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| Kit Name: |
HMMWV 1+1 Kit Series -M1025, M1114, M1045, M998 |
Manufacturer: |
Dragon Models Limited (DML) |
| Kit Number: |
#7294 ,7295,7296,7297 |
Retail Price: |
US $12.95 |
| Scale: |
1:72 |
Release Date: |
Wednesday, July 19, 2006 |
| Review Date: |
Thursday, July 20, 2006 |
Reviewed By: |
Jeff Moore & Tim Burke |
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Background: The High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) is the replacement vehicle for the M151 (Mutt) series jeeps. The HMMWV's mission is to provide a light tactical vehicle for command and control, special purpose shelter carriers (Go Shelter Carrier!), and special purpose weapons platforms for the modern military. The HMMWV is equipped with a huge powerful diesel engine (Thank God the fuel is paid for by US Government…Wait I pay for the government…that’s not fair!), automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. It is air transportable and droppable from a variety of both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. The HMMWV can be equipped with a winch capable of up to 6000 pound 1:1 ratio line pull capacity and can support payloads from 2,500 - 4,400 pounds depending on the model. The HMMWV is produced in many variants to support troop and general cargo transport, weapons systems, command and control systems and field ambulances. As the type evolved, in addition to replacing the M151 Ford Mutts, the HMMWV replaced jobs done by M1008 and M1009 trucks, the M274 Mule, the M561 Gamma Goat, the M718A1 ambulance, and the M792 ambulance. The HMMWV M998 is the baseline vehicle for the series.
Since its inception, the HMMWV has undergone numerous design and configuration updates and changes. These changes have included technological, environmental, operational, and safety improvements, such as higher payload capability, radial tires, 1994 Environmental Protection Agency emissions update, commercial bucket seats, three-point seat belts, four-speed transmissions, and, in some cases, turbo-charged engines and air conditioning.
In 1995 AM General introduced the A2 configuration and the Expanded Capacity Vehicle (ECV) HMMWV. The A2 incorporates the four-speed, transmission; the 6.5 liter diesel engine; and improvements in transportability. The A2 serves as a platform for systems such as the ground-based common sensor. The payload of the ECV is 5,100 lb, including the crew. One of its missions is to serve as a chassis for the M1114 up-armored HMMWV that is used by the Scouts and MPs. The ECV also serves as a platform for mission payloads and for systems that exceed 4,400 lb. The most recent A2 variants going into production are the XM1151 Enhanced Armament Carrier and the XM1152 Enhanced Troop/Cargo/Shelter Carrier.
Packaging: Dragon’s cover art for these kits are photos of the real vehicles. This is a nice approach to model packaging. It may not be as artistic as painted box art, but it gives you instant reference to what the model should look like. The photos also provide real life examples of vehicle weathering, stowage, and on at least two of the kits, some interesting field damage in the form of torn and broken fenders, bent brush guards, etc. Dragon’s usual high-quality CAD drawings of parts are on one side of the box. The other side shows profiles of some of the scheme and marking options included in the kit and a picture of the photo etch parts that are included in each kit. The 1+1 logo is Dragons’ marketing of two complete models in one box.
Materials: All parts are styrene plastic, with the exception of the vinyl tires and the PE.
For all of the kits the sprues are stored in separate plastic bags; the two main bodies are also sealed in separate plastic bags. The PE frets, decals and vinyl tires are sealed in plastic and attached to a display card.
There is plenty of room in the box. All pieces were in perfect shape when opened up.
Instructions: Instructions for these kits are typical Dragon, with sharp drawings and composite photographs of various subassemblies. There is a break down of the parts on the sprues and which parts are not used on the model. A paint conversion chart and a Painting and Markings section is also included. As with most Dragon instructions there is a lot going on in the limited space available between different parts for different versions and with symbols for cut here, bend this, glue, don’t glue, etc. They do point out a number of areas to pay particular attention to, which is a nice feature, but as with most kits, it’s always a good idea to thoroughly examine the instructions before starting construction.
 
Molding Quality: Dragon’s kits are continuing to get better. There was a time when you never knew what you were going to get when you opened a Dragon box. We have both experienced numerous warped kits from Dragon, but it hasn’t happened lately. The molds look crisp with no flash or short shots, although in all of the kits the main body parts have some mold lines to clean up. Most knock-out pins were in areas that will be hidden but there are some that will need attention. The main body and the doors (with the windshield and door windows molded with the part) are molded in clear plastic. Your reviewers are of differing opinions about this decision – it requires a bit of tedious masking (both inside and out), but it does eliminate the sometimes challenging task of fitting and filling small clear parts, which can be an Achilles heel of many small scale kits.
 
The interior controls are rudimentary and a bit clunky looking, but the exteriors are excellent interpretations of the different models of the Humvee’s depicted. The kits all come with very nicely molded weapons assortment including 50 cal. MG, Mk. 19 Grenade Launcher, etc.
Photo-Etched Parts: All of the kits include some PE parts. The front brush guard is the only PE in the M1025 and TOW vehicle kits. The M1114’s includes PE rear bed and rear hatch armor and the M998 kits include some PE ASK armor, along with the seats and supplemental armor for the cargo bed. The PE is of good quality and will certainly enhance the kits.
Tires: The tires are a soft plastic or vinyl and are Dragon gray in color. The detail is a good representation of the most commonly used tread pattern. Various tread patterns have been used on Humvees. *(Disclaimer, I will point out items like this when I come across them, but I do not count bolts and having been in the military, know first hand that there are no absolutes with military vehicles, variations and their construction - JDM). While the tread pattern of the tires looks good, it can be a bit difficult to completely remove the mold seam around the tire. (I also had a lot of difficulty getting the tires to “slip over” the wheel as they show in the instructions. – TB)
Accuracy and Level of Detail: Overall the kits are very accurate with no problems jumping out screaming, ”look at me, I’m a repackaged 32nd scale Monogram Weasel.”
The overall level of detail is very good. No major visible detail is missing, nothing like molded on tools or other short cuts. We did notice right away the lift handles in the hood need to be drilled out as they are a solid curve rather than an open loop.
As you examine the kits in order of production you can see some obvious places where Dragon made improvements or added detail to subsequent kits. The first kits (the M1025’s) were molded with oversize hinges for the doors with equally large holes in the body to receive them – I’m not sure what Dragon was trying to do, but whether they are shown opened or closed, the result is not very accurate. All subsequent kits have the doors without the hinge feature allowing the modeler to simply glue them in the open or closed position without difficulty and with a much better result. All of the kits have a positionable tailgate (w/the AM General name nicely molded in), but the M1025’s rear clamshell hatch is molded in the closed position. Both the M1114’s and the TOW vehicles allow you to open the hatch and include the actuating support struts for the hatch. The M1114’s include PE armor for the rear bed and the TOW vehicles come with the storage system for the TOW missiles. The M998 kits have nicely molded canvas cab top and doors. It’s evident that Dragon has improved their kits as they’ve progressed through this series.
Assembly: TB -I built the M1025 w/ASK kit (see photos) and found very few problems in the assembly process. The chassis builds up with only a few parts but manages to look suitably busy. To represent a fully loaded Humvee you may want to cut down the suspension a bit, because it seems to sit a little high. Part #A35 needs to be significantly reduced in height to allow the body to sit down properly on the chassis (or you could leave it out and fill the resulting gaps with plastic card). As stated above getting the vinyl tires over the wheels was a bit of a challenge, but they look good once they’re on. As also mentioned above, the poorly designed door hinge system required a lot of cover up with plastic strip. With those minor issues the model builds up into an accurate representation of the real vehicle.
Aftermarket Opportunities: Some of the generic resin aftermarket stowage sets from Verlinden, CMK, etc. will be useful to suitably load down these vehicles. An interior detail set (resin and pe) would be most welcome, especially for the M998, which has a more visible cab.
Overall Comments: Out of the box these will make into nice, accurate models of a variety of Humvees. There are a few additional details that can be added, thinned, or drilled, but there are no major errors. It’s a nice idea to buy one kit and get two models at a reasonable price. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that they do some more – how about an Avenger, M997 Ambulance, M996 Tow Carrier or the M1037 Shelter Carrier. (Go Shelter Carrier!)
Recommendations: If you are a small-scale fan these are great additions to your collection. All levels of modeler can handle these kits. Out of the box they make 2 nice models.
Helpful Reference Materials:
Warmachines No7 Military Photo File, M998 HMMWV “Hummer” and derivatives, Francois Verlinden, Willy Peeters, Patrick J. Cooney, VLS Press, 1991.
Hummer Humvee in Action, Jim Mesko, Squadron Signal Publications, 1994.
Humvee at War, Michael Green and Greg Stewart, Zenith Press, 2005.
HMMWV Humvee 1985-2006 (New Vanguard #122), Steve Zaloga, Osprey Publishing, 2006.
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