Bill Cross reviews AFV Club''s new AEC Matador (Early Type).

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Did you forget about all the allied soft-skins released my Mirror Models recently?

Bill, nice review. It is really good to see Allied softskins coming out. Maybe it will now be worth it for someone to start offering figures to ride in the cab and the bed.

There is a good figure of an Allied driver in a mixed set from MiniArt.

Bill

As you say, there are numerous blunders in the instructions, not something we should expect to see this day and age IMHO.

Here's what I picked up on....

Step 2
One A28 part should be A53
H6 should be II6

Step 3
A34 should be A54

Step 5
Front leaf spring tow unit is not numbered - should be D24
PE bracket should be PE18

Step 6
Rear leaf spring tow unit is not numbered - should be D25

Step 7
A28 should be A53

Step 10
II10 and II11 are the wrong way round

Step 24
Fire extinguisher which magically appears is part B27

Step 25
Windows H6 and H7 should be swapped

Step28
Front cab bolts which are not mentioned anywhere are F32

You get a couple of jerry cans to stow under the rear deck but you only get one 'closed' cap - the other being 'open'. That's why I put one jerry can in backwards!


You're right though, a nicely detailed kit which is not for beginners, but there are, as you state, a couple of major flaws.
Firstly, the tyres. Vinyl type which while nicely detailed, have that virtually impossible to remove seam line around them. I ended up getting a set of tyres custom made in resin.
Secondly, like you, I find the tarp sides very disappointing. When down, they look like steel plates - totally devoid of any texture etc to give a hint at them being canvas. As I wanted to have mine with the sides shown, I felt I had no choice but to replace them all with lead foil. Perhaps, as you suggest, an AM company will offer some replacements at some stage (along with the wheels) hopefully.











As you can see, not 100% complete, but aside from the wheels are tarps, very little extra detail needs to be added to produce a very nice truck

Gary

First of all, thanks to Darren for getting this one up!

Warren, I did overlook Mirror's offerings, but I was really thinking about medium- to large-sized companies. I'm not even sure where one can buy Mirror's kits, other than direct from the manufacturer.

Russ, I would love to see more Allied crews. This baby has two benches in the load bed for the gun crew....

Gary, thank you for detailing the instruction gaffs. For a major company, these are really disturbing. I don't expect perfection, but there are many, many small parts, some of which look disturbingly similar, so doping out what is right and what is wrong would not be easy.

I commend you lead foil tarp. I'm thinking of building mine open-topped (North Africa, 1941) which will show off the stowage that MAY be coming out from Value Gear for this vehicle. In any case, I have asked Steve Munsell to make some for me, and perhaps if he hears from y'all, he'll add it to his line.

As for the tires, I couldn't agree more. I believe at least two AM makers are working on tires, as they will be able to sell them to Dorchester builders, as it's the same chassis.

Bill

If you're happy to PM your address, I have something here which I think you will find of use for your Matador build (Hint - they're round and there's five of them )

Gary

I wish someone would come up with those tarp curtains in resin!

Gary -

Is there any way to order a set of these wheels? I'm working on the SKP Dorchester and the wheels are dramatically undersized. Please email me directly at [email protected]

Thanks!