Many modellers like to upgrade and enhance their builds with additional after market sets. Voyager Models are an established AM supplier with comprehensive photo etched set for many kits.
This is a look at the upgrade set PE 35252 a photo etched exterior set for the AFV Club 35154 kit of the Churchill Mk IV Gun Tank.
The Set
The set comes packed in a nice professional sturdy cardboard box. On the front is a picture of a Churchill Gun Tank shining brightly, but this photo is not of the actual set, rather a combination of sets. To see what you get you need to look on the reverse of the packaging. The front of the box is marked with the words WWII British Churchill Mk IV Infantry Tank Basic, so read the packing first.
The set contains 5 frets of PE, it does not include the gun barrel nor replacement fender parts as depicted on the front picture so don’t get caught out thinking this is the Full Monty. This is a comprehensive Basic set for the Exterior of the Mk IV.
Along with the PE frets you get five A4 pages of instructions so this is a comprehensive set for many of the smaller and finer details on the kit.
Included in the set are replacement mud chutes, fixings for the hatches, spare track brackets, replacement blanket box, sights and antenna mounts, smoke detectors, periscope guards, exhaust vents, light guards, fire extinguisher holders, tool clamps, exhaust covers, hatch handles, mesh for the air intakes, resin tow hooks and a resin pick head, along with some copper coiled cable for the tow hooks.
There are a host of smaller brackets and fittings so all in all a very comprehensive set. The frets have excellent detail, the PE seems to be of a decent thickness, not too thin nor too thick.
So if you like super detailing you vehicles this will be a useful set of basic exterior fittings to add additional detail to the Mk IV Churchill.
Conclusion
A very useful set of additional and replacement fittings for the AFV Club Churchill. It’s good to see AM manufacturers keeping us supplied with up to date sets. I do wonder with all PE through, how much we all use?
This is a material I’m not that comfortable working with, but I can see that within this set there are many items I may well use, although the AFV Club kit is a great kit as it stands, there is always room for improvement. I don’t however simply like replacing items that are perfectly OK with bling for the sake of it, so like all PE sets you will most probably choose the items you feel add to the overall look of your build and store any leftovers for other projects.
This will be the first time I've used a Voyager set so it will be interesting to see how easy it is to work with.
SUMMARY
Highs: Excellent basic exterior detailing set.Lows: None I can think of.Verdict: Highly recommended, but check the reverse of the box for what you actually get.
Our Thanks to Voyager Model! This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.
About Alan McNeilly (AlanL) FROM: ENGLAND - EAST ANGLIA, UNITED KINGDOM
Greying slightly, but young at heart. I've been teaching adults off and on for most of my life. Left the services in 85 and first started modelling in about 87 for a few years. Then I had a long spell when I didn't build anything (too busy) and really just got started again during the summer of ...
" it does not include the gun barrel nor replacement fender parts as depicted on the front picture"
The box picture clearly highlights the fenders and gun barrel, if they are not in this kit, then Voyager should use a picture that shows what exactly is included in the kit, at the end of the day the customer has a right to see what he is buying, full stop.
Blatent marketing trick.
Hi Matt,
That's the reason i highlighted it in the review, the initial picture would throw you off unless you read the back of the box. To be fair Voyage do state on the front it's a basic set so that should make one stop and think.. Darren is correct the Barrel comes with the AFV kit. Still a comprehansive set though.
Al
Its good that you did highlight it in the article, Voyager make some fantastic products, but they need to stop playing little marketing games because it puts some customers off, me included.
Imagine this scenario for a moment -
Tamiya change the box art on their T-55 kit (just an example) showing a T-55 with a full set of reactive/spaced armor, whatever, fender extensions, extra sighting equipment, the full monty, but then in the box you only get a bog standard T-55.
People would not stand for it, there would be an outcry , and yet it's exactly the same thing.
To be fair to Voyager, I think they are mainly doing this to save on costs, they get to use one box for every set they do for each vehicle, but it's still sneaky, and they know it
Hi Alan,
I purchased this set for the mesh grills
AFV Club 1/35 WWII British Churchill Series Touch
A nice set for all AFV Club Churchills, mesh grills for side intakes,handles and other odds
made by voyager. I purchased this from Lucky Model $4.59 inc P+P
LINK
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