AFV Club 1/35 Upgrade Equipment for Stryker Series First Look
By Cookie Sewell
| Date of Review | December 2009 | Manufacturer | AFV Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Upgrade Equipment for Stryker Series | Scale | 1/35 |
| Kit Number | 35S59 | Primary Media | 184 parts (141 in olive drab styrene, 25 etched brass, 18 clear styrene) |
| Pros | Clean detail parts to upgrade Trumpeter kits and replace weak spots in those kits | Cons | Redundant parts for AFV Club kits as sprues are included in those kits |
| Skill Level | Basic | MSRP (USD) | $16-20 |
First Look
There are times that a kit of upgrade parts comes out and one has to wonder what the subject needing upgrade actually was supposed to be. This is one of them, as for the most part these are standard sprues in the AFV Club line of Stryker combat vehicle family kits. The only possible function I see for them is an upgrade to some of the lesser parts in the Trumpeter kits (such as Kit No. AF 35157 which is a much better M151 RWS for the infantry Stryker variant than what comes in the Trumpeter kit).
The sprues inside the box are from previous AFV Club Stryker kits: the basic infantry Stryker (AF 35126), the MGS (AF 35128), the M1130 CV/TACP command vehicle (AF 35130) and the M1134 ATGM launcher (AF35134). As they are all present in the basic kits, unless you flubbed one of the parts from your kit and need a replacement they probably will not do you much good except as spares. There is a special sheet of etched brass included but only one part is indicated as used (M1, which is an antenna base).
Overall this kit may be of use if you need two nice machine guns and a tow bar or small details for modern US vehicles, but other than that it is only of use to upgrade Trumpeter kits.
Sprue Layout:
- G 16 AF35128 - M2HB .50 cal machine gun
- J 18 AF35126 - (clear styrene) viewers and headlights
- N 39 AF 35130 - antenna fittings, electronic details
- N 31 AF35128 - tow bar, hull fittings, suspension guards, spare wheel
- M 25 AF 35S59 - etched brass
- P 55 AF35134 - attached details, M240B 7.62mm machine gun, spare wheel