Meng’s Achzarit “Late” SS-008

Received this in the post today, along with the Hobby Boss “Early”, and haven’t seen much about it on the net, so I thought I’d chuck up what I’ve received, in case someone is interested.

Firstly, there are only a few, albeit massive, features that differentiate the two kits. They are the road wheels, the dog house cupola, the ECM mast, towing horns, tracks, and the interior. Correctly speaking, the towing horns and ECM mast don’t really count, but I will come back to that. And the decals.
Opening up the box, it is crammed full with sprues, with the interior parts in white plastic. Not too dissimilar to the AFV Club Weasels when they came out. And there are a butt load of parts committed to the interior, which I am very pleased about. And the wheels.

Focusing on those parts that are new, and going through via the instructions, at step 1 the road wheels are all new, made up of no less than five parts each. The detail is great, and, to my eye, look accurate in terms of dimensions.

We’re introduced to the interior at step 4, “Attaching interior floor”; which lays out the floor in a single piece with a number of racks added to that. Step 5 is “Seats assembly”, 5x multi-part seats here. To Meng’s credit, they have treated the interior as part of the kit, not an after though with representative shapes.
Step 6, “Attaching interior parts 1" builds up the driver station and adds a bulkhead. The next step, 7, adds the remaining 4 seats, and yet more racks for MG ammo - which are all empty. Step 8 is the large bench seat to the left hand side of the tunnel, and Step 9 is the inside wall sub-assemblies. Step 10 fits these to the hull. Aside from the periscopes, that the interior in 7 steps.

The overhead weapon station is a complete affair – but no ammo belt included – with a screen and handles.

The individual link tracks are added at Step 16, 89 links per side. These look spot-on.

At Step 18 the external differences become apparent: Fitting the ECM mast and dog house cupola. As already guessed by a few, the glass blocks are on the transparency sprue, with additional parts from sprue H. All in all, it looks the part.

Step 20, also sprue H, is the towing horns, and these are multi-part sub-assemblies too. They have the correct “horses head” profile, and fit back over the hull front.

I’m very pleased to have this, and look forward to launching into it next month when I’m on leave.

Surprisingly, the decals have markings for an ambulance, but no mention is made in the instructions for it, so I am hopeful of further variants. Having researched this a bit, the kit is more a “Mid” than a true “Late” vehicle. The reason I say this is that looking at a number of vehicles, I’ve noticed that the most current ones have a “Katlanit” OWS, a larger, octagonal dog house, two vents – one behind the OWS, and the other in the roof of the tunnel, and a tactical window with firing port in the ramp itself. The towing horns and ECM mast are not good indicative features themselves as they can be seen on older Achzarits as well.

hth, and yes, I will look at the two “Early” kits side by side later. Happy to answer any specific questions,

Kylie

Can I see some photos of the new parts!?!

Cheers
Ciro

I hope the tracks have a correct lenght.

Thank you for informations Kylie!

Cheers!

Marco

Thanks!


This is THE variant I had been waiting for (already have the first Meng kit and the Azimut kit in my stash, but this one is the sexiest version IMVHO).

Cheers,

Christophe

Hi,

I will get some photos up over the weekend - it's Friday here, so tomorrow.

Christophe, yeah, agree with you there! The new OWS and dog house cupola are quite fetching, too. Especially with the 50cal fitted.

Kylie

I didn't even know Meng had a "late" version in the works..... but I live under a rock, or have been in a cave, or something.
So are the tracks "Batash" tracks?

Here's a pic if you haven't seen it yet





Hisham

I would love to see some photos!

I hope this works.. photos of the interior parts to the Meng kit, "Late" Achzarit.

https://gallery.kitmaker.net/data/29681/Interior_023.JPG
https://gallery.kitmaker.net/data/29681/thumbs/Interior_041.JPG
https://gallery.kitmaker.net/data/29681/thumbs/Interior_051.JPG
https://gallery.kitmaker.net/data/29681/Interior_013.JPG

The white plastic is difficult to photograph with my average skills and camera.

This really is a beauty of a kit.

Kylie

GOOD AFTERNOON, SORRY.
HOW TO COMMENTS BELOW THE DUMPING ON LATE VERSION Achzarit AMBULANCE TOOK MANY DAYS AND STIRRING INTERNET IN ORDER TO GET A PICTURE OF THIS UPDATED APC AMBULANCE, HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE OR ENTERING THE OFFICIAL WEPS IDF.
SO DIFFICULT IS THAT THERE IS A PICTURE THAT THE EAST RIDING THE KID AND THE LOCATION OF THE DECALS?
THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS

I am still waiting for it to arrive here in the USA.

Mike

Stuck on a boat in the harbour, maybe? I'm currently finishing up two "Early" vehicles, and gathering material to commence this one. And wondering how to smuggle in a second "Late" without being noticed...

Hope you see your kit soon,

Kylie

Pic taken from Facebook (not mine)... looks really nice



Hisham

(not telling people here to shut up, just expressing my impatience..)

THANKS FOR THE CONTRIBUTION