Mirage 1/72 Grant Mk.I Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

The US-made Grant and Lee tanks made up the main tank forces of the US Army, though as war approached, the Army sought more modern designs which culminated into the Sherman and Stuart tank families.

In the meantime, the Soviets and British were in need of war material to hold off the advancing German Wehrmacht. The US responded with the Lend-Lease program in which tanks, aircraft and other needed supplies were shipped over to the war. The British used the Grant tanks in North Africa to support General Montgomery's efforts against the Afrika Korps.

Mirage continues to turn out some beautifully detailed kits. This latest represents the Grant Mk.I as used by the British in North Africa. The kit is impressively detailed for a 1/72 kit, with the parts provided on four trees. Molded in light gray styrene, the kit definitely is packed with detail.

The suspension is every bit as detailed as its 1/35 scale counterparts. Don't let the scale fool you. Where the larger kits have one-piece upper and lower hulls, Mirage builds up their kits by facets, which makes for a little more complex build, but a great deal more control over the results too.

Photo-etched parts are provided for the rear engine deck, the side access doors, and other details. White metal parts are included for the 30 caliber machine gun and a partial figure of General Montgomery posed in the open hatch of his tank.

Markings are provided for the tank used by 'Monty' during the Grant's use in the North African campaign.

This is a nice-looking kit and with the VIP markings and figure for General Montgomery, this will build into a nice addition to the scale battlefield.

For a look at a build-up of this kit, check out the build article here on Cybermodeler Online!

My sincere thanks to Squadron Mail Order for this review sample!