In Box Reveiw
Well It seams that I have the time today so:
In Box Review: Trumpeter 1/35 scale Challenger 2: Enhanced Armour. kit# 01522
Whats in the Box?
Eight sprues in the familiar light grey plastic we all know and love, to parts for the turret and two for the hull. Both a top and a bottom.
Two black soft vinyl rubber bands that are supposed to be the tracks.
A small decal sheet and an ark with MRE boxes and a bit of string.
The instuction booklet in 39 stages and a colour painting guide.
So lets have a look at it shall we?
First the hull and turret parts.
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First up the turret. Nicely moulded and good detail. The noon slip texture very nicely done as are the panels. There is even detail on the bottom where the over hang could be seen if the turret is posed turned.
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The Anti slip texture is also present on the hull and the other details nice and clear. As to the possibility that some of the details are a mm to far back or forwards I will pass no judgement on. The Shape of the hull, as for the turret also, looks right.
Sprues:
Two X A, with the inner road wheels, suspension and return wheels.
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Sprue B has the outer road wheels, which are the perforated type and actually are perforated and not just marked. The rear of the hull and some of the bar armour and some small detail parts.
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Sprue C: fiddly bits, Drive sprockets and the pipe!
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Sprue D you will find holding the Enhanced armour parts as well as some more detail parts.
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Sprue E has the fittings for the turret. And the other small sprue has the rest of the Armour. This version is a male tank as it does not have the skirts!
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Finally we have sprue G that has the 'dozer blade.
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All the sprues are nice and clean. Crisp clear detail with no flash and at first glance not a lot of ejector or sink marks. A lot better Trumpeter, Well done.
Now about those tracks.
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I had heard they can be quite scarry. Mine fit that description too. One of them is actually broken! They will require a lot of clean up and de-flashing. Not an easy task on rubber band type tracks. Apparently I was wise to order the tracks from Bronco. On a tank with sand skirts, you could get away with them, but on this version the tracks are quite exposed.
The Paper work:
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The instruction booklet is typical Trumpeter. Well laid out, clear and logical. The usual problem though. No paint calls during the build process. Find your references and have them handy. Talking of painting. The colour ark with the paint guide is nice and clear. Also I was glad to see that Trumpeter woken up to the fact that there are paint makes that are not from the far east. Vallejo paint codes are starting to show on Trumpeter kits. This is one of them.
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The decal sheet is tiny too and has the marks for Four tanks. A very thin ark printed with Meal:ready to eat cases is also included and are well printed even if the paper is silly thin. Should be fun sticking them together!
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Ah I missed a picture! there is also a tiny fret of PE mud flaps front and rear and rivet strips to hold them on with!
So my verdict? A nice kit that should build up into an impressive weapon.
I might see if I can find a better barrel for the main gun though. I hate having to try hide a join seam in a barrel at the best of times, When said barrel has lagging on it.....
Ian M
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