Brokeneagle
Master at Arms
[article=intro]874[/article]
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Kinetic M-ATV Build Review
- Thread starter Brokeneagle
- Start date
Brokeneagle
Master at Arms
progress on the drivers cab.
Fit has been OK, but some parts that are less solid (not large sheet plastic areas) do not fit well.
I think at this point in the review I judge that they have gone down a similar path to the mid series of armoured vehicles from Dragon (specifically the German MK 4 Panzer range). Dragon went overboard with the detail (especially the suspension)to the point where the average modeller became 'bogged down' in the kit - but at least the detail they offered was worth the trouble. They then got smart about what to deliver to who and started producing the 'Smart Kit series) they approached the detail in a better way.
Kinetic have done something similar here and have gone down into the detail but have not delivered on the quality of the smaller parts - eg the door handles are provided as separate pieces within the assembly, but are really just a lump of plastic - so why not just mold them as one piece?
INTERIOR CAB
The cab has a nice look and feel and the cab is quite extensively detailed, however the fit of the sides and the istuction guide was not as hot. - the box structure of the cab did not fit very smoothly around the interior detail or just as a box.
windscreen
Front panel upper and bonnet.
-This was nicely molded and very robust. The grill is provided as a nice PE part with the front panel providing separate headlight detail.
DOORS
Doors fit nicely into the cab frame without issues and provide nice simple details.
The hinge work is very nice and the clear window parts fit very well.
box on rear of cab
The final part of this review is a visual look at the roof turret parts and the accessories.
The instructions are reasonably detailed and here you can see the high amount of individual parts, which is a common theme throughout this model.
Another aspect that I really liked was the section in the instructions that held clear reference photos from the real vehicle - very helpful for building from the kit and scratch enhancement.
THE FINAL WORD.
A nicely detailed kit that would fit into the mid range of quality/ precision within the model manufactures. The detail is there but sometimes a little lacking but can be easily added to with scratch work using the reference pics.
Instructions were ok but were difficult to follow in a few places.
The fit of the kit was average with a few areas that needed additional work.
Not a kit I would recommend to a beginner.
I would give this a 6/10.
Fit has been OK, but some parts that are less solid (not large sheet plastic areas) do not fit well.
I think at this point in the review I judge that they have gone down a similar path to the mid series of armoured vehicles from Dragon (specifically the German MK 4 Panzer range). Dragon went overboard with the detail (especially the suspension)to the point where the average modeller became 'bogged down' in the kit - but at least the detail they offered was worth the trouble. They then got smart about what to deliver to who and started producing the 'Smart Kit series) they approached the detail in a better way.
Kinetic have done something similar here and have gone down into the detail but have not delivered on the quality of the smaller parts - eg the door handles are provided as separate pieces within the assembly, but are really just a lump of plastic - so why not just mold them as one piece?
INTERIOR CAB
The cab has a nice look and feel and the cab is quite extensively detailed, however the fit of the sides and the istuction guide was not as hot. - the box structure of the cab did not fit very smoothly around the interior detail or just as a box.
windscreen
Front panel upper and bonnet.
-This was nicely molded and very robust. The grill is provided as a nice PE part with the front panel providing separate headlight detail.
DOORS
Doors fit nicely into the cab frame without issues and provide nice simple details.
The hinge work is very nice and the clear window parts fit very well.
box on rear of cab
The final part of this review is a visual look at the roof turret parts and the accessories.
The instructions are reasonably detailed and here you can see the high amount of individual parts, which is a common theme throughout this model.
Another aspect that I really liked was the section in the instructions that held clear reference photos from the real vehicle - very helpful for building from the kit and scratch enhancement.
THE FINAL WORD.
A nicely detailed kit that would fit into the mid range of quality/ precision within the model manufactures. The detail is there but sometimes a little lacking but can be easily added to with scratch work using the reference pics.
Instructions were ok but were difficult to follow in a few places.
The fit of the kit was average with a few areas that needed additional work.
Not a kit I would recommend to a beginner.
I would give this a 6/10.
Been a long time since we had a full on build review Ian, well done sir! 
Are you going to finish the kit?
Are you going to finish the kit?
