Markus Kutsch The Plastic Bench
Interesting vehicle...lots of potential.Like it.

SapperAEV
The best review I have heard of this kit came from an old friend who works with the ABV, and he intends to build the kit straight out of the box. His only observations were that the line charge is perhaps stowed a bit too neatly, as it tends to be moved around a bit once the vehicle moves cross country. His other observation involves the fitting of an AN/PAS-13 Heavy Weapon Sight to the .50-cal.

As this vehicle can be remotely controlled, in following with the current casualty adverse operational philosophy that "you don't send a boy where you can send a bomb or a bullet" use of the driverless remote control system (RCS) could make for an interesting diorama.

In my own experience in Bosnia, RCS operations of the M-1 Panther II was often "interesting". At least it confused the infantry. I once heard a grunt officer ask, "What freq is that track on", only to be told by the person standing in front of him, "nobody on board, I'm the driver".

Meng's U.S Explosive Ordanance Specialist & Robots includes a RCS controller, as do the Legend and Black Dog EOD robot controllers.

The dozer blade is available from Perfect Scale Modellbau, so both major uses of the bow mounted high lift adapter common interface are easily modeled.

I have two of these in work to join both my M-1 Panther II's, and my M-1 Abrams Mine Roller (MCR), and mine plow (MCB) variants.

In the river valleys of Iraq and Afghanistan, tanks still "don't go where the bulrushes grow", so I hope that an M-1 AVLB can be expected soon. I model for relaxation, not frustration, so I'm somewhat adverse to scratchbuilding a bridgelayer.

Many of my mineclearing vehicles had "follow the sapper" written on the back end with black grease pencil, or red and blue wax pencil. So this piece of artistic license may make it into my build. ESSAYONS