Introduction
When the United States decided in 1965 to jump with both feet into the Vietnam civil war, it sent in not only ground troops and aircraft, but also an enormous "tail" to support that "tooth." The Army created a massive infrastructure of bases, airfields, roads and other projects that required moving vast quantities of earth.
Enter the Clark 290M scraper.
The Clark Equipment Company had been making pulling-things for the government since just after World War I, including aircraft tugs, forklifts, and heavy earth-moving equipment like the 290M. Intended as a stand-alone dozer, but often pulling along a large scraper, these behemoths were used in a variety of locations, but especially Vietnam.
I'm pleased to report Hobby Link Vietnam has reproduced the 290M (along with a separate kit of the scraper coming soon) that is printed in 3D resin plastic in 1/35th scale as part of their project to recreate the United States Army motor pool of the war.
Contents
Inside the usual brown cardboard Hobby Link box are twelve Ziploc baggies filled with beautifully-detailed orange 3D resin plastic parts, along with instructions and decals.
The Review
I am often asked by modelers whether Hobby Link kits are difficult to build. Having put together several of them, my answer is "not really." While probably not suitable for a beginner modeler because of the need to use CA glue instead of the more-forgiving styrene cement, the kits nevertheless are really more like styrene models: lots of parts that fit together exceedingly well, but which are made from 3D-printed resin. This manufacturing technique is reshaping the modeling world, with levels of detail and precision available to small manufacturers like Hobby Link that translate into beautiful kits. The cottage industry nature of 3D resin printing also encourages short-run kits, often of unusual offerings that would never be tackled by conventional styrene makers.
For example, AFV Club has released some trucks from Vietnam and a dump truck, but the Caterpillar graders and rollers needed to build an airfield are the province of Hobby Link.
And the results are eye-popping. Detaching the parts from the 3D-printed sprue trees takes some care not to break any, but the manufacturer even include spares for delicate items. I recommend a fine-toothed micro saw from CMK or other makers, since sprue nippers can occasionally distort or break fine parts. But otherwise a Hobby Link kit builds up like a Trumpeter or AFV Club model: not as "builds itself," but "goes together very nicely."
There appears to be little or no warpage of the parts, a common issue with 3D printing. I noticed a little warpage on the cabin roof, but if so, it can be fixed by plunging the part into boiling water for 10 seconds and straightening the part gently. Another issue with 3D printing is grooving; it's a by-product of the printing process that lays down "threads" of plastic in rows, sometimes producing grooves on flat surfaces. The printers are getting better, and Hobby Link seems to have a state-of-the-art one. Before final painting, be sure to prime your model and check for grooves. They can usually be handled with some filler putting or gentle sanding.
Super-detailers may be disappointed since these models come with all the features you might want. The pneumatic hoses used to control the scraper, for example, are included. The ignition harness for the engine's spark plugs is not included, and the engine is exposed to view, so that opens a chance to show off your advance modeling skills. And the engine is in one piece, which both makes it easier to assemble the kit and disappointing for those who want to get lost in the details.
Hobby Link instructions are basic, mostly visual, and in this case lay out the construction method in a straightforward manner.
The decals provided are basic, but will go on nicely. They are no especially intense, so will work best if you plan on weathering your vehicle. Given the truly awful nature of Vietnam's weather, even a dozer fresh off the boat would already show considerable fading.
Conclusion
The good news is that Hobby Link is recreating the Vietnam War motor pool vehicle-by-vehicle. With AMPS declaring their 2026 theme for the national convention "the Vietnam Wars," modelers have a head-start on getting ready for the show. I plan on building this behemoth soon and doing a build review to supplement this in-box one.
Thanks to Hobby Link and Wannamaker Hobbies for providing this review sample. Please be sure to say you saw it reviewed on Armorama when ordering your own copy.
The scraper that was pulled by the 290 is being released soon by Hobby Link.