Introduction

SKP Model is at it again with their Lenses and Taillights product line, this time around it is the Merkava ARV that gets the lenses and taillights treatment. The HobbyBoss offering of the Merkava Armoured Recovery Vehicle in 1/35th scale is the target of this product from SKP Model.

Review

This latest release is, as most have come to expect from SKP Model, a high quality product and at a realistic price. In the now typical packaging in this line from SKP Model, the lenses and taillights are supplied on a single fret of photo etch inside a Ziploc bag, the bag is in turn stapled and labelled to a hanging card. On the card are the product details such as code, name and scale.

This set from SKP Model I will admit has got me guessing, not because there is anything wrong with it, but because I just cannot place one of the lenses supplied with the product. You have the front oblong headlights with a very nice pattern behind the clear lens, I feel it is the pattern behind the clear lens that make these lenses and taillights sets from SKP Model the best on the market that I am aware of. The headlights in this set will be a straight forward replacement on the model.

The rear light clusters will not be quite so easy to play with as you are provided with a photo etch plate with the shapes for the lenses cleared. The red and what I believe is a black lens for both rear clusters fit into these open areas. This sounds simple enough, but it will require that the lenses as they are removed from the fret are spot on when it comes to cutting them free, if you don’t get the cut or clean-up spot on you will be cussing when trying to fit them to the photo etch lens backing plate.

The last lens in this set is a single round lens of about 3 or 3.5mm, I believe this is for a work light or search light on the model, but as I cannot find this on the model and SKP Model do not provide any form of instruction it is guess work on my part. Regardless this lens must belong on the model and I am sure if anyone has built one or looking over a kit to build one will quickly work out where it belongs.

Conclusion

You will not be surprised to hear me say that I really like this product line from SKP Model. The low price and instant improvement they offer make them a desirable addition to a model, and I don’t think they can be beat until someone releases working lights with the same level of detail behind the lenses. If you want to dress up your Hobby Boss Merkava ARV then give this product some consideration.