Are models of MRAP´s out of fashion? With the end of Iraq and Afghanistan war, MRAP´are no longer of interest. That´s a shame since there are some types that can be kitted.
2 Likes
Not dead yet. These are still to come in 1/35:
M1220 Caiman 6x6 MRAP, I Love Kit 63569 (2025)
M1248 Caiman 6x6 MRAP, I Love Kit 63570 (2025)
U.S MRAP All Terrain Vehicle M1240A1 M-ATV, Rye Field Model RM-5145 (2025)
M-ATV Cargo Carrier, I Love Kit 63556 (2025)
And recent releases in 1/72, with probably more versions to follow:
U.S. Buffalo A1, T-Model TK7360 (2024)
Buffalo A1 MPCV, Vespid Models VS720035 (2024)
2 Likes
I just want to say that is the Tigers, Panthers and Shermans are still being built then the MRAPS are still good to go.
2 Likes
As I recall, around 2010/2012?, Kinetic and Panda were making various MRAP kits. I built a few of the Kinetic RG 31 (MK 1, 3, 5) variants, and several of the Panda MATV kits.
The Panda MATV kits were hard to build, and the instructions, not great - whereas, the current RFM MATV kits go together much better.
Kinetic and Legend both made MaxxPro kits - the Legend kit was resin and expensive, but went together pretty well. The Kinetic version was generally fine, but soft in detail.
Bronco makes a Buffalo MPCV kit, which builds up to a nice kit, but as I recall was a tedious build. I added the Lion Roar slat armor, which was also a lot of work! 
The kits are out there, but it might take some searching to find them.
Cheers
Nick
3 Likes
That pretty much hits the nail on the head. Raymond Chung wanted to produce kits that were good, but would not break the bank.
I gave him my references for all of their various MRAP kits, as well as the 1/48 fuel tanker.
Legend used the same Maxx Pro references and did the initial release of that kit, which was a great kit, but some folks just didn’t want to put the work into it necessary for a resin kit.
I have no love of Panda for several reasons - poor quality among them. But someone on here gave them my Cougar references, and I was never credited for it. The vehicle ID number is identical to the one in my walk around, on a Special Forces COP, at the ass end of Iraq. People had problems with the contruction of the hull halves of that kit, but there was a trick to it that made it go together easily.
I don’t believe we’ve seen a Buffalo with CROWS yet. Vajra produced the first resin kit, and I put a CROWS on it myself. Maybe a company out there still wants to tackle it. It would be ridiculously easy at this point. There are still severl RG variants begging to be done as well.
4 Likes
Wow. I missed those. But that’s very similarto the one in Mosul I photographed. No composite armor though - just straight bar armor. One for the list!
1 Like
This area of models is one of my biggest complaints about the modern US stuff being neglected, but my arms are sore from beating that dead horse so I’m going to walk away. I will only say can we please get better options other than Panda.
2 Likes
Talking about MRAPs, this is what I have now on my workbench: an M1238A1.
Lot of scratch building and 3d printed parts.
I’ll open a separate thread to provide more info and pictures.
4 Likes
I know I have photos of that. Possibly measuremnts. I’ll need a week if you’re interested.
1 Like
Easy Panda is gone. They might come back from Zimi as they have picked up the molds I believe.
2 Likes
And Kitty Hawk as well, for whom I was never a Fanboi.
2 Likes
I’m building this model using your reference photos, without them it would be mission impossible.
1 Like
I think I only have one Kittyhawk kit and got it last month. Might get the UH-1N but that might be about it from them.
1 Like
I did not know MRAPs existed until seeing a Buffalo (Bonecrusher) in the first Transformers movie back in 2007. Yes, I know.
MRAPs are cool vehicles but far outside my sphere of knowledge. I have never read or even seen a book covering the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq from a military perspective. Such books always focus on political events. The few I have are now very dated.
Two years back, I bought a Husky and replacement wheels because I thought it was a Buffalo. Whoops. It looks really weird so I kept it.
A few things keep me from building MRAPs. First, I am 25 years behind and do not have most ‘popular’ vehicles. Second, MRAPs have really complicated interiors, guts, and bar armor. I have exactly one completed truck to my name. Third, I have no emotional attachment to them.
Anyway, I wanted to respond to this discussion in support. I will get to it. I just need to find an easy one with hard plastic tires.
3 Likes
Ah. Well, I’m glad to know they’re helpful.
1 Like
Which Husky did u buy the British truck one or the US VMMD version? And which kit did u pick up.
2 Likes
I have built the Panda VMMD and it was not horrible. Sadly it was lost during a move but I have another one in the stash to eventually build out the full Canadian EROC suite.
1 Like
I walked away from it the kit had a unforgiveable mistake to me and i just could not look past that the AFV Club kit does better.
1 Like
Doug I couldn’t have said it better, I’m so focused on Vietnam armor right now that I don’t see any way I could get to the Buffaloes, Cougars, Bradleys or Abrams that I’d like to build. The MRAPs are quite popular on different TV shows and big screen movies now days and it makes me feel like the parade is passing me by for not having built one yet.
Cajun 
2 Likes