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1/144 Heavy Metal!


The wife and I got home quite late last night and after a good dinner highlighted by her delicious fern salad, we killed some time before heading off to bed. She had some emails to write and so I searched around the bodega for something I could build really quick. I found some 1/144 kits that I had picked up a few years back and decided that they wer perfect for a modelling quickfix.


First up were some Soviet T-72 M2's from a maker named Mini Hobby Models. I think it's a Chinese maker. The T-72 was the most common tank used by the Warsaw Pact from the 1970s to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Iraqi T-72s that fought in the First Gulf War in 1991 were outclassed by western tanks but whether their loss was due to the tank's deficiencies, poor Iraqi training/doctrine or both, is up to debate.

The model's a pretty easty build but the plastic is of low-quality. Even though the details were crisp, the sprue locator marred some of the details and rescuing the surface from damage would be difficult at best. Pretty simple assembly though, just attach the tracks to the chassis, add some fuel drums, pop in the turret to the hull and voila -- a t-72! The box has two tanks as well as decals for both.

Next were US M1A1 Abrams. I had one set with mine-rollers and another without. I have a few of the same models with minerollers already so I assembled two boxes worth while leaving the mine-rollers off. The M1 Abrams is a third-generation main battle tank currently in use by the U.S. The Abrams is highly mobile, designed for modern armored ground warfare, is fast, well armed and heavily armored. Three main versions of the M1 Abrams have been deployed -- the M1, M1A1, and M1A2 -- incorporating improved armament, protection and electronics. The M1A3 is currently being developed.


I also broke open a few 1/144 Trumpeter Amtracks, namely one each of the the LVTP-7 Amphibious Carrier, the AAV7-A1 and the AAVP7-A1 Amphibious Assault Vehicles.

These vehicles are used by the USMC Assault Amphibian Battalions to land surface assault elements during amphibious operations to inland objectives and to conduct mechanized operations and related combat support in subsequent mechanized operations ashore. these are the three models shown:

  • LVTP-7: Original series introduced from 1972. Originally armed with a M-85 .50cal machine gun and Mk-19 Grenade launcher.
  • LVTP-7A1: 1982 upgraded. Renamed to AAV-7A1 from 1984.
  • AAVP-7A1 (Personnel): This is the most common AAV, as it carries a turret equipped with an M2HB .50 caliber heavy machine gun, and a Mk19 40mm automatic grenade launcher. It carries four crew radios as well as the AN/VIC-2 intercom system. It is capable of carrying 25 combat equipped Marines in addition to the crew of 4: driver, crew chief/vehicle commander, gunner, and rear crewman.

Each box contained one vehicle. Assembly was also fast but the plastic was way better than the previous brand mentioned above.Decals are also supplied. Nifty little models. will definitely pick up some more soon.


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