Introduction

Black Dog Models are a reasonably new company but have already produced a wide range of aftermarket items to interest the modeller. This is my first experience of their stowage sets in the form of their LRDG stowage set for the Tamiya LRDG Chevrolet.

contents

The set comes packed in a reasonable strong cardboard box showing the product details, a picture of the items mounted on the vehicle and the manufacturers details. No instructions come with the set but fitting should be self explanatory. The kit is cast in a light grey resin and comes in two separate zip plastic bags. One bag contains the bulk stowage item for the rear of the truck and the other some additional add-ons along with a fret of PE for the sand trays.

The Set

The bulk stowage item is designed to drop into the rear of the Tamiya Chevrolet truck. It is made up of a range of items such as 7 jerrycans, several spare wheels, various rolled tarps and bundles, a cool sheepskin coat is included on the top along with various haversacks, some 2 gallon oil/petrol cans, and what looks like several cardboard boxes. It will make a nice load for your Chevrolet and looks to be very much in keeping with the type of stowage carried on these vehicles.

You will need to clean up the underside from any pour spills to ensure a good fit to the vehicle. No opening has been left for the MG stand in the rear of the truck so if you want to include this you will need to drill a hole to accommodate it.

The items are randomly stowed and blend well together, this one should be good fun to paint up.

Additional Items

Additional items include 12 sets of handles for the 7 jerrycans on the bulk stowage item, 3 large and 2 small haversacks. Two of the larger haversacks are linked together. You also get 2 steel helmets with flat bottoms, 2 water bottles, 2 pouches, 2 rolled sand mats, some side stowage in tarp format for the LHS front fender, 1 duffle bag for the rear RHS of the truck and a neat coat to hang of the side of the vehicle.

A fret of PE is enclosed for the sand channels for the side of the vehicle.

All the items are nicely sculpted and cast with minimal clean up being required. The sand mats are a big improvement on the kit parts, and the coat and haversacks are nicely done.

Conclusion

Overall a very handy set, particularly for the bulk stowage in the back of the vehicle. There are some cool elements within the set; the two coats, nicely done haversacks and side stowage. There is no doubt that the bulk item has been well done, but the set for me could do with a little more optional variety.

The bulk stowage, sand mats, duffle bag, coat and fender LHS stowage are all for specified areas. This leave only the haversacks, pouches, helmets and water bottles that can be placed where the modeller wants them, so in a sense that limits finish options. Given the £20.00 price tag I would have expected a bit more, not that I'm unhappy with the quality or thought that's gone into the set, I just think there could have been one or two further finish options for the side stowage or additional options for the cab area.

As this is likely to prove a popular set then modellers will need to think creatively to bring their own rendition to the finish, otherwise we'll see a lot of similar stowage on these vehicles.