Hello,

I was wondering what the consensus is on Takom's Mk. V. I already have one of the Meng Mk. V Females in my stache, but I was considering getting the Takom offering also. I know that the Takom can be built as Male, Female, or hermaphrodite, but I am also interested in how the details compare.

Has anyone built both of these, or have at least compared the kits to each other?

Go with the Takom kit as the tracks are much better and workable.

Not sure on the Meng kit, but I just bought their King Tiger kit, and own a Takom Mk IV Hermaphrodite.

My Mk IV is pretty awesome in the box. Detail is everything you want it to be. Lots of room for detailing and weathering, and there's a good amount of multi-media parts in the box. Mine only comes with one metal barrel (says two on the box, but there's only one in the kits). So, you have the choice of building a true hermaphrodite (paper tank), or a female. If you want to build the male you have to either scratch a second barrel, or buy an AM version (I bought an AM kit with metal MG barrels and 2 cannon barrels).

The tracks--are simply awesome.

I do not like the unditching beam in the kit. It's rather plain looking and leaves a lot of room for improvement. I'm considering scratchbuilding one from balsa and adding the metal banding and rivets with brass sheet. That, or a lot of work with a razor saw to give the plastic part some wood grain and detail.

I got my Takom kit NIB off of eBay for $22 shipped. If you lurk, and hunt long enough for a kit you're after, you'll end up with a good deal if you're patient and persistent.

Good luck!

There is a good comparison in a recent issue of the MAFVA journal Tankette. It's by Dick Harley, who has been researching WW1 armour for decades. Neither kit is free of errors.

Back issues available from www.mafva.net