...or "every German firemans wet dream"

Early in 2017 my local volunteer fire department will move to a new location, as the old one is getting too old, grimy, broken down and small. As a present and decoration of their new site I will build them a model of the Fire Support Truck MAN TGM / Schlingmann HLF 20 VARUS 4x4. Also to annoy them to no end, as they will never be able to afford this beast.



This is the sci-fi-space truck we're talking about here. I can't be entirely sure, but I'm reasonably certain this thing has buttons to extend laser cannons, warp nacelles and / or trigger transformations into a giant robot.

The Schlingmann Varus (for short) is a rather new Revell kit that comes in a box sized like an 8 year olds bed. No side flaps luckily, this is an open-from-the-top type deal.

Featuring 295 parts on 21 all white sprues this beast is built in 91 building phases with the help of the 28 page manual. Revell has thankfully decided to not include pre-chromed parts, for which I thank them profusely.

Parts quality is superb, as is par for the course for a new Revell kit. They've seriously upgraded quality wise in the last years and this is the freshest and best example of it. Part fit is so exact I've not even used glue to attach several parts. They just fit in place almost like a Bandai kit. (this is not a snap kit though)

Updates will be irregularily after a build group is finished or a page is done, depending on my whimsies.

In the first five phases we build up the motor, attach it to the single piece frame and build and attach part of the Euro 6 exhaust system. Note the motor is just sitting there without glue, it needs a lot of wiggling and patience to get it in place correctly, but once it's in there, a major earthquake will be required to remove it. Note this before test fitting.

Well they're not kits but die cast, but DeAgo Germany has a collection of fire trucks running right now. I've seen the Dennis Pump Escape there (ok, not exactly modern either).

Anything requiring paint is being built at home. So there's only the D51, Countach, Citroen, F14 and Aventador in the office. The dollhouse might be moved there when the Aventadors done.



Yeah, I need this in my life.

With phases 14-17 dampers and brackets are mounted, the exhaust system is finished, (fake) steering is installed as well as steps (to climb the cabin) and a protective wall for the engine



There's a logical error in the instructions at step 18. The instructions ask you to paint the headlights and glue them to the front grill. Don't do that. It will lead to much more difficult masking in step 22. Instead leave the headlights apart and install them after step 22s painting is done.

No, with the status of the actual truck as the newest and best money can buy in Germany and the models intended purpose as a decorative gift for our new fire department I want it to look sparkling like a showcar. Expect a lot of gloss on this towards the end.

I may put the undercarriage through a wash to bring out some details when it's done.

This is really progressing well, looking great....

Regards

Alan

This is looking like a very nice kit! I'm not a big fan of Revell, always finding their fit, engineering and moulding quality seriously lacking - but it seems the times has changed and they are back in play?