Strykers, Strykers, Strykers (in 1/72).
When I completed last year’s batch build of 1/72 Strykers, 3R Model had recently released new-tool renderings of the of the Stryker MGS, MGS Upgrade, and Dragoon. Earlier this year, Trumpeter released its Engineer Squad Vehicle Stryker, the first in an expected series ‘special’ Strykers, including NBC, Recon, Mortar, and Medevac versions.
The three 3R Model kits infiltrated into my stash over the past year. With the arrival of the Trumpeter Engineer Stryker kit, I thought the time was right to launch another batch build of 1/72 Strykers. They were built together in assembly line fashion and all received more or less the same construction and finishing treatment, with a few adjustments here and there based on last year’s batch build experience.
One aftermarket improvement applied to all four batch build models was the OrangeHobby 1/72 G72-179 Spring Antenna Masts. Packaged four per pack, the OrangeHobby antennas are a single piece of turned brass, with a sturdy base stem, spring base detail, appropriately tapered shaft, and a ball tip.
A ‘pirated’ (not aftermarket, strictly speaking) improvement I incorporated into the four builds were the adhesive periscope lens included in last year’s Dragon Stryker kits. These are best applied with the tip of an Xacto #11 blade, followed by burnishing with a round toothpick. In some instances, the Dragon lenses didn’t fit precisely onto the Trumpeter and 3R models, so I did trim a few to fit. I hope that some aftermarket manufacturer produces sheets of these black foil/Mylar periscope lenses in the future. A few oddly shaped periscopes were painted with a .2 mm Molotow painted markers instead of worrying the Dragon stickers into place. (I would like to see such periscope lenses, die cut into common sizes, offered by an aftermarket manufacturer)
All four models were primed with Mr. Surfacer Black, followed by AK Real RC083, FS34102 Green. FS34102 is consistently cited for Strykers, and the initial coat does seem too saturated and light, but subdues nicely with a dark pin wash and filter effects, particularly dust or rainmarks that seem to be common among Strykers regardless of where they are stationed.
3R’s Strykers follow in the trend set by Flyhawk, Vespid, Fore Hobby, Riich, and T-Model: Chinese-made high-fidelity 1/72 armor kits. Molding is crisp and delicate all around, with excellent fit of major hull and turret parts. Parts count strikes a functional, practical balance. For example, lift rings and clevises are separately applied parts, but not tiny hatch handles. Hatches can be posed open but lack interior detail. Slide molding is used to good effect for the expected weapon muzzles but also for the some of the complex shapes of the MGS turret. The MGS Upgrade kit has a small photoetch fret, mostly supplemental armor components but also the smallest single photoetch part I’ve ever seen, a cap for the muzzle reference system that I miraculously separated from the fret and cemented into place with no loss or excess fiddling. The turrets are held in place with barbs instead of the more typical key configuration, so once those turrets are snapped into place, they are likely there for good.
Unfortunately, the otherwise excellent molding is marred by significant (by current standards) flash and parting lines. Flash shows up in some unexpected places like the edges of the top and bottom moldings of the Dragoon and especially the MGS turrets, and the wheels and side cargo racks. Some parts also suffered stubbornly proud parting lines, which are manageable but out of character.
3R Model’s wheels and tires are particularly noteworthy. The Dragoon wheels have the correct profile, with what appears to be higher-capacity tires and and inset rims in comparison to the MGS variants. The tread and sidewalls of the soft tire moldings are particularly well detailed. They responded well to my old school treatment of oil dry brushing and washes to kill shine, subdue inky blackness, and emphasize the excellent tooling work.
Decals and finishing instructions in the 3R Model kits are excellent, showing not only markings but specific detail placement for four specific vehicles. The tow bar I applied to the MGS was a particularly interesting touch. Callouts for MiG Ammo paint and weathering products are helpfully provided.
3R Model provides only major marking decals, and sensibly ignores tiny tire pressure stenciling and the like, which are likely to be frustrating for most modelers in this small scale. The decals responded well to Mr. Mark Setter and Mr. Mark Softer.
Trumpeter’s Engineer Squad Vehicle Stryker is based on elements of their Stryker ICV kit, and incorporates some improvements along with the expected additional engineer-specific plow, lane marking dispensers, and stowage box.
The wheels in the Trumpeter ESV Stryker kit are still lamentable, unfortunately. The kit-provided wheels feature stirrup rings on all eight wheels, which appears to be correct for early infantry Strykers but not for later Strykers or the ESV Stryker. I replaced the kit wheels with Liang 0435 3D-printed wheels, which appear to be intended for the Dragon Stryker kits. I had some difficulty mating the Liang wheels to Trumpeter’s axles, and finally worked out a suitable adaptation with some 1/16” brass tubing applied as sleeves over the Trumpeter axle ends—not perfect but good enough.
The Trumpeter ESV hull top and bottom are new parts that are improved considerably over the original ICV hull parts. Both top and bottom have substantial mounting points for the plow, lane marking dispensers and the driver’s clear windshield. The major hull parts join very well. In comparison to the 3R kits, much of the ESV Stryker features simplified detail; for example, Trumpeter’s lift rings are molded solid into the large hull parts instead of being applied as separate parts with open rings. These interpretations of detail are not showstoppers, and lend themselves to a quick, easy build.
Masking the driver’s windshield was the most tedious part of painting any of this batch of Strykers. Trumpeter provides markings for only one vehicle, and the decals were quirky as well; they didn’t respond well to an initial application of Mr. Mark Setter, which induced folding and wrinkling. After a final matt coat, the plow blade got some extra metal wear and rust effects, based on photos of vehicles in the field.
Of the four Stryker models I completed during this round, I enjoyed most the Trumpeter ESV Stryker, despite the awful decals. 3R Model’s three Stryker offerings were nonetheless rewarding builds. 3R Model produced MGS and Dragoon Strykers that build into more detailed and accurate models than their Dragon counterparts, but in the end, Dragon’s Stryker and MGS are likely more fun to build.
I’m looking forward to Trumpeter‘s next few special Strykers—but only after I get a rest from these eight-wheeled green greebly bombs.
Sprue Pie With Frets 