Model Armour

Defender 110 Hardtop Value Package

Manufacturer: ET Model

Scale: 1/35

Material: Photo-etch & Acetate

Serial Number: S35-006

Price:  £10.27

Introduction

ET Model from China has a rapidly expanding catalogue of photo-etched and detail sets for a wide variety of kits in varying scales, together with a very prolific release schedule.  This set is intended for the HobbyBoss 82448 kit.

Set Contents

The set is supplied in one of ET Model's standard plastic wallets stapled to a cardboard header. Inside there are four photo-etched brass frets plus a small clear acetate sheet printed with a pattern of dashboard dials. The instructions are of course included also, in this set running to three sides of A4.

The set includes almost everything you'll need to convert and dress up and detail the HobbyBoss kit, including grills for the headlights, a slatted radiator cover made from individual slats that are fitted together with notches to ensure perfect spacing. I've used this method on other sets and it works exactly as advertised. Whilst in this general area there are also fixtures supplied for the bonnet, a square housing for the antennae base, along with various tool fittings and brackets, and spare wheel bracket. On the front fender there's also a number plate, although as this is smooth the kit decals or your own must be used. Inside the cab there are new foot peals for the driver along with etched brass dashboard that sandwiches the afore mentioned acetate to offer a realistic dial appearance.

Moving around the model, there are a new set of tie-downs for the rear body, together with various strengthening plates and fixtures should you choose not to use the hard top. There are a complete set of mudflaps included in the set, along with rear fender supports, and rear number plate. There's also two fold down step up plates supplied if you're modelling the hard top version.

The most appealing additions are probably the full set of window grills supplied and the roof rack. The grills are supplied and used almost 'as is', just requiring the small tabs to be folded and then they can fixed in place. The roof rack requires a little more work. It's constructed of a square frame that is folded and fixed to three cross-wise brackets fixed to the roof of the model. Each of these brackets has detailed triangular fixing brackets constructed from multiple pieces and then to the hard top and cross brackets.

Conclusion

For what it includes, and what it lends to the finished model, the set represents great value for money. Most modeller's would probably consider it good value for money just for the roof rack! It's not a complicated set to install, and could easily be attempted by any modeller with the slightest experience of using photo-etch. Recommended.

My thanks to ET MODEL for the review sample.