1/72 Italeri M163 Vulcan, USA, 1968, Vietnam war

Blaž Vrecko
I hate this kit. This was, so far, the only kit that I seriously contemplated on disposing it midway. It is seriously bad.

I was decieved by low price, cool subject (come on, a minigun!) and a cool box art. But it is a toy. Details... I'm amazed there is some detail on the back door and on the inside of the drivers hatch. But that's it. No hooks ( I could build some, but I was like meh) on the upper hull, no hooks on the lower hull, no triangular thingys on top... The modular armor on the font doesn't fit, the hole is too big compared to the real thing, so the "have gun will travel" decal is partly in the air... floating. Tracks are.. fine, link&lenght, but hard to install since there is just one wheel and the tracks sits kind of awkward.

The turret is just a joke. The gun detail is just laughable. The decals... they are actually in 1/35. It's just... sad.
You'd need a 3D printer to make this presentable. New double wheels, all the hooks, new gun, turret instruments, gunner seat.

But alas.... shortcomings notwithstanding, I did my best painting and weathering this thing. As I didn't care much and went overboard, it acually looks pretty great that way. Paintjob is nice, streaking is cool, the aluminum chipping can be nicely seen, red clay vietnam-ish dirt looks great.

It's really too bad about the details.