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Built Review
135
Stryker Crew
US Stryker Brigade OIF ACU Crew (2)
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by: Ted Hayward [ TED_HAYWARD ]

introduction

To complement the ever-expanding range of Stryker kits released by AFV Club, Hobby Fan continues to produce a number of useful and highly-detailed modern era resin figure and accessory sets. As with all Hobby Fan sets, the figures are dedicated to a specific AFV Club model. As such, the fit is superb, with hands resting naturally upon hatches, without the need for repositioning limbs. These figures are designed by the same world-renowned sculptor responsible for all the Hobby Fan resin figures.

contents

Included in the usual Hobby Fan packaging are two full figures wearing ACU uniforms with the current CVC combat helmets and Interceptor body armor: A commander and a crewman armed with a M240 belt-fed light machine gun.

Both 4-piece figures (one-piece torso/legs) are complete with holstered sidearms (separate parts). The single-piece head/helmets are superbly-detailed with believable facial expressions and excellent definition. Added bonuses are accessory items for the Remote Weapons System: canvas grenade launcher shrouds, and a shell case catch bin.

construction

If working with resin for the first time seems daunting, use it as an excuse to purchase a rotary grinding (Dremel) tool - which will make the removal of pour stubs a breeze. My set was free of flash or air bubbles, with no moulding seams to be removed. One needs to exercise extreme care with the very fragile barrel and ammunition belt of the M240.

After priming with ordinary Tamiya flat enamel, these figures will be ready for painting with acrylics or oils. To depict a modern camo scheme of the ACU uniforms, I highly recommend purchasing a decal for 1/35th scale figures, available from an aftermarket company such as Meister Chronicle Shinsengumi.

parting shots

I spent an enjoyable few hours assembling and posing these crew members. Adding these figures has transformed my finished Stryker. Stay tuned as I examine the whole range of 1/35th scale Hobby Fan accessory items now available for these very popular kits.



SUMMARY
Highs: An easy addition to a very popular kit.
Lows: The price of resin is higher than most plastic sets.
Verdict: Makes a great kit into a show-winner with little effort.
Percentage Rating
95%
  Scale: 1:35
  Mfg. ID: 579
  Suggested Retail: 21.99
  PUBLISHED: Dec 27, 2009
  NATIONALITY: United States
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 92.73%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 88.86%

Our Thanks to Hobby Fan!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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About Ted Hayward (ted_hayward)
FROM: TAIPEI, TAIWAN / 台灣

From B.C., Canada. Living in Taiwan for past several years. I've been building kits for as long as memory serves -armor, aircraft, cars. Big fan of 1/16th scale armor kits. Currently serving as poster boy for working with CA adhesives in a well-ventilated area. My first kit was the positively awful ...

Copyright ©2021 text by Ted Hayward [ TED_HAYWARD ]. All rights reserved.



Comments

The figures are very good Jason! As Arnold says the only negative is the faces, which to me look like something out of a manga comic! Now, im not having a go at Ted here, but I really wish that some of these afv club/Hobby fan items were passed on to people, more suited to review them. Theres nothing necessarily wrong with Ted's review, but he seems to have a complete monopoly on reviewing their items, and in cases such as these figures they should in my opinion be based onto someone more suited to reviewing them. Had these figures had accuracy problems I suspect Ted's review would not of picked up on them, after all ive never really seen Ted get involved in any of the modern subject discussions on this site, which leads me to believe this isnt his chosen area of interest?
DEC 27, 2009 - 06:53 AM
On that note, the figures are wearing current CVC helmets, not the MICH TC 2000 series as mentioned in the review.
DEC 27, 2009 - 07:55 AM
Thanks very much guys for your input on the kit....good info to have. Too bad a comparison hasn't been done between the various M240s available in resin and injection. Very good about the helmets....I didn't think they looked like the TC 2000.....knowledge is power....especially in a review.
DEC 27, 2009 - 11:53 AM
The M240s provided by both AFV Club and HF are both "B" mods, only difference is the scale and the inclusion of rail mounts and the Elcan scope on the AFV version. The AFV version is only found in the AFV Club M1134 kit.
DEC 27, 2009 - 12:45 PM
Thanks for the info on the helmets, gentlemen....I hope I corrected it to read properly.
DEC 27, 2009 - 02:10 PM
The AFV versoin can also be found in their new stryker update set i think. Cheers Alex
DEC 28, 2009 - 04:50 AM
The AFV versoin can also be found in their new stryker update set i think. Cheers Alex[/quote] I believes only the .50 cal is included from the M1128 kit in the update set. None of the package pics depict a M240.
DEC 28, 2009 - 06:24 AM
The AFV versoin can also be found in their new stryker update set i think. Cheers Alex[/quote] I believes only the .50 cal is included from the M1128 kit in the update set. None of the package pics depict a M240.[/quote] part of what's inside #Luckymodel it looks like it is inside, another reason to buy it
JAN 01, 2010 - 07:34 AM
That's cool! The 240 and Platt Mount. Neeedless to say, I already have more than a few dozen of the 240s at my disposal. The included horn is welcome too.
JAN 04, 2010 - 12:43 AM
   
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