In Box Review of MP 1/35TH Scale Easy 8 Suspension & Track Sherman V
Authen-I-Kit no. 20104
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 199x
MSRP: $16.00
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 199x
MSRP: $16.00
THE KIT:
MP Models International INC. is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer, based in Westminster, Maryland. They make all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped, end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end-flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The cover art has a red banner across the top, with yellow Authen-I-Kit, followed by black Injection Molded Plastic Conversion Kit. The Classic Sherman Series.
The bottom of the cover are is a medium-blue, that has a checkerboard pattern on it made with white lines. On top of it there is black and white illustrations of the 214 parts in the kit. Made in the USA. Ages 10 to adult. In French and English.
The 2 side-panels are in the checkerboard pattern, with a white side-view of a Sherman tank and features of the kit in English, French, Italian and German:
Your Authen-I-Kit contains easy to assemble, accurately detailed parts to enable you to convert your models into versions not otherwise available. Authen-I-Kit is not a complete model by itself. It is designed for use with other kits, produced by MP Models or other manufacturers and requires normal plastic cements and modeling tools (not included).
MP Models International INC. is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer, based in Westminster, Maryland. They make all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped, end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end-flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The cover art has a red banner across the top, with yellow Authen-I-Kit, followed by black Injection Molded Plastic Conversion Kit. The Classic Sherman Series.
The bottom of the cover are is a medium-blue, that has a checkerboard pattern on it made with white lines. On top of it there is black and white illustrations of the 214 parts in the kit. Made in the USA. Ages 10 to adult. In French and English.
The 2 side-panels are in the checkerboard pattern, with a white side-view of a Sherman tank and features of the kit in English, French, Italian and German:
Your Authen-I-Kit contains easy to assemble, accurately detailed parts to enable you to convert your models into versions not otherwise available. Authen-I-Kit is not a complete model by itself. It is designed for use with other kits, produced by MP Models or other manufacturers and requires normal plastic cements and modeling tools (not included).
The bottom of the box is all white. It gives a one paragraph history of the Sherman tank in the 4 languages:
The U.S. Sherman tank was the most widely produced Allied armored vehicle of W.W.II. Sometimes criticized for being under-gunned and having poor armor protection. It was robust, reliable and ideally suited for mass production.
Continually upgraded and improved during the war. It was to be seen in every theatre of operations and was used by every major Allied army. So versatile was the original design that it is still in use in many parts of the world today. As late as 1973, modified and up-gunned Israeli Shermans battled the latest Soviet main battle tanks of the time, the T-62 and T-55. It can still be seen in the hands of Lebanese Christian Militias.
Below this there is shown black and white illustrations of other models made by MP: The Firefly Turret kit, built up into the more often seen production of the tank.
The M4/M4A3 hull. This kit contains parts to convert the Tamiya brand M4A3 into either mid-production variant.
The M4A4 hull. Kit contains a detailed upper and lower hull, plus 3-piece transmission housing.
MP Adversary Series kits shown are: The Israeli M50 Sherman tank. This 1/35th scale model includes detailed HVSS suspension with individual plastic track links. Catalog 10101.
The Egyptian SU-100. Features late style road-wheels & individual track links. Can also be built as a W.W.II Soviet vehicle. Catalog 10103.
The overseas agent is International Hobbycraft (U.K.) Ltd. in Bristol, England.
MP Models International INC’s. street address in Westminster, Maryland is also supplied.
The U.S. Sherman tank was the most widely produced Allied armored vehicle of W.W.II. Sometimes criticized for being under-gunned and having poor armor protection. It was robust, reliable and ideally suited for mass production.
Continually upgraded and improved during the war. It was to be seen in every theatre of operations and was used by every major Allied army. So versatile was the original design that it is still in use in many parts of the world today. As late as 1973, modified and up-gunned Israeli Shermans battled the latest Soviet main battle tanks of the time, the T-62 and T-55. It can still be seen in the hands of Lebanese Christian Militias.
Below this there is shown black and white illustrations of other models made by MP: The Firefly Turret kit, built up into the more often seen production of the tank.
The M4/M4A3 hull. This kit contains parts to convert the Tamiya brand M4A3 into either mid-production variant.
The M4A4 hull. Kit contains a detailed upper and lower hull, plus 3-piece transmission housing.
MP Adversary Series kits shown are: The Israeli M50 Sherman tank. This 1/35th scale model includes detailed HVSS suspension with individual plastic track links. Catalog 10101.
The Egyptian SU-100. Features late style road-wheels & individual track links. Can also be built as a W.W.II Soviet vehicle. Catalog 10103.
The overseas agent is International Hobbycraft (U.K.) Ltd. in Bristol, England.
MP Models International INC’s. street address in Westminster, Maryland is also supplied.
The kit contains 5 dark-green trees. They are not alphabetized or numbered. Bad move MP !
There are 3 identical trees that hold individual track links (64 parts ea.)
There are 3 identical trees that hold individual track links (64 parts ea.)
The 4th tree holds: drive sprockets, idler wheels, return rollers etc. (35 parts)
The 5th (and last tree) holds: road wheels, axles etc. (46 parts)
The instructions consist of a single-sheet in 9” x 7” page format, printed on both sides. The face side shows 2 assembly steps.
The reverse side shows how to prepare the Italeri and Tamiya brands Sherman hulls for the conversion parts. Also, a list of cautions and references in the 4 languages.
The reverse side shows how to prepare the Italeri and Tamiya brands Sherman hulls for the conversion parts. Also, a list of cautions and references in the 4 languages.
There is a second sheet in the kit that is a catalog, It is folded in the center to create 4 pages in 5 ½” x 8 ½” format that repeats showing Sherman conversion kits (already listed above).
The detail is very good.
Recommended.
Recommended.