Fine Molds 1/20 US Army 1/4-ton 4x4 Truck Detail Set First Look
by Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | September 2011 | Manufacturer | Fine Molds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | US Army 1/4-ton 4x4 Truck Detail Set | Scale | 1/20 |
| Set Number | 82101 | Media | Photo-Etch |
| Pros | Sharper details for the Fine Molds Jeep kit | Cons | See text |
| Skill Level | Experienced | MSRP (USD) | ¥1440 (About $18.50 depending on exchange rates) |
First Look
Fine Molds released a photo-etch detail set to accompany the release of their 1/20 scale 'US Army 1/4-ton 4x4 Truck' (Jeep) kit. I mention that some of the detailing in the kit is soft and this detail set addresses most of those issues (save the lug nuts). This set contains a single fret of photo-etched parts which include:
- Spare tire mount
- Jerry Can mounts
- Tie-down loops
- Tie-down straps
- Bumperettes
- Light guards
- Windshield wiper blades
- Placards
Most of the details in this set will be useful though you'll want to check your references to see if the Jeep you're modeling was equipped with those details at the time of the photo. In the case of the placards, these are not color-printed photo-etch so you want be able to use them as-is. The real placards are black and silver with the lettering stamped into the placard. You could take the kit decal placards and overlay them onto these placards to enhance the appearance, or you could simply place them on the instrument panel and paint over them like some vehicles that were hastily repainted in the field.
The instructions in this set are the typical 'put the part somewhere over here' graphics that will require a bit of research and patience to get right.
This set is definitely recommended!
My sincere thanks to HobbyLink Japan for this review sample!