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Tamiya have had a 1:35 Long Range Desert Group command car kit on the market since 1976, currently they have two on the market. one retailing at around £19 and the other around the £25 mark. Its an interesting subject matter that coupled with the SAS desert jeep kit also offers by tamiya has offered diorama potential straight from the box for many years. The question, with two kits on the market is which one is best value?
In this kit review we will compare both kits and take a view on best value.
To begin with it is important to note that both kits are the same the cheaper option is the original 1976 tooling and the more reason release is exactly the same kit.
What you get is the Chevy version of the LRDG truck, (there was a stripped down ford also used) the kit is built up from three sprue in sand yellow. as you would expect from a kit that is 41 years old the detail is a little lacking due to the limitations of the processes of the time. you also get some heavy mould seems to remove, but the moulds are still fresh and crisp with no sink issues or difficult placed ejector marks, I have no doubt when released this was a state of the art kit. Two figures are provided a driver and a gunner who stands in the back of the truck as depicted in the artwork of the original release kit. Also supplied are some, still nice, vinyl tyres.
The supplied Instructions are the same in both kits as are the decals which allow you to build two different vehicles both with a different paint arrangement. Interestingly the newer kit had an amendment to the instruction sheet noting an error which is not in the older kit despite having identical instructions?!
The new release has an extra sprue that gives better gerry cans some oil drums and more 'kit' that can be stowed on and in the truck. A second additional spare is a set of additional figures produced by master box. these figures further enhance the diorama potential of the kit and are of much better quality than the original two figures. some additional weapons are also with the figures for use on the truck. an additional set of instructions are supplied which shows construction of the figures and some of the additional stowage
The figures are sold separately by master box and retail at about £18 in their own right.
When you consider the figures cost £18 if purchased separately then effectively buying the newer release LRDG kit gives you the command truck and additional kit for around £7. despite its age its still a great kit that has plenty of aftermarket options. the older kit should be retired by tamiya in my opinion as it docent represent value for money against its newer release.
I built this kit in the lat 1980's and looking forward to getting stuck into it again, still a great kit.
JaseFile Attachment(s): jase attached the following image(s): “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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Hello Jase, I had the newer release of this kit up until I sold it about 9 months ago, along with two sets of Eduard etch, but I may buy another at a later date as it's a good kit and certainly very good value with the extra figures and equipment, all for an extra £7 over the older release. Can't moan at that deal!
As you say, would look great in a desert diorama with the SAS jeep.  
Kev 
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 Rank: Super-Elite       Groups: Registered
Joined: 28/07/2014 Posts: 4,269 Points: 12,713 Location: Scotland
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I just ordered the newer version Jase  it will look good next to a panzer 111 regards Phil  COMING SOON =1/72 Italeri diorama`s Battle for the Reichstag and Stalingrad battle at the tractor factory 1/16 Trumpeter King Tiger with loads of extras ON THE GO= refurbishment of 1/25 Tamiya tiger 1 , amt Star trek kits and space 1999 models
So Much to Build,But What a Hobby!
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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jase wrote:ModelMania wrote:Hello Jase, I had the newer release of this kit up until I sold it about 9 months ago, along with two sets of Eduard etch, but I may buy another at a later date as it's a good kit and certainly very good value with the extra figures and equipment, all for an extra £7 over the older release. Can't moan at that deal!
As you say, would look great in a desert diorama with the SAS jeep.
Kev Watch this space Sounds good Jase, I'll look forward to watching the build!
Kev
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