There hasn’t been a Humvee for a long time, and since it’s a hot topic on the market, I bought two copies. For someone who has never built a Humvee and wants to have one in their collection, this may be the right choice. For me, who expects more, it’s not so great. Advantages of the set:
the biggest of them is the fact that this model appeared in this version. The existing cargo produced by Italeri was suitable for use with soft doors and tarpaulins for transplantation to Tamiya. M1097 version available in A2 variant (nice)
there is a bumper with correct mounting
nicely reproduced dashboard and engine cover
there are embossments on the wheel arches on the loading side - Tamiya didn’t have this
there is a plate separating the luggage compartment from the driver and passenger
well-rendered headband B
disadvantages of the set
we get a complete nude - at least some railing benches would be useful in the cargo (these can also be picked up from the above-mentioned Italeri)
tires without inscriptions on the side - to be replaced with resins or Bronco
no table or radio
seats close to the correct ones
decals - very poor. Those on the dashboard are colorful stripes without visible print. To exchange
the biggest drawback, however, is the design of the whole - Tamiya, Academy in the M1151 and Bronco made the entire bathtub. In ICM we have loose sides, floor and elements of rear wheel arches. We’ll see how it turns out.
rear bumper - it’s nice to have it, but the original one is empty inside. The set includes a full cast. Pity.
What can you build with it, apart from boxy cargo?
add railings, benches, possibly a roof over the cabin and possibly doors - hard ones from Tamiya, soft ones from Italeri.
a good base for the polish
version of Tumak 4 - you need a tarpaulin, a front cover (kangaroo), you need to build a frame for the canisters and a spare wheel holder on the rear bumper from scratch. Of course, there is still fun with the UPK cage on the chassis, but this is an element of every Polish version.
ICM has done this with other kits where they figure out all the versions they plan to make or close to it and seem to sell the least popular in their mind first.
I am no business major or in sales but which way do you think you would sell more of this kit.
Release it now or after you did the line of command, high back, Tow or Avenger versions.
I think you would sell more with this roll out plus as we have seen with other kits in their catalog changes can happen along the way to improve the kit so when you get to the others the base kit is better. The Studebaker release is a good example. First run had funky tires, third or fourth boxing (forget the exact release number) had a new hood. I think other improvements were made. YMMV.
Car (automotive) manufacturers usually release the most luxurious one first.
Peeling the market onion starting with the richest customers, those who can afford it buy the top of the line version with all the fancy details and chrome trim. Those who can barely afford it might buy it and save on other costs. Thos who can’t afford it will simply have to wait.
Then comes the slightly less fancy version, thos who could barely afford the most expensive have already spent their cash and might regret not waiting. Those who couldn’t affordthe first version may buy or decide to wait for the really cheap variants.
Selling the cheapo cars first results in all customers spending less money than could theoretically be squeezed out of them.
Plastic models follow another logic.
Those who want to build a specific version will buy the plain vanilla no frills kit and then start scratch building. Waiting for the ultimate version may result in having to buy the plain vanilla later, possibly at a higher price (now OOP). If this builder has bought the plain vanilla version he might be tempted to buy the more specific versions later.
If the producer releases the specialised kit first the customer might only buy that one.
Pull in some cash with the plain vanilla to pay for those sprues, test the market and then spend money on the molds for the specialised sprues.
It doesn’t take much philosophy to build this Humvee. I’m thinking about the cargo part. Visible mold joints on the frame are not a problem because they will disappear into the chassis components
I really like this version. The interior details are awesome and way above any previous one. Also, it is perfect for what I plan to build with it; a Ft Irwin/NTC OC HMMWV. All I have to add are the top and some radios, along with gear.
Is there some kind of box (coolong fan shroud) inside/under the radiator?
Could that plate lying flat on the frame be the bottom of such a “box”?
The frame extensions left and right of the radiator are present, the bottom of the box and
the rear wall holding the fan is there but there is NO radiator at all.
Step 56 puts the hood and fron bumper on the “chassis”
