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In-Box Review
135
Nashorn
Nashorn Sd.Kfz. 164
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by: Ted Hayward [ TED_HAYWARD ]

Contents

AFV Club’s new Nashorn represents a giant leap forward in moulding technology. The first thing noticed when opening the box is the welcome departure from the usual green-colored styrene. The new tan color, similar to Tamiya styrene, is very appropriate for a German vehicle.

The scale-thickness of the fighting compartment walls and cooling louvres, once only possible in PE metal, are now moulded ultra-thin. This heralds a new benchmark, by which future kits will be measured. Other nice features include separate roadwheel tires (moulded with raised lettering), for easy painting. The moving suspension thankfully contains no springs. It can be posed for use in a diorama setting with uneven ground.

Included are realistic rubber boots for the gun equilibrators, separate cooling fans behind the intricately-moulded louvres, positional release locking mechanism and tiny springs for the travel lock. I thought the inclusion of PE metal frames for the radio racks, much more robust and easily-constructed than the plastic ones from the 251/C kit, are a particularly nice touch. I was also impressed that the fine anti-slip texture of the front fenders is replicated on the bottom side! A plentiful supply of 88mm ammunition, empty shell cases (but not hollow), and wood ammo boxes add value.

All optics equipment –an entire sprue in itself, is moulded in clear. This release includes a few separate (workable) spare track links, without hollow guide horns. The jewel of this release would have to be the superbly-moulded ammunition storage locker -an issue in the earlier Dragon Nashorn kits.

Decals:
Nicely-printed decals are included, to depict five different vehicles.

Construction

Very little flash will need to be cleaned-up, while no ejector-pin marks are visible anywhere. The fit is comparable to any modern Tamiya kit, and construction is painless. The only thing lacking is interior details for the driver’s compartment, though a seat is in the extra sprues included from a previous 251 half-track release. The flexible vinyl tracks are well-detailed. Though meant to be cemented with regular adhesive, I opted for CA "instant" glue, for extra strength.

I am of the opinion that instructions in recent AFV Club kits have improved -I had no issues with construction.

Parting shots

Every photo I've seen of the real Nashorn (displayed at the Aberdeen Museum) is replicated in this kit. Though there is little difference between this and Dragon's latest Nashorn, AFV Club's is less money. A limited number of kits will also include a poster of the box art. At a price that’s approximately 50 percent cheaper than Dragon’s latest Nashorn, AFV Club’s strategy of offering highly-detailed kits at an affordable price seems to be an appropriate answer to today’s economy. If you haven't built a kit from AFV Club during the last couple of years, you're in for a surprise!

Special thanks to Robert Kuo for providing images of the built model (photos, RIGHT).
SUMMARY
Highs: Superb detail: raises the bar of modern moulding technology. More affordable than Dragon's kit.
Lows: I would have really liked individual track links.
Verdict: This stunning kit was well worth the wait! I would build it all over again, for the sheer enjoyment.
  VALUE FOR MONEY:95%
  DETAIL:90%
  EASE OF BUILD:95%
Percentage Rating
95%
  Scale: 1:35
  Mfg. ID: AF35164
  Suggested Retail: 34.99 (Lucky Model)
  PUBLISHED: Jul 24, 2010
  NATIONALITY: Germany
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 92.73%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 89.68%

Our Thanks to AFV Club!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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About Ted Hayward (ted_hayward)
FROM: TAIPEI, TAIWAN / 台灣

From B.C., Canada. Living in Taiwan for past several years. I've been building kits for as long as memory serves -armor, aircraft, cars. Big fan of 1/16th scale armor kits. Currently serving as poster boy for working with CA adhesives in a well-ventilated area. My first kit was the positively awful ...

Copyright ©2021 text by Ted Hayward [ TED_HAYWARD ]. All rights reserved.



Comments

Thanks for the review, Ted. Most useful. I must say that I like the look of this kit and am very tempted to pick one up. I've had the Dragon "Premium" release (6314) lying untouched in the stash for maybe 3 years now, and (tracks aside) this AFV Club looks like an altogether more attractive proposition. - Steve
JUL 23, 2010 - 09:37 PM
That was a good review Ted.Thanks The extra ammo crates and metal round containers are a good addition . As well as the clear optics and under fender detail. very nice. It looks like AFV club have addressed the ammo storage racks which look pretty well detailed for a plastic kit . The rubber track is a question mark as the kit would be better to have individaul link track Its a must have kit at the moment. it would be a hard tossup between a 3 in 1 DML kit to this little gem . Depending on where you buy. Steve the 6314 DML kit is a good kit to build. AFV club have really hit the mark with this model .More accuracy in the overall build . use the track from the DML 6314 kit and thats all you would need to accurately represent the nashorn . Cheers Michael
JUL 24, 2010 - 12:57 AM
Ted, nice review, especially the close up photos. I've been doing similar shots with not as good a result. Would you mind sharing your technique to get such a close up (the road wheel for example). Lighting technique, lens, arpeture, etc. I have great equipment, so it's an operator problem, that can be corrected with training and practice. Thanks in advance for any help
JUL 27, 2010 - 12:14 PM
$37.99 where? The Taiwan home market I presume? The lowest discounted price I've seen in the U.S.A. is $57.99, with a list of $65.99. This makes the AFV kit price in the same ballpark as the Dragon example. It would be good if reviews included a more realistic price for U.S.A. readers or at least indicated what market the listed price was valid for.
AUG 04, 2010 - 06:19 AM
thank for the review Ted, enjoyed reading. I really like how they did the road wheels (separate parts for the rubber part). I have come across it in DML's pzIV ausf C, and I'm glad to see that that breakdown is used in another kit. it makes painting the wheels a lot easier. seems like a really great kit
AUG 04, 2010 - 08:19 AM
Art: Check-out Lucky Model's website (see the ad on Armorama's sidebar). You'll have to combine with some other items to pay for the shipping. $34.99 US is roughly the same as what it retails for in Taiwan -far cheaper than Dragon's Nashorn.
AUG 04, 2010 - 09:45 PM
In the UK there is a negligible price advantage for AFV kits over their Dragon/Cyber-Hobby equivalents. That being the case the Dragon/Cyber-Hobby Nashorn Command version is superior to this AFV kit if one is after absolute detail and accuracy,as is the case with virtually all the Tiger kits-although I do love the great AFV Sturmtiger.
JAN 18, 2015 - 10:57 PM
   
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