Introduction:
The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) - better known by its acronym Humvee - is one of the most recognizable military vehicles in the world. Developed in the 1980s by AM General, the Humvee quickly became a symbol of U.S. military strength, versatility, and innovation.
The Humvee is one of the most popular subjects in the modeling world, with numerous vehicle variants produced in different scales by several manufacturers, along with a ton of aftermarket sets to upgrade these models.
Review:
This review covers two slightly different sets of aftermarket 1/35 scale wheels produced by Scale X: HMMWV MT 12-bolt Ordinary Wheel Set (WM 35004) and HMMWV MT 12-bolt Sagged Wheel Set (WM 35004S). Both sets are designed to upgrade a range of 1/35 scale HMMWV kits on the market today.
The sets are packed in small cardboard boxes, both featuring an image of a Humvee model with the replacement wheels attached. Each box contains 3D printed parts safely secured in plastic bags, a “Thank you” note from Scale X and one of the company stickers.
Each set contains 5 wheels, each on its own printing support, as well as two types of adapters. The printing quality is really good with the details impressively defined and delivered. The numerous printing supports should be easy to remove and clean… a modeling blade and fine grit sandpaper is all it takes.
Both sets depict HMMWV wheels sporting Goodyear Wrangler MT 37x12.5R16.5 tire on 12 bolt rims. Wrangler MT was used on military Humvees from late 1990s and, although Goodyear received HMMWV fitment approval for its new Wrangler MT/R in 2007, the MT was still in use during the 2010s. Normally, the tire was installed on the vehicle so that when looking from the front, one side will face one direction and the other will face the other.
The Goodyear Wrangler MT has a diameter of 36.6" (930 mm) and a width of 12.4" (315 mm) and is mounted on a 16.5" rim.
Scale X did their homework well, as their 1/35 scale tires feature nicely reproduced tire tread pattern, with the sidewall details superbly delivered. The embossing corresponds well to that of the real tire and the inscriptions are clearly identifiable under high magnification. Very impressive! The rims look the part as well, with the 12 long bolts perfectly defined. The hubcaps, different for front and back wheels, are also nicely delivered. The dimensions of Scale X tires are 26,5 mm (diameter) and 9,0 mm (width), which means they are perfectly sized.
HMMWV MT 12-bolt Ordinary Wheel Set (WM 35004):
Here are the contents of the first set:
and the details of one of the wheels:
The 4 road wheels are labeled as A (front) and B (rear). The front and rear wheels are easily identifiable due to the specific front/rear hubcaps.
The set also includes a spare wheel.
HMMWV MT 12-bolt Sagged Wheel Set (WM 35004S):
Here are the contents of the sagged wheel set:
and the details of one of the wheels:
Again, the 4 road wheels are labeled as A (front) and B (rear). The front and rear wheels are easily identifiable due to the specific front/rear hubcaps.
The set also includes a spare wheel.
The difference:
The difference between the two sets is in the sag of the tires. As suggested in the title of the second set (HMMWV MT 12-bolt Sagged Wheel Set (WM 35004S)), the road wheels are depicted with a slight compression of the tire at the ground contact due to the weight of the heavily-loaded vehicle. The other set is for those who prefer a lighter, unloaded vehicle appearance (HMMWV MT 12-bolt Ordinary Wheel Set (WM 35004)).
Fitting the wheels:
Both sets are designed as a direct replacement forplastic wheels supplied with the Humvee kits from ICM and require nomodifications to fit ICM axle mounting points. As for fitting the wheels toAcademy models, the sets include two types of adaptors, one compatible withAcademy 13415 and the other for Academy 13241 kits.
Scale X claims the adapters are universal and can be helpful for mounting the wheels on kits from other manufacturers as well.
Conclusion:
Scale X has delivered two excellent aftermarket wheel sets that could significantly enhance the realism 1/35 scale Humvee models. With outstanding 3D printing quality, accurate dimensions, sharply defined details, and thoughtful inclusion of adapters for multiple kit manufacturers, both the ordinary and sagged versions offer modelers flexibility depending on the desired vehicle stance. Whether depicting a lightly loaded Humvee or a heavily equipped operational vehicle, these wheel sets are a highly recommended upgrade that will noticeably elevate the final appearance of your Humvee.
Thank you to Scale X for these review samples: https://scalex.art/en/