Hobby Boss 1/35 Meng Shi 1.5 ton Military Light Utility Vehicle Kit First Look
By Dave Manter
| Date of Review | March 2013 | Manufacturer | Hobby Boss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Meng Shi 1.5 ton Military Light Utility Vehicle | Scale | 1/35 |
| Kit Number | 82468 | Primary Media | Styrene, photo-etch |
| Pros | New subject, great details | Cons | None |
| Skill Level | Intermediate | MSRP (USD) | $41.99 |
First Look
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The EQ2050 Mengshi is the 1.5 ton capacity, four wheel drive troop/cargo carrier developed and built by Dongfong Motor Corporation. The vehicle was based on the General Motors High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) with some minor modifications. According to Chinese media reports, the military version EQ2050 with 100% Chinese made parts passed the design finalization trial by the PLA in December of 2006.
The HobbyBoss kit of the Chinese Meng Shi truck consists of over 152 parts on 11 sprues plus the hull. Also included in the kit are 12 photo etch detail parts and 4 rubber tires. All of the parts are very well molded and very little flash is present. Detail is very nice.
The kit is a "curbside" model so no engine is provided. Construction begins with the suspension and looks to be straight forward. The interior is up next and detail is really nice in this area. A decal is provided for the dash board. The kit allows you to build all of the doors in the opened or closed position. With only 14 steps, this should be a fairly quick build.
Decals are provided for two vehicles, one in overall green and one in overall white with UN markings.
Another great modern vehicle from HobbyBoss!
My sincere thanks to Squadron Mail Order for this review sample!