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Armor/AFV
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
REVIEW
VBCI "Afghanistan"
barkingdigger
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
ARMORAMA
#013
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England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: June 20, 2008
KitMaker: 3,981 posts
Armorama: 3,403 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - 01:54 AM UTC
Olivier Carneau builds Heller''s latest French IFV and walks us through its strengths and weaknesses.

Link to Item



If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
18Bravo
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Colorado, United States
Joined: January 20, 2005
KitMaker: 7,219 posts
Armorama: 6,097 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - 04:19 AM UTC
Very nice review.
It looks as if Heller certainly has come a long way.
I'm glad you took the time to note the kit's deficiencies - I might actually want one of these, but have never seen one in person.
The thing I have seen is the Qinetiq RPG net, and that is going to be tough even for aftermarket companies to pull off. Even without the hex blocks, that netting is way out of scale.
I'm thinking the blocks would almost have to be set in some sort of squash mold with very fine photo etch mesh already in place. Another option, no wait, I'm going to have to run this by someone because I think this second option will work!
Thanks for the review.
flugwuzzi
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Lower Austria, Austria
Joined: November 02, 2007
KitMaker: 633 posts
Armorama: 599 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - 04:56 AM UTC
An excellent review, Olivier. Good to see that Heller raised their standards.

Thanks for pointing out the differences for building a UNIFIL vehichle (which I want to do).
Are there any UN-Decals for the UNIFIL deployment in this kit?

I´m sure some aftermarket stuff (resin-wheels, pe-sets etc.) will follow soon.

Really great how many excellent modern kits were released the last months!

Cheers
Walter

pilote14
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Pas-de-Calais, France
Joined: November 01, 2010
KitMaker: 459 posts
Armorama: 432 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - 06:20 AM UTC
hi !
The box is ONLY for an Afghanistan model, but...
i build an ONU VBCI but no stickers in the box you must paint or print them...
Little differences : armor plate front and rear luggage rack, no minimi...
look at my building post
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - 06:21 AM UTC
Thanks for the comments. I tried to mention all the mistakes that Heller made but it's really good to see the new staff is eager to play with the big companies.

There are no UN decals in the box as it is only focused on the Afghanistan version. For sure some will be released as the markings are quite simple. The only "difficulty" would be to get correct ID plates to depict an accurate vehicle. Of course the MLC marking must be 31.
I agree with Robert about the nets. Even if the supports are simplified they can do the trick but the mesh should be replaced. Perhaps there is a suitable reference in the Aber PE mesh range.

Olivier
seb43
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Paris, France
Joined: August 30, 2005
KitMaker: 2,315 posts
Armorama: 2,158 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - 07:50 AM UTC
Dear Olivier
Thanks you so much to take your time to write this review.
Very nicely written.
And hope that some AM company will take their time to release some extras like wheels, barrel for the main gun and whynot Qinetiq mesh.

Hope to have a new VAB from Heller or someone else.
Thanks again
Seb
Karl187
#284
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Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Joined: October 04, 2006
KitMaker: 3,094 posts
Armorama: 2,942 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - 11:38 PM UTC
Many thanks for the great review Olivier!
10digitdeeo
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: April 15, 2010
KitMaker: 109 posts
Armorama: 80 posts
Posted: Thursday, January 24, 2013 - 06:13 AM UTC
Great review! This is much better than their VAB!

Perhaps a solution for the netting is just cutting small styrene round rod into shape, and gluing it on each corner?
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