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 Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Italeri 1:9 WWII British Triumph 3HW Military Motorcycle (Kit No: 7402)
This is the second release in a new series of 1:9 scale 'Military Motorcycles' being released by Italeri and is essentially, a re-boxed and updated version of the old Esci kit from many years ago and at first glance it is amazing to see the quality of the parts from what are now quite ancient moulds! The parts are very crisp, with great detail and only some very occasional instances of ‘flash’ on some parts though it is very minimal and there are also a few ‘sink’ marks on some parts, but nothing that is hard to fix? This kit must have been quite something when it was first released by Esci and even now it can be considered to be up there with the best – I am very impressed!!
There are three large ‘Olive Green’ sprues, two of which contain mostly frame, suspension, wheels, fuel tank and pannier parts (including a beautiful little 1:9 British ‘Sten’ gun and a dispatch riders’ crash helmet), with the third sprue containing mostly engine, crankcase/gearbox parts along with some engine ancillaries, a clear sprue containing the various light lenses. The kit also contains a soft black vinyl sprue containing the chain, saddle and various straps (including a long one for the ‘Sten’ gun and also the lower half of the dispatch riders helmet, which represents the leather section which covered the ears and back of the neck. There are also two nicely moulded tyres made of a rubber/vinyl type material which have good detail in the tread pattern and sidewalls, though there is a seam line to remove on the tread and a quite prominent nodule where the tyre was cut away from the mould gate, but nothing that can’t be fixed with a little careful sanding. There is also a small packet of parts containing some wiring and springs and there is a small but quite comprehensive decal sheet, offering four different markings, though one of those is for just a basic ‘Factory Fresh’ version as it would have left the factory before reaching any unit, but that at least has some very nice ‘Triumph’ logos to go on the tank which I might be tempted to use anyway, regardless of which option I eventually choose – they are just too nice not to use I feel? To round it all off there is a very clear and well presented instruction sheet of seventeen stages with a decal application guide at the end.
Suggested colours are all Italeri ‘Acrylic’ paint codes as follows:
Flat Olive Drab - 4728AP
Flat Leather - 4674AP
Metal. Flat Steel - 4679AP
Flat Rubber - 4861AP
Flat Black - 4768AP
All in all, this is a very impressive kit with very nice level of detail and should build into an eye-catching model. Length when built is: 23.1cm. My own personal opinion of this model is that it's a little cracker and is therefore a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED KIT - thanks Italeri!!
I do hope that the current practice by Italeri of revamping and re-issuing these old Esci 1:9 Military Motorcycles continues and that the next two will be the German WWII BMW R75 motorcycle in both the single rider format and also the bike and sidecar version both of which were also old Esci kits?! I am waiting to buy them both!!
Thanks for looking .... now go and buy this kit!!
Kev  ModelMania attached the following image(s):
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 Rank: Super-Elite        Groups: Registered
Joined: 31/05/2010 Posts: 5,679 Points: 17,011 Location: Wiltshire
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Kev Another great kit. Now you have mentioned it I do remember these as Esci kits from my youth. Were never in my pocket money range but must admist well tempted by that Triumph you have yourself there. Hope you get a lot of joy building these. Happy Modelling
BUILDING: Hachette Spitfire Mk 1A, Constructo Mayflower
SUBSCRIPTION COMPLETE (Awaiting building): USS Constitution, Sovereign of the Seas, 1:200 Bismarck (Hachette)
COMPLETED: Porsche 911, E-Type Jaguar, Lam Countach
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 Cracking looking kit Kev. I love old British bikes  Rgd Martyn Building ?
Completed. Soliei Royal . Sovereign of the Seas . Virginia . Scotland . San Felipe . Corel vasa , Santisima Trinadad X section , Vasa
Next Build ?
When sailors have good wine, They think themselves in heaven for the time. John Baltharpe
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Another nice looking kit Kev Current builds:-C57,Zero, Lamborghini Countach, Caldercraft HMS Agamemnon,Robi,R2-D2, MFH Cobra .
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Thanks for your comments Tony, Martyn and Andy, very kind of you to look in. 
This Triumph and the Harley Davidson WLA 750 are both fantastic kits but as you've both said Tony and Martyn, the Triumph just has more appeal - simply because it's just so British!?
In the small amount of research that I've already done on this Triumph, it seems that at the outbreak of WWII the Army was in dire need of a decent bike to use for dispatches so they just took the standard Triumph 3H road bike, stuck a couple of panniers and a few 'militarised bits on it, painted it Olive Drab, added a 'W' for war to it's name and called it the 3HW? Which means, it might be possible to very easily make a glossy civilian Triumph 3H version from this kit, so I may even buy myself another one of these at a later date for that very purpose and 'bling' it up a bit!
Kev
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Rank: Super-Elite   Groups: Registered
Joined: 30/01/2013 Posts: 4,604 Points: 13,607 Location: Monmouthshire UK
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Looking forward to both your builds Kev, but the Triumph is my fave too I've always loved the British bikes and used to have a BSA when I was 18, as well as a Jap race replica of course  Always nice to see something different on the forum Steve
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Thanks for looking in on my review and your nice comments Steve, very much appreciated!
Yeah, gotta love an old British bike haven't you, especially if it's a Triumph? I only wish I could find somebody who produces a series of 1:9 Dispatch riders to go with these kits? I've found a nicely cast resin 1:9 German rider for if and when Italeri release the BMW R75 kits (I live in hope), but need a British and American figure to go with these?  
Hoping to start both builds early next year - just too busy at the moment and I have too many unfinished builds already?! 
Kev
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 Rank: Elite  Groups: Registered
Joined: 14/10/2014 Posts: 1,715 Points: 5,087 Location: Leicester england uk
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Hi kev. Great review.think have to get this one as do like me bikes.being a biker meself. Mind be in stash a long time.on a finish what I started builds wise at mo. Cheers mick. Builds hms victory, suzuki gsx 1300 R hayabusa, honda C B 750, lamborghini countach L P 500 S, tamiya 1/16 rc full option tiger 1 tank,
built, Mclaren M P 4 - 23. Occre london tram,
Stash.airfix 1/24 mosquito. Diag Virginia schooner, tamiya 1/6 honda 750, tamiya 1/35 famo, tamiya 1/35 flak 88.
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nice looking kit and one I cannot wait to se you do your magic with J “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
-Mark Twain
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Thanks for looking in and for the comments Mick and Jase, very much appreciated!!
@ Mick - It's a great kit, you wouldn't regret buying it if you already appreciate bikes.
@ Jase - I'm looking forward to it as well my friend and itching to get started but I need to be strong and clear my 'part-builts' first!!
Kev
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