Hobby Craft Humvee "Liberator" is it a good buy or not?

Stay far away from it.  It is a really bad copy of a HMMWV.  It was originally a motorized toy fom the Chinese company Lee Models.  The tires are featureless donuts, the hood is not the correct shape, interior detail is nonexsistent, etc.  At $15, you are still being robbed. 

The best HMMWV model is Tamiya's M1025 or M1046.  Academy's various HMMWVs are a close second and quite good too.  Italeri's is decent, but with most of Italeri's older wheeled kits, the tires are way off w/fictional tread pattern. 

Remember, you get what you pay for.  Sometimes, you have to spend a little more to get a good model.

I got one only because Hobby Lobby had one dirt cheap. I figured it would be a piece of junk. I ended up starting mine as a customized civilian version.

Hay you guys I was hoping I would get some comments before I ordered it and you all have come through for me I will skip over it sales item and go for one of the best ones from eather Tamiya or Academy and if I need better tires I will go for a up to date resin set if the Tamiya version is right on with what is on the M1046 that is in Iraq or Israel. Thanks for the help I would have made a big boob and man would I have bean mad if I had orderd that kit.

What I'm looking to build is one of these types. Iraq versions:

http://195.20.15.192/0/39/65/84/4/humvee_turret.jpg

http://www.warwheels.net/images/m1114HMMWVbelue2.jpg

Israel version:

http://idfmodelling.free.fr/refview.php?name=ref_veh_pictures/hummer/hummer_05

Thanks guys you to just saved me from a big

Vince

 

 

All three of the HMMWV pictures you linked have the newer radial tires.  They are available from Pro Art I think, maybe Real Model.   All the current HMMWV kits have the older, bias-ply tires which have a different tread pattern.  The heavier, up-armored HMMWVs can not use the bias-ply tires due to the extra weight of all the armor.   If you want to build the second uparmored one in Iraq (sloped back),  there is the MIG M1114 uparmored conversion kit to be used w/the Tamiya M1046 kit.  You would still need a set of radial tires though.

 

By the way, that was a huge run-on sentance above.  I think I lost my breath reading it.  Can you use some punctuatuin and capital letters to make it easier to read/understand.  It helps break up your thoughts too.

Hello there you all and Heavy, can't I use the MIG pro. (HMMWV  wheel and tire set) or are they the rong type?

http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=MD35255&Submit3=Go

Oh there are some things I need to point out first. I only build in 1/35 and for the most part only shop at Squadron. I realy don't like to shop from a lot of othere companys as I have had my c-card number stolen from time to time, but for these last two years my c-card No. has not poped up being used so I'm trying to stay with a one company for shopping at a time. An I don't have pay pal so shopping from out side the US is out! An having the company I buy from one state over from me is a good thing ((Fast shipping)and the low costs in there sales flyers help out a lot. ((MONEY don't grow on trees for me)).

Ok back to this project as for the MIG Up-Armor I'll try to get the full kit, but the armored top with windows is not in this kit so I would have to scratch build it. Or may be it would be cool if I just try to scratch build all the armor from the body and doors to the top turret. It would be a challenge and I like a challenge.I think it would be a lot of fun to try and get the look of the M1114 from the Iraq up to date photos. What do you all think some of you have see my skills, do any of you think I can pull it off? I would love to try if I could have your encouragement to try it.

The full kit of the half resin body armor and turret sheld are it this kit.

http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=MD35269&Submit3=Go

As for the image of the Israeli version, I can just scratch build that one off the body by Tamiya. Here's to kits I can get from Sq.

http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=TM35263

http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=TM35267

The two cheap kits from Italeri, the Desert Patrol Hummer(M998 with 50 cal.) is NA, Commando Hummer (Extended cab version) NA to. and both kits were priced at 18 bucks gone! Tamiya is all I can get at a high cost like getting two of Italeri kits. But the detail is there I must say.

PE sets: M1025,M998,M1026

http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=EU35778

http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=EU35780

http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=EU35785

http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=RR0438

http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=RR0439

once I get the wich ever tamiya kit I will start up a new post on the build.

 

"Fear Is Fun.ny"!! By Tracy Morgan

The Mig wheels are fine, they are the radial type.  I had forgotten he made them too.

If you do go with the MIG M1114 conversion, it was made specifically for the Tamiya HMMWV kits.  You will have fit problems if you try it on other kits.

Good luck.

 

P.S. - By limiting yourself to only one supplier, you are severly limiting your options.

Your right I'm only going to use the MIG kits with the Tamiya models. Hay look what I found when I was looking in my sales flyer, it's for the IDF Humvee now I will not have to scratch build if I don't want to.

http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=LF1159

I will make it fit the Tamiya kit. Man that kit unlike the Iraq version is cheaper, now I can do both units with out having to do much scratch building. "What luck huh"?

WOW!!!  That price for the Mig M1114 conversion is nuts.  They are screwing you royally there.  It is only $80 plus shipping directly from Mig Productions. Or you can get it w/out the gunner's shield parts for about $42 plus shipping. 

I always order oversees resin stuff directly from the manufacturer.  The US importers screw you on the markup every time.  Just like the Blast resin Bradley BRE.  Directly from Blast it is about $45 including shipping.  Great Models wants $68 plus shipping and it is a special order item only.

Now you see why I like to scratch build a lot. Oh and here are the images I realy wanted to show you. I like the first image the most.

I'm not against spending a little money on a good resin set, but overpaying just to use the closest vendor is crazy.  I too like to scratch build as well, but if someone else has done it and it is what I consider a reasonable price, I'll get it. 

The first pic looks good.  It is a pretty current M1114 here in Iraq, but a lot now have the new gunner's surround and shield with armored glass windows on them for better visibility (like the snow one).  The doors have what is called Frag 5 Armor to protect against EFP (Explosively Formed Penetrator) IEDs.  They are pretty nasty and will cut through almost anything.  It should be pretty easy to upgrade the doors and windows on the gunner's cupola.  The Rhino on the front and Duke antenna are available in PE and resin respectively as well.  PE by Eduard for the Rhino, and a resin Duke set from Real Model.

The snowy one looks cool.  I like the look of the chains on the wheels.

Good luck.

 

"Beep Beep"  

:Transmission coming in from _R34 for Heavy:

I thought that would a be cool thing to do. Any way hello ayou all. Well you have said it budy when I start on the US version I'm going to do one based on the snowbound one because you pointed out the one with the chains on the wheels that is what I will try to do chains,snow and all. What would be cool if you can find some new photos of the M1114 of to days standing and post them so I can build the roof turret and doors the right way but but set in a snowy region. Can you help me out.

If it's Ok I'll E-Mail you once I get the tamiya kits or kit to do the US version first. Oh I will not be doing it as a part of any GB just to see if I can do it right and for a cool solder. What ever you real name is and don't tell me over an unsecured line.

:End Transmission:

I've been looking for a way to slide this in all day......R_34, you can see a pic of Heavy Arty in TMMI #106, Aug '04.

No, I'm not a stalker, I picked up a back issue at the LHS the other day, and lo and behold, there's a familiar name, holding up a big ticket voucher, courtesy of Mr. T hisself!

Belated (seriously) congrats to HA......

I have seen that photo in his photo album. Cool now you can see why he has all that cool detail on his models.

Thanks RBear.  It was a total surprise to win that day.  Unfortunately, due to family issues (death of my wife's grandfather) I wasn't able to go to Japan.  Tamiya did send me a bunch of free models though.

 

Sure you can email me, or just PM me.  Don't worry, no big secrets, it is my actual name attached above.

The winning model sure looked worthy.......aside from the Duster, how much was Tamiya?

Thanks.  It was a fun project.  The trailer is from the Tamiya M26 Dragon Wagon, modified to be an M15A1.  The truck is a combo of Tamiya Dragon Wagon front running gear, tires, 5th wheel, and various other items.  The frame and cab are mostly from the old Revell 1/32 5-ton wrecker kit, heavily modified.  There are also various pieces from an AFV Club M35 and the Italeri M923A1 5 ton kit, and 1/25th dump truck wheels.  The rest is mostly from sheet styrene.  Here is the gallery of it, for those who haven't seen it.  Sorry, some of the pics are bad.  It was when I was just starting with a digicam.

A guy was telling me to use a 1/32 scale truck in one of my conversion Ideas but I didn't think the two scales could go togethere, 1/35 & 1/32 but you did a realy good job with the to scales. So I think I will try it my self.

That was probably me, about an IDF transporter. I've seen pics (have the pics but no scanner) and it worked nicely.

Yup, the two scales go together well.  The key is to keep constantly sized items in the same scale.  For example, weapons and gear are all a constant size, they don't vary with the size of the soldier or the vehicle.  As long as you keep items like them in the same scale, the proportions will look correct.

Ed Zachary! In a dio I did a few years ago, the two US soldiers in the scene were intentionally Airfix '32nd scale and the one German captive was a Dragon '35th scale fig, to give the impression of "conquest"......the GIs had Tamiya weapons (I think....), looked small in their hands, just what I wanted. But overall, it worked.

Thanks you all for the help I started looking through my stash and I see that I have 3 kits un built 2 kent's and 1 Pete so I can scratch build my IDF transporter using one of the chassis from one of thoughs kits. An like Heavy said qiote:The key is to keep constantly sized items in the same scale. I have now a lot of PE and plastic part in my new militay parts box to help in this project so one I get my Merkava tank done I will start a new post on the real IDF transporter and not some concept I came up with in my head. But I must say I realy want to try to build that big HEMATT transporter from scratch the only thing I need is a shot of the rear of the tracktor from an over head view but not strate down mine you but as if you were standing on the front of the flat bed pointing or looking at the rear were you can see part of the roof and all those items and big winch units on the rear. I'f it's ok with you heavy I'm going to look more at yours to help me try to build one from scratch. I will stat a new post on the two when the time comes just like my build of the Humvee.

Cool. I did find the old Verlinden Way booklet, and it has plans for the trailer in 1/48 scale (fits the format). This one looks to be right up your alley, White_R34. Looking forward to seeing it come about!

Thanks man and the work I put up was rong quote:HEMATT transporter, it' should be HEMTT transporter. Any way I back working on my IDF tank you will see soon a post called IDF Volvo transporter. I will have to build the flat bed totle from scratch. This will be a lot of fun and man am I glad I ordered all the sheet styrene. I like to get a lot you never know what you will come up with.

Vince

I made an IDF trailer and mated it to an AMT 1/32 Volvo Conventional truck as well, many moons ago.  I also used the Verlinden drawings as a guide.  I recently sold it to a collector w/a Merkava on back.

Good luck on it.

I would have loved to have see that. After I get all my WWII builds out the way. I'm going to only work on all my Modern models. So I can keep my head in one direction. Let me guess that AMT 1/32 Volvo Conventional Truck is a discontinued product now?

I believe the 1/32 Volvo truck is still around.  Here is one on eBay as a Coca Cola delivery truck.

 

I do have pics of the IDF transporter I built, just not online.  Send me a PM w/your email adress and I can send them to you.

Thanks but that version is not the version I need, I'm building a CO version and I can only open PDF files but I would love to see your work on your version.