Model Forum / General / Models / July 2006

Kit Review: Academy 1/35 Scale Kit No. 13406; M151A2 TOW Missile
Launcher; 247 parts (217 in dark green styrene, 25 clear styrene, 5
vinyl); price US $18

Advantages: new kit of this small vehicle replaced obsolete and cloned
kits; engine and many extras provided in the kit

Disadvantages: still has not fixed the incorrect or partially provided
suspension and underpan components

Rating: Recommended

Recommendation: for all US Army and Marine Corps fans of 1980s
equipment

NOTE: THIS IS A NEW KIT AND NOT A RE-RELEASE OF KIT NO. 1325

    Back in 1983 I was a controller for a strategic war game played at
Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and involving the US XVIIIth Airborne Corps
deploying to the Middle East to stop a Soviet thrust into the oil
fields. One of the more curious results took place (note this was using
the US Army's "First Battle" wargame rules with tables and dice)
when a jeep-mounted TOW section of four jeeps and 12 personnel took out
an entire Soviet tank regiment - 93 tanks - in a couple of turns
without loss! Not bad for a section that only carried 12 missiles
(three per system, and one system per jeep!) We as controllers later
judged whoever pled his case on that result must have the new optional
"Belt Fed" TOW launchers!

    All kidding aside, the TOW was mounted on the M151A2 1/4 ton truck
platform in the late 1970s to provide light units with mobile heavy
antitank firepower. They were allocated to light scout sections in
armored cavarly squadrons (divisional) as well as to the airborne or
airmobile infantry regiment battalions.

    About 30 years ago Tamiya released a kit of this vehicle on their
M151A2 kit which was acceptable for the time, although Tamiya had
skimped on a lot of the details and really screwed up the underside of
the 151 as well as many of its details. When Academy first got into
1/35 scale they produced a clone of this kit (kit #1325) with a clone
of the Tamiya M107 4.2" mortar thrown in for good measure, but it was
even worse than the Tamiya kit. Academy have now atoned for their
earlier sins with a new kit based on their M151A1 kits from 2002.

    Academy have gone the DML route with "mix and match" sprues to
provide this kit: they have taken the engine sprue (A), the suspension
sprue (B) and interior and wheels sprue (C) from their M151A1 kits, the
window sprue (G) from the "hardtop" M151A2 kit along with its body
shell, and added two new sprues (L and M) with the TOW launcher, racks,
missiles, driver, and other fittings as required.

    The M151A1 kits were nicely done on top, but made the major error of
copying the Tamiya M151A2 suspension and underpan detail. They have
again supplied those parts with this kit, but at least since it is an
A2 platform the goof is not so bad. But they still do not provide the
battery box bottom nor the bottom of the fuel tank (directly under the
seats), use the ancient Tamiya-style drive shafts with no universal
joints (the real vehicle has IRS so there are plenty of them missing
- 12 to be exact), and the springs still leave the vehicle 4 to 6
inches too low. (Jeeps are NOT low riders unless overloaded to the
breaking point!)

    If you are not concerned with the suspension, the rest of the kit is
very nice. It comes with a new windshield frame and one-piece
windshield (electric wipers were used vice the vacuum ones of the M151
and M151A1), all of the parts which should be here (the three-spoke
"Detroit" plastic steering wheel vice the flat metal spoked one of
the other two variants) but they do leave the seat adjustment found on
the A2 off (the driver's seat had two tabs under its center for 2 ½"
of travel to adjust for taller drivers.)

    All lights are provided with clear lenses, which is somewhat odd as
the turn signals and tail lights will still have to be painted. This
is, however, better than the Tamiya kit which provided a one-piece
grill that had to be drilled out to mount lenses.

    The interior is still provided to the M151A1, which means that it
comes with a complete AN/VRC-47 radio set (RT-524A transceiver, R-442
receiver, and the two antenna mounts for them plus rack mounts for the
body) that can go straight into the spares box. The TOW sprues provide
the correct AN/GRC-160 radio setup (an AN/PRC-77 on a vehicle power and
speaker mount) which is not bad.

    The TOW launcher is the correct early or "Short Barrel" variant
used on these vehicles, and comprises 20 parts with a missile tube
extra. Two spare missiles are provided on a rack, and a spare cap is
also provided if you wish to have a crew loading the launcher rather
than pre-loaded. Two "jump" seats and side mounts for the spare
tire and five-gallon fuel can are also provided. Battery boxes and
power supplies, as well as a complete tripod ground mount, round out
the basics. Buckles for straps (which will have to be provided by the
modeler) are molded on the edge of one of the sprues.

    Oddly, while the model states it is a Marine Corps version it comes
with the short Army bumper and not the full-width Marine Corps one with
shackles on the ends. This will have to be either made from scratch or
borrowed from a Tamiya M151A2 kit. Army markings are not provided but
may be used with some research. The decals for the missiles and general
stenciling are much better than recent Academy efforts, and they are to
be complimented on that nice touch.

    Overall, this is a much improved model over either the ancient Tamiya
kit or its forgettable Academy clone from 20 years ago. But I wish they
would spend more time on research, as while their molding is first rate
their research lets them down on many of their recent projects.

    Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell