a set of resin wheels from CAM Decals (these wheels were made from TAC Scale molds) and they are at least better then their M923 wheels. I also have a PE from Eduard, but this is a very old set, and the quality is not up to their current standards. I was surprised that there is no "Oshkosh" logo in the set! I really hoped to find it there as it is missing from the kit. There should be at least three: one on the front of the truck and two on the rear mud flaps. I guess they are not in Eduard set for the same reason they are not present in the Italeri kit - licensing issues I think I will try to make these logos myself...

Rgds,
Pawel

A real nice review!
I made as scratch of this little baby, back in the past using the Tamiya A2 kit, and you pointed correctly everything to get a real A1, this kit looks like a winner indeed, a must wanted kit in my wish list for a long time, and it was excellent.
Cheers