A point to note for you 'Judges' at model competitions out there, for many years modern vehicle number plates (tags) and *some* warning lables are in fact GLOSS and NOT flat (as I keep hearing over and over).

To lower your score because these items are not flat is wrong.
In fact some of the body paint on the newer series of military vehicles is not *flat* by design but more of an Eggshell finish!

The 'FLAT' appearence of course is due to the conditions of the area in which the vehicle is possibly serving and if it is in use in the field!

Great care should be used when judging and a little research will help you judge accordingly!

The presumption of a complete flat/dullcoat is required on all military models is way off base (in my opinion) because it isn't what the real item has as a paint finish...

Anyway, this particular series of vehicles, Jackal 1 and 2 and Coyote comes complete with small cloth/canvas covers for its lights and number plates. Some were issued in Black, some in the Desert pink scheme as were items of the ECM and IED sensor units.

Much of this is/ was repainted as wear, tear and maintainence required by the use.
The issued paint color will then change the overall paint schemes appearence.

During my years of serving on armour it wasn't uncommon to see different colors of replacement bins, wings and other items etc. if they were issued in the field and touch painted later.
It is possible that some of the replacement canvas covers on this series, coming from stock, could be either color ending up with a missmatch on the vehicle.

Anyway, I have enjoyed sorting through this model and the small problems with the very EARLY set of instructions and look forward to finishing it soon.

Any constructive feedback and input is very welcome.

Keith.

I appreciate your comments and input Mike and look forward (not) to hearing what you think on Wednesday.

Knowing your expertise level I am glad I am just an intermediate level builder (and old)... Keith.

So what did I think about it overall eh.

I hope that later instructions are clearer (pictures) and the number of missmarked and missing numbers have been corrected. Some items were not marked even though they are in the numbered parts chart?

I think the resin grills on the body could be replaced with Photo etched ones due to the resin filling some of holes (not easy to drill out).

The seat belts could have been done in brass or even sticky back paper with small brass buckles and clips. Why not, smaller parts were done within the photoetched fret?

But the kit was a really different one for me and went together well.

My apologies for taking so long to complete the beast but no point in hurrying at my age...

Now where did I stash my Jackal One?

Keith.