Meng Model 1:35 British FV510 Warrior TES(H) • Kit No. SS-017
The Warrior tracked vehicle family is a series of British armoured vehicles, originally developed to replace the older FV430 series of armoured vehicles. The Warrior started life as the MCV-80, "Mechanised Combat Vehicle for the 1980s". One of the requirements of the new vehicle was a top speed able to keep up with the projected new MBT, the MBT-80 - later cancelled and replaced by what became the Challenger 1 - which the then-current FV432 could not. The project was begun in 1972.
GKN Defence won the production contract in 1984 and the Warrior was accepted for service with the British Army in November 1984. GKN Defence was purchased by BAE Systems, via Alvis plc.
A total of 789 FV510 and variants have been manufactured for the British Army, and 254 of a modified version (Desert Warrior) were produced for the Kuwaiti Army.
The TES(H) upgrade programme included improved armour and equipment. The upgraded Warrior TES(H) was delivered in 2011.
The kit is presented in light grey plastic.
Slat armour is moulded in panels for easy assembly.
Photo-etched parts are also included.
A lovely turned metal gun barrel is also provided in the box.
The kit’s clear sprue.
The individual links are almost ready to assemble straight from the bag.
A small decal sheet supplies markings for two vehicles.
IN THE BOX
Meng Models released their all-new 1:35 scale earlier this year.
The kit comprises 664 parts in pale grey coloured plastic, eight photo-etched parts, one turned brass gun barrel, 20 polythene caps and markings for two vehicles.
The model is broken conventionally with a one-piece lower hull tub, an upper hull part and turret shell.
The kit features fully workable suspension. I thought that this was an unnecessary gimmick when I first opened the box, but the torsion bars are one piece each and easy to assemble. When the running gear is installed, the suspension works exactly as advertised. It's actually quite fun.
Tracks are individual links that are joined using just one pin per link. A jig is supplied to assemble five links at a time without the need for glue. Once assembled, the track lengths are robust and fully workable.
Detail is excellent throughout. Most hatches are poseable but there is no detail provided inside the vehicle.
The characteristic slat armour is moulded in panels. There is no doubt that the plastic slats are over scale, but this is only really obvious when viewed from straight on. The slat panels are easy to assemble and lend the Warrior its unmistakable facelift.
The clear sprue supplies vision blocks, light lenses and armoured glass.