Introduction

Legend Productions has dipped their toes and now jumped in the deep end when it comes to 1/35th scale small arms weapons systems. These small arms offerings are 3D scanned and then cast in resin in order to provide highly accurate representations for the modeller in order to satisfy their need for accurate and well detailed elements on their models or with their figures. The item I am looking at here from Legend Productions Dillon Aero M134D Minigun on Transparent Shield (Short) Mount with 4,000 round 3-Bay Ammunition Can (that’s another long title).

Review

This offering from Legend Productions and titled ‘Dillon Aero M134D Minigun on Transparent Shield (Short) Mount with 4,000 round 3-Bay Ammunition Can’ is a resin product and so standard safety precautions for working with resin should be utilised. This offering from Legend Productions is packaged in one of the end opening card boxes; in my case this is further protected by a stiff plastic that is shrink wrapped on the box making it even stiffer and improving its strength overall. Inside is a single sheet of glossy paper that covers the contents and construction of the elements of this model. There are three separate Ziploc bags containing the resin parts in one, clear parts in the second and the wire in the other for the model. An examination of the parts did not reveal any major issues; I would expect to find flash with this being a resin product, but Legend Productions seems to have done a good job of avoiding this issue in this example =; the shield parts need clearing of course. If you have any issue with a Legend Productions contact them as they have always been very good about replacing damaged or missing parts as they rate customer satisfaction highly.

This offering from Legend Productions provides the modeller with an M134D secured on a short pedestal mount, a four thousand round magazine box is supplied and also the battery to power the gun. The ammunition can and battery looks accurate with the modeller needing to decide how to place and secure the items depending on where it is mounted. The ammunition feed chute has been supplied in three pieces with one piece shaped, looking at the parts there are a long and short sleeved feed from the ammunition box; I believe that this is due to those parts usually being inside a vehicle and so prevents items such as fingers getting caught. The sleeved section goes to a coupler where the standard metal feed chute takes over. Two of the chutes are not shaped and so hot water will be needed to mould these to the desired form.

The weapon itself is attached via rotating side supporting pedestal. Legend Productions has supplied the option of two barrels for the model as seen in the photographs. The ends of both offerings are suitably recessed but no indication has been provided for the barrels themselves. One of the options is vented for want of a better term and these vents are closed up in the moulding and so a small drill bit will be needed to open these and lift this detail. The body of the weapon is quite complex and there are quite a few very small elements that need to be added. Legend Productions has offered one type of sight for this offering and there seems to be such a large selection is use by the US Military hat I cannot identify it with any certainty. The chute for the jettison of the spent rounds is nicely detailed but I would have liked to see a little hollow present. I appreciate that Legend Productions has included wire of more than one thickness to represent the electric cabling on the model.

The ballistic shield is made up of six parts and looks good from what I can see. The mounting bracket between the shield and the support has a good level of detail despite a limited view of it. As can be seen in the photographs the clear parts are shaped and require nothing as regards clean up. The metal portions of the shield require the areas where the clear parts belong cleared out as there is a flash covering of the entire area on all three parts; being straight edges this should not create issues for any modeller.

Conclusion

I like this offering from Legend Productions as it offers a really nice looking element for a model that should draw the eye. The instructions for this model are not as clear as I would have liked but with careful checks should not create too many issues, that said some of the elements are very small and with CA glue being needed means taking your time and checking twice before cement gets anywhere near the parts. The detail is very good overall with only the barrel options really benefiting from some added effort by the modeller. This product will add an aggressive look to any vehicle you opt to add it to.