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Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
Modern Armor, AFVs, and Support vehicles.
Hosted by Darren Baker
Academy M1151
Jack_Turmoil
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Michigan, United States
Joined: February 09, 2016
KitMaker: 80 posts
Armorama: 78 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 11, 2018 - 05:11 AM UTC
My father gave my this Academy M1151 as a gift. I found it to be a fun and easy build, similar to a Tamiya kit. I'm building it straight out of the box. I'd recommend this kit to anyone who wants a modern and accurate HMMWV family kit. I might have to pick up another one of these and it was so fun and easy to build.

A few months prior to starting my build, I took some photos of 2 USMC M1151s at an Air Base Open house. I have to say Academy did a good job in regard to accuracy. At first I confused with the choice of 2 half plastic tires, versus the traditional "rubber" style. Having looked at my reference images, the only option to pull these off would be the 2 piece ones or resin. You cannot capture that level of detail in "rubber".

It is about 95% complete at this point. I used a combination of Tamiya, Vallejo and the new AK Real Color line of paint. I found the AK Real Color to have excellent colors and very easy application. It thins well with Tamiya thinner or lacquer thinner.


















bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
Armorama: 5,204 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 11, 2018 - 12:45 PM UTC
Hello
while you can be happy with the Academy kit, it is not as accurate as you think. The main issue is the suspension being too high.
I remember Vodnik stating the angle of the hood being wrong as well.
However, the most important is to have fun and, yes, the plastic tires are better than rubber/vinyle ones.

You've done a nice job with it.
Olivier
MakiWawa
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Warszawa, Poland
Joined: December 17, 2014
KitMaker: 448 posts
Armorama: 448 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 11, 2018 - 07:08 PM UTC
I will wait for the final effect, but there are still many alterations and corrections to painting.
pattesmaq
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Haute-Alpes, France
Joined: June 27, 2012
KitMaker: 80 posts
Armorama: 80 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 11, 2018 - 07:38 PM UTC
Hello
super model, AK REAL paint gives a good rendering. I mounted this model a while ago, it is true that the suspension is a little high. I liked the editing, I just changed the wheels for those resin. Good luck for the future
patrick
Jack_Turmoil
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Michigan, United States
Joined: February 09, 2016
KitMaker: 80 posts
Armorama: 78 posts
Posted: Monday, February 12, 2018 - 02:25 AM UTC
I should have probably written "pretty accurate", instead of accurate. I was aware of the suspension issue, but it isn't a deal breaker for me. As most of us are aware, or should be, there are no perfect kits. Each has some accuracy issues.

Thank you for the compliments Oliver & tesolat. Hopefully, I can finish it by this weekend.
BruceJ8365
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Kansas, United States
Joined: December 25, 2012
KitMaker: 441 posts
Armorama: 441 posts
Posted: Tuesday, February 13, 2018 - 07:49 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hello
while you can be happy with the Academy kit, it is not as accurate as you think. The main issue is the suspension being too high.
I remember Vodnik stating the angle of the hood being wrong as well.
However, the most important is to have fun and, yes, the plastic tires are better than rubber/vinyle ones.

You've done a nice job with it.
Olivier




Looks great!

One of the accuracy issues is that the M1151 doesn’t have the elevation stand for the gunner to stand on. Could just leave it off and all is well.
amoz02t
#192
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Kentucky, United States
Joined: November 25, 2009
KitMaker: 1,383 posts
Armorama: 1,281 posts
Posted: Tuesday, February 13, 2018 - 08:45 AM UTC
Looks good! Thanks for posting.
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
Armorama: 5,204 posts
Posted: Tuesday, February 13, 2018 - 12:46 PM UTC

Quoted Text

One of the accuracy issues is that the M1151 doesn’t have the elevation stand for the gunner to stand on. Could just leave it off and all is well.



Thank you for the info Bruce.

Olivier
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