This kit comes packaged in a sturdy 9"X12"X2" box with a black sleeve containing printed information as to the kit number etc. The box contains three (3) beautifully cast resin pieces, each one protected within the box by bubble wrap and loose styrofoam packing material.
The largest piece included is a round 6" diameter base with the cobblestone road section and drainage ditch cast into it. The master included the presentation base and thus what usually would be up to the modeler to somehow 'frame' the piece is included within the casting.
The second piece is a 6" section of block wall that sits along side the roadway. It includes the cut out for the drainage culvert. The third piece is a small half cylinder shaped section of bricks which is the culvert pipe.
This will be a relatively easy kit to build in that there are few pieces with minimal clean up. There is a lot of nice detail cast into this kit so the challenge will be in painting and doing justice to this nice little display piece.
SUMMARY
Highs: Beautifully cast in resin with no air bubbles, simple display base that will paint up into a real beauty.Lows: Some folks who like to make wooded presentation bases for their vignettes may be taken back that the base is part of the casting. I suppose more creative people will try a faux wood grain finish on this part.Verdict: This is a small one vehicle or figure vignette base. This base is perfect for a jeep/kubelwagen or other small to medium softskin or recon vehicles. The only tanks I would use would be early, small panzers such as the Pz.kpfw.I or a similar sized vehical.
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About Charles Reading (CReading) FROM: CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
I live in the mountains north of Santa Cruz California. I have been building now since the early 1990's when I rediscovered modeling. Most of my kits are built with dioramas in mind. I took a "creative block" hiatis for a couple years - 2011 to 2013. I wasn't active in the modeling world. During tha...
Is this something that is needed? I guess so or they wouldn't have cast it.
I just think it can be easily built from scratch by someone who has the time and for a lot less money...
Cheers, Michael
To scratch or not - that is a big question when it comes to these types of bases. Ive done a few reviews of this type of base. VLS does a nice a nice job molding them so they are worth the money you pay. The question is should you scratch build them.
These are great for three builders - 1. Someone who doesn't have the time to scratch build. 2. Someone who doesn't have the experience to scratch build. 3. Someone who 'doesn't DO bases'. An armor modeler or a figure modeler who needs somewhere to 'put' thier subject and display it.
Thumbs up on the kit.
Obviously, but I dont think thats their target audience either. A nice little base like this... and well detailed for what it is .. is mainly for those who dont have the skills or time to build it. If they (Custom Dioramics) take shortcuts (do it on the cheap), it probably wont reach the standard desired by both categories mentioned already and end up, not be of interest to anybody.
As MW has mentioned ... "I just think it can be easily built from scratch by someone who has the time and for a lot less money..." is also true. So the choice is up to every indivual whether they purchase or not.
Thanks for the review Charles. Useful little piece, but having a kubelwagen, jeep, Pzr 1 or even a figure would have given the review even more impact. Its sometimes hard to see the proper size of the item, eventhough you have included some measurements.
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