I have just recently bought a couple of the Italeri Big Foot trucks. I am currently building the first and it is more or less OOB. What I would like to know is simply, what work has one to do to improve this kit, if indeed it needs improving.... I'd also like any pointers re. ref. sources. You listening Rob?....Thanks.....Jim

Well, a good lesson for all of us, i've just looked at Rob's Gallery and found what I needed...However any feedback about this kit would be welcome....thanks..Jim

I also grabbed one from Model Expo for about $10 and did not get my money's worth..well I take that back, I've since superglued all the major components together and my 4yr old rolls it around the livingroom floor. Calls it his "armytruck", one word, "armytruck".

Given that I am an AMS sufferer,for me the old MMiR article that called the detail 'toylike' was being generous. I had hopes of ammo pallets or MLRS rocket delivery.. but this kit , while it fit well enough, needed lots of help and at the time I wasn't that into taking on another major project.

Mike

Hey MLD, I think you are talking about the HEMMT kit.. I belive Jimbrea is talking about hte M923A1 kit.

I built the M923 many years ago, I added new wheels (sorry, it really is a must) and the eduard PE, mainly for the engine grille. I scratched the tarp and did a bit of work on the cab to have it opened totally, but all in all, not too bad a kit.

Here is my example

http://members.tripod.com/saammodels/Pictures/awards/m923/index.htm

Thanks Jaques for those excellent photos,as I'm going to build it out of the box, I'll probably only re-work the rear tarp. At the moment I only want a representative model so i'll perhaps use PE for the other one and see how they compare. Once again for the photos,they will be very useful indeed....Jim

One of the guys, on here, has on his homepage some really good tips. He had a thread recently where he reviewed the M151A2 mutts and when I looked at his home page he has one first class write ups on the big foot. He has used all sorts of aftermarket and even made comparisons between the aftermarket wheels. His name is Vodnik or something similar. I havent time now to check for it ,,... but I´ll be back tonight with the thread if nobody has found it by then. I built this in the early days OOB and it is one of my fav kits. Its not that its a perfect kit, but it has a classic appearance ... an attitude you might say. Its probably one of the only kits I have built that I would attempt again... to improve on it!!

While I have the M925 5 ton truck (same base kit with the regular 10 tire set up and not the 6 tire), I have not built it. I did take a look at the kit for someone and can say it definitely has a simplified suspension. But it can be made to look like a 5 ton truck.

One thing I noticed is the cargo bed has a nice engraved wooden texture. Very well done, but the problem is that the actual vehicle bed is made of steel and other than a weld seam or two, there isn't any texture back there.

I did find the old Eduard PE set that is labeled for the M932 kit (35088), but is made for the M923 and will work on both the M925 and M925 with shelter carrier. Adds enough detail without tossing too much good money after bad.

The older military style tires are better done than the "bigfoot" tires are. "Bigfoot", only a term used by the model making industry and not by the guys who use the vehicles.

OK, someone called me?... Ahhh, yes... Plasticbattle was the one

Yes, indeed there is a lot about Big Foot kit on my web page. Here is the URL: http://vodnik.net

Most of the stuff is in the REVIEWS section, but there is also an article in CURRENT PROJECTS.

I spent a whole day today working on my Big Foot and I still can't see the end of this project... I think I'll post some recent pictures on Rivet Review Board soon, but dontt expect huge progress from last time - I don't have much time lately to work on the model.


Sabot,
To be exact - if I remember correctly you didn't actually notice the wooden floor in the kit. I wrote about it in one of the posts on rec.models.scale long time ago and I think you mentioned in response that you didn't notice it before

And there is new Eduard set for M923 available - much better than the old one!

Rgds,
Pawel

Ah Ha ... its Mr. Big foot Vodnik himself!!! Saves me searching for your site again!!

Definately worth looking ere Jimbrae!

My OOB version.... from back in my twilight days ... no references or even attempts at reference. Didnt know and didnt care and for some reason I still love this model!

OK, but that was because I never opened the kit before then: RMS Thread


Yes, but then you end up throwing good money after bad. Add tires ($20+), new PE ($20+), plus kit ($15) and you're above the $50 mark and it doesn't bring this kit up to the standard of AFV Club's M35A2 deuce.

Plasticbattle, your kit looks great, don't sell your work short.
Pawel, remind me to tell I'm too busy next time