1:35 US M1083 FMTV [Armor CaB] Basic (For TRUMPETER)

The real subject

The M1083 belongs to the family of American medium tactical vehicles known by the abbreviation FMTV. It is the flatbed version, which forms the backbone of supply columns and which in the later years of deployment received an armored cab, to which the Armor Cab designation refers. Vehicles of this family share a large part of their design and differ mainly in the body.

What the set contains

Photo-etched parts in the basic configuration, that is a set aimed at the main visible details of the vehicle rather than at a complete rebuild. The photo-etched parts replace plastic parts where the material should be as thin as possible: mesh, covers, brackets and sheet-metal stiffeners. The exact contents and the order of assembly are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building tips

The parts are held in the fret by thin tabs. Separate them with a sharp blade on a hard surface or with photo-etch scissors, not by breaking them out. Take the bends over a sharp edge or in a bending tool, and on long parts bend the whole length at once, otherwise a wave will form. They are glued with cyanoacrylate applied on the tip of a wire; cement for polystyrene does not hold on photo-etched parts. Before painting, degrease the parts and lay on a primer.

Who it is for

The set suits modelers who want to take the details of a modern military subject beyond the level of plastic parts and who have experience of small work. Besides tweezers and a sharp blade it pays to have a bending tool at hand. The kit, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.