Introduction
The LRDG or Long-Range Desert Group was a scouting and raiding unit created in 1940 to probe behind Italian lines in North Africa. While history has tended to emphasize the role of the Afrika Korp in the theater, the British were fighting the Italians first there. The group fought throughout the North Africa campaign, and later in Italy and the eastern Mediterranean. At the conclusion of hostilities, the unit requested to transfer to the Asian theater to help fight the Japanese, but was instead disbanded.
Interest in the LRDG has been strong among modelers, and now Thunder Model is bringing out a series of vehicles used by these intrepid blokes. This review is for their new Limited Edition LRDG CMP F30 truck with a 37mm Bofors gun mounted on the back.
Contents
Inside the usual Thunder Model brightly-colored box is:
- Five (5) gray plastic sprues
- Five (5) resin tires
- Four (4) bags of 3D-printed resin enhanced parts
- Two (2) 3D-printed resin figures
- One sheet of decals
- Two (2) frets of photo-etched parts (essential to the build and not enhancements)
- One copper wire
- A 12-page booklet of historical details and paint schemes
- A 16-page B&W instruction booklet
The Review
Thunder Models has come to play.
Their new kits raise the level of detail and accuracy to a new level, with perhaps a sacrifice of some buildability. For example, the photo-etch is not present to enhance the kit, but to build it, so modelers who don't like brass should perhaps avoid these models. On the other hand, the PE isn't so extensive as to make the build difficult, just a bit more challenging. However, the results are well worth the effort.
The topic is not "another Panther or StuG," and therefore of immediate interest to those modelers focused on World War 2 and the North African campaign. The moldings are crisp with little or no flash, and I did not detect extensive knockout holes that will require filling.
Conclusion
Thunder Model clearly is raising the bar on kits by offering true multi-media options. I'm very excited to build this kit and see how it translates into a full model. I recommend this and the other Thunder Model kits I'm seeing hit the market. Other manufacturers could learn a few things about offering value-for-money.
Thanks to Thunder Model for providing this review sample. Please mention you saw it reviewed here on Armorama when ordering your own.