Review
This offering from Miniart arrives in a cardboard tray with a separate card lid. Inside all the sprues are packaged in a single plastic bag, also inside is a separate bag containing the clear sprues, decals and photo etch - This is a practice that I do not approve of due to the risk of damage during transit. The gates are of a reasonable size, but there are some fine moulding that I can almost guarantee will break before you get them off. Due to this, I would suggest using the parts as patterns for metal rod to be bent to shape.
In typical MiniArt fashion this is a multi-part offering when it comes to the chassis, and there are no wide connection points to help you get it straight, so be careful and take your time. Many of you will be disappointed that there is a large amount of photo etch used; however, a partial redemption, is that jigs have been supplied for bending some of the complex curved parts. Axle detail is generally good, but the front wheels are fixed in one position only. Driveshafts and the like are well detailed, and I like that MiniArt has zoomed in so that you can see where some of the small parts should fit. If you want to go the full hog then you will need to add fuel pipes and brake-lines. A full engine and gearbox is included, but again you will need to add wires and such.
The cab of the model incorporates a detailed firewall between the cab and engine bays, and having supplied the hood correctly you can if you wish display the engine bay which if you have gone to great lengths to get right. Inside the cab decals have been provided for the instruments. All of the required control instruments have been included, and are correctly located to my knowledge. The seat could do with a bit of roughing up, otherwise it is good to go. The cab doors are provided separately, and so can be shown open or closed to further enhance this option, both door cards and door furniture has been supplied separately and this has enabled the door windows to be shown in a wound up position. Some people have complained about the shape of the doors, but I have no personal issue with them. Photo etch has again been supplied to replicate wiper blades and arms and the side panels for the engine bay are pleasingly detailed. Something typical for vehicles during this period, the windscreen opens and this can be set in the open position if wished and includes the support bracketry for it. The light guards and radiator grille guard is all made from photo etch, and patterns have again been provided in order to bend these correctly. There are 2 plastic grilles included in the kit should you wish to go down that route, but these are not as fine as the photo etch offerings. A front mounted winch has been included, and the drive for this has also been replicated.
The bed of the truck again is heavy on the photo etch using very small parts to replicate fine details such as ties downs for the canvas covers. So if you are not at home with the use of photo etch, I would recommend that you avoid this release. However, if you are comfortable with using photo etch, you will have a very pleasingly detailed model, with MiniArt even including chain detail where needed. A canvas roof is also supplied, but if you are going to build the wrecker - why would you want to hide the winch system? But each to their own. The winch of the model appears to be accurately detailed when checked against online images. Chain has been included for the winch, and so this will look equally at home as either a stand alone model, or perhaps lifting the engine out of something. One of the few things that has not been included, but what I believe you need to have are some hand tools. MiniArt has produced a number of sets that has replicated this aspect, and it is a pity that they did not think to include aspects from one of these sets to replicate the hand tools.
MiniArt has provided 3 finishing options for this release:
182nd Infantry Regiment, American Division. Guadalcanal, 1942
3rd Armoured Ordnance Battalion, 3rd Armoured Division. France Summer 1944
4006th Track Company, Advanced Section Communication Zone. France, Autumn 1944