Newcomer Panda Model’s M-ATV MRAP is a tale of two emotions: On one hand is the excitement of building the M-ATV for the first time in plastic; on the other hand, the build is difficult and time-consuming — a turnoff for less-experienced modelers. But those up for the challenge will be rewarded with a very nice representation of an M-ATV.
The box contains 14 styrene frets comprising 484 parts. Also included are three photoetched-metal frets with 105 parts and five vinyl tires. If assembling 587 parts isn’t a chore, cleaning flash from just about all of those parts will be. Detail on the parts is decent, but in some areas it’s soft (e.g., the Oshkosh emblem on the wheel hubs).
The 22-page instructions include a parts tree breakdown as well as decal placement. It will take 24 steps to complete the M-ATV. I was disappointed to find no paint guide or color reference chart; you’ll need to check reference photos for painting. The instructions also lack directions on folding the photoetched metal; this is the most frustrating part of the build. Again, check your references for the shape of these parts to see how they need to be bent. Also, some parts are mislabeled; for example, Part PE-C-30 should be Part PE-B-30.
Like many armored vehicles, this build starts with the chassis. Panda did an excellent job in the amount of detail here. Pay close attention to this step, however, if you want all four tires touching the ground. The shock assembly (parts C-20 and C-44) is difficult to build seamlessly, but most of it is hidden by the tires when it’s complete.
The crew compartment is the next major assembly. A lot of photoetched metal is added in this area, and it really stands out, even though important details are missing, leaving the crew compartment fairly bare. For example, there are photoetched-metal radio shelves that look fantastic — but the interior is missing the radios and navigation equipment that make it look so busy and cramped in the real vehicles.
Assembly of the truck bed and body was pretty straightforward. The bed was accurate, and the photoetched metal really shines here. The body is correct, and all of the antennas are molded where they should be. The inclusion of a Duke antenna is a huge plus, and it’s flawlessly rendered. An optional Rhino anti-IED device can be mounted on the front bumper.
Assembly of the turret was a breeze. Detail on the .50-caliber weapon is a little soft; an aftermarket replacement might be a better option. The hatch can be left open or closed; I closed mine.
I painted my M-ATV with Testors Model Master U.S. Army/Marines sand overall and used Floquil grimy black for the black areas. The decals went down on a gloss coat with no problems, and I didn’t notice any silvering after a flat coat. These are fairly new vehicles, so I didn’t weather mine much. I lightly brushed the tires and wheel wells with pigments to liven things up a bit.
The model took about 65 hours to complete, a lot more than I had anticipated, with much of the time spent cleaning up the parts and deciphering the instructions. Once finished, however, this was an enjoyable build and a great-looking model. If you are interested in modern fighting vehicles and are not afraid of a challenge, you’ll find this build rewarding, too. But if you’re new to modeling, you might want to hold off until you’ve built a few more kits.
A version of this review appeared in the July 2012 FineScale Modeler.