Lion Roar

1/35 Parts -White 160AX Engine and U.S. Army Attachments For the Dragon M2 Halftrack

Stock Number: LE35088 and LE35089

Reviewed By  Howie Belkin, IPMS# 16

MSRP: $14.25 each Review Samples Supplied by Dragon Models USA - Website: www.dragonmodelsusa.com 1/35th White 160AX Engine for M2 Halftrack - Part #LE35088 MSRP: $14.25 Whether you want to punch up your old Tamiya halftracks that had no engines under their hoods, or want to replace the newer ones by Dragon that are a good start, Lion Roar makes it easy to build a winner. Whatever model you're building you'll have to slice the kit parts for the hood to position it opened. Lion Roar's engine consists of an amazing resin engine block complete with molded on intake and exhaust manifolds that needs minimal cleanup. The other half dozen resin parts consist of the air filter container, oil filter and parts today's engines no longer have! The photo etch fret provides fan belt, front/back fan blades and the mounting for the chassis with a prefolded oil pan in the center. A simple one page instruction sheet is provided but no painting instructions are included. I'm sure you know that "White" was the name of the company that manufactured the Halftracks. To the best of my knowledge, the engines were painted O.D., though I've seen rebuilt/restored engines painted 'Navy' gray. You might want to heat/anneal the photoetch before bending or shaping. The fan belt and rubber hoses would be black. If you're revving up for the best, I recommend Lion Roars White engine, available at better hobby shops or direct from Dragon Models USA. Their dedication to quality even includes their packaging that allows you to see the contents, while enclosing some of the parts in resealable poly bags and uses cut sponge foam to keep it all scratch free and unbroken. Thanks to Dragon Models USA for the review sample.

1/35 U.S. Army Attachments (for US Halftracks) - Part #LE35089 MSRP: $14.25 Lion Roar doesn't state it outright on the package or instruction sheet, but this accessory set can be used on various U.S. Army vehicles in U.S. and Allied service, but is especially designed for M2 and M3 halftracks after September 1942. The eight pieces of light cream resin parts consist of the bedrolls, sleeping bags and camouflage nets normally tied down to Halftrack front fenders, and on the extra racks found on either side of the rear vertical panel. The photo etch fret provides separate belt straps and buckles that fasten this equipment to the vehicle. Most modelers recommend you heat/anneal the metal to make shaping them easier. There is minimal clean up necessary and no air holes in the resin on my sample. I created my own stowage on a 1/72 Halftrack at a cost of time. I was impressed on how quickly I accomplished this in 1/35.

Thanks to Lion Roar and Dragon Models USA for the review sample. I recommend Lion Roars Army Attachments, for those of you who would rather invest your money rather than your time. Available at better hobby shops or direct from Dragon Models USA. Thanks to Dragon Models USA for the review sample and the excellent packaging that assures you, you'll receive the parts whole and undamaged.