Introduction

With a crew of seven the M7 Priest tended to carry a lot of external stowage. Photos show both the glacis and the rear deck piled high with all manner of military gear. This set from Resicast provides enough stowage for two vehicles

Review

The set comes in a strong cardboard box containing an A4 instruction sheet and 4 zip lock bags containing 31 resin pieces. Mine were cast in an olive green resin.

The set contains the following:

• Rear stowage block A, this is built up of ammo boxes, tarps and compo crates.

• Rear stowage block B, Built up of tarpaulins, cardboard containers and topped with a biscuit tin.

• A large bundle of tarpaulins cast together.

• Front Stowage block C -Tarpaulins bound together by rope.

• Front Stowage block D-Tarpaulins piled behind an iron stowage rail.

• A .50 calibre Browning Mg wrapped in a cover.

• 4 loose 3in. mortar ammo boxes.

• 2 separate different tarpaulins.

• 2 loose compo ration crates.

• Small Stowage box.

• Ammo box.

• A .303 steel ammo box.

• 6 cardboard ammo tubes.

• 1 cable reel.

• 1 wooden105 ammo box.

• I folded chair.

• 2 sets of markers.

• 2 sets of 2 Jerricans cast together in a steel rack.


The instructions come as an A4 sheet printed on both sides. There is a photographic key to the stowage parts as well as photos showing different combinations of the stowage in place on an M7 Priest kit.

The casting is very good with no air bubbles and superb detail especially on the large resin tarpaulin bundles. I think these cast together large stowage bundles are a good idea and look far more natural to me than a lot of separate small items piled together on a model. Of course it is possible to make up bundles like this from sheets of rolled out putty with the various bits of clutter pressed into place, and I have done so in the past, but these days I prefer to let companies like Resicast do the hard work to which I can then add unique individual touches (or not.) There are a couple of other stowage items I would like to have seen included in this set such as some AFV helmets and UK style small packs but there is certainly enough here to give anyone’s model a “lived in” look.

The Jerricans are cast with the handles in place and a thin film of resin needs to be removed from them. The covered .50 calibre MG is a nice idea but I couldn't find any seam or fold where the cover ended or began. The cable reel will either have to have detail carved in where the casting plug is removed or be placed so that this spot is hidden.

The casting plugs are not as prominent in this set as they are in other Resicast sets with only rear stowage block A's plug covering the whole base. I haven't tackled this yet but with similar pieces I have found the best way to remove the plug is to place a full sheet of coarse grade wet and dry paper on a flat surface and move the piece around in a circular motion. Keep the piece wet by continuous dipping in water to avoid dust.

I removed the plugs on both the front stowage blocks to test fit them. These pieces have the imprint of the three piece transmission on their rear and are a perfect fit for the Academy Priest, although if using front stowage block D then leave the Academy part D52, the grouser stowage box, off the glacis. The other pieces require a sharp razor saw and some elbow grease to remove their plugs. As always the usual precautions should be taken when working with resin because, to paraphrase my father; “You can’t buy spare lungs in Woolworths.”

Conclusion

This is marked as a “UK Priest Stowage set no. 1” and what makes it particular as such are the various British crates and stowage boxes but certainly the front stowage bundles and other bits and pieces could be fitted to an American Vehicle without any qualms. This is another excellent set in Resicast’s line of stowage for UK/Commonwealth vehicles.