HI Guys

Just rec'd the Takom G6 and thought I would pass on my initial thoughts.

I was hesitant about picking this up having recently built their LEOPARD C2 MEXAS. While working on that one, I felt as if I was working on an updated Italeri kit.

This feels like a different beast, i.e. 21st century molding.

It is a lot bigger than I thought it would be. While not as big as the DANA, it is about 12" long, 4" wide and 4" tall. If any of that matters.

I think the biggest hurdle I will face will be the instructions. They are grey scale CAD drawings. As such, sometimes they show installing parts on a darkly shaded area, so you will need to do some dry-fitting just to ensure you are correct.

Another surprise is melting pins to seal another part !? That is a flashback to the 60's or 70's.

A small etch frame is provided as is an even smaller decal sheet.

A complete driver's compartment is included.

You get two colour options: overall sand/tan/beige (depending on your POV and sand/OD/lt brown.

Paint callouts are for Mig Paints.

So my initial impressions are very favourable and I look fwd to starting this one sooner rather than later. I think this one moves ahead of the SA-15.

Tom

Just got mine a couple of days ago, and I agree.. it's a very nicely done kit.. I'm also not too crazy about the instructions, but I'll see how it goes when I start on it.

Here's a quick pic with my hand for reference.. it's going to be a big one once built



Hisham

Oh, great! I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing more of this kit. Bring it on!

Is this what the song "like a G6" (by the "far east movement")is referring to, must be!

Apparently G6 is also slang for a Gulf Stream G650 jet, so I'd say the odds favor that definition.

More sprue photos please - when available.

Thanks

It's already in-stock at Lukymodel .. and you can see sprues and built-up pics there.. that's where I ordered mine from.

Hisham

if you're on FB there's a post in "military modelling just for fun" of a G6 build. Looks real nice.

Thanks for the heads up, Ian... Azrael is doing a nice job!

Hisham

went to FB but didnt see the build you referenced can you share a link so I can find it
Thanks

Ditto

See here: https://www.facebook.com/azrael.raven.3/photos_albums
There are multiple photo albums of the build.

Got mine in the mail today and discovered there are only 3 tires in the box. Freetime Hobbies said they will have to contact Takom for a replacement and no one has resin replacement wheels yet.

Well Jason I know the missing tire is a real monkey in the wrench but since you are nearly the first to receive this kit would you care to go ahead and comment on how the kit is engineered?

Sure, I haven't sifted through the box yet, as the missing wheels were sort of deflating. I just went through it- looks really nice. The hull is interesting- 4 parts- sides, bottom and top. Hopefully it won't be too bad to align. Their Mk I tank has a similar approach. It was made harder by having rivets close to the seams, but it lined up for the most part. The Rhino lacks the rivets, so it will be easier to touch up the seams. Turret is the standard shell. barrel is 2 halves...would have rather had a slide mold one, but not a huge deal. 3 of the wheels look nice....

Hi,

I done the kit. The finished G6 kit is huge, comparable in size to the t-14 kit chasis.

The fitting for the hull part is pretty good, no alignment problems.

The fitting for the movable parts is also very good. the supporting legs and the spades at the back are completely movable. If you look at the instructions it looks difficult to put together for these parts but once you handle the parts, you'd realise they only fit one way so its pretty straight forward.

Only stress point i had with this is is assembling the movable front wheels and their mechanism. The kit calls for you to melt to pins to hold the parts together so that they can move. i'm a it clumsy so i messed them up. The pins protruding is really not a lot so when you melt the pins, be extra careful or you'll melt the pins to the other parts and the mechanism cannot be moved there after. If you do it correctly then the front wheels will be able to turn in unison.

molding is nice with good details. Photoetch details is not too excessive as to make it too complicated for fun builders

The kit is a pretty straightforward build. finished the kit in three days.Very enjoyable build.

Kenneth

Hi

Thanks for that. Still working on clearing off my bench before I start this one.

May try a WIP blog here ...

Tom

I see what you did there.