Thunderbirds are GO!!!!! For those of my generation, that was a great call tag! For the younger crowd, I am sure they have still heard about International Rescue. Gerry and Sylvia Anderson created one of the greatest series ever to be broadcast! There were only two 50 episode seasons created. However, those two seasons spawned two movies and tons of different merchandising items to include plastic and die-cast models. Bandai, Imex and Aoshima are the ones I can remember. I have seen several others over the years adding their twist to the old classic which just proves the greatness of the original models used in the series.

Aoshima’s website is not super user friendly but as near as I can tell they offer at least 12 different Thunderbird models. Six are part of their MINI series and six in their other line. The mole has currently two different versions in their inventory. One of the kits is in 1/72 and I believe is a copy of the older Imex kit and this other MINI mole.

The EQ2050 Meng Shi (also known as Dong Feng Armour) is the 1.5 ton capacity, four-wheel drive troop/cargo carrier truck developed and built by Dong Feng Motor Corporation (DFM). The vehicle was based on the General Motors High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) with some minor modifications. This would definitely explain why it looks so similar. According to Chinese media reports, the military version WQ2050 is made with 100% Chinese made parts.

Like its hardtop predecessor (HobbyBoss 82468), this is another new kit from HobbyBoss! HobbyBoss has really been cranking out the wheeled and tracked vehicle kits in the last couple of years. These are not kits that other companies are releasing but new and previously unreleased kits. HobbyBoss now has three vehicles based on the Dang Feng 1.5 ton chassis.

David Doyle has produced a fine reference on the M561 Gama Goat. This is just in time for us to use to super detail the latest offering from Tamiya. The front and back covers feature the excellent art of Don Greer.

The book begins with coverage of the Meili Metrac and the Clark Flex-Trac. There are pictures of both these vehicles undergoing field testing. The Gama Goat was designed by Roger Gamaunt and licensed to Chance Vought who proposed it to the military in 1961. It was rejected. By 1963 a contract was awarded. The vehicle was tested in Thailand, but was never used in Vietnam. It saw action in Grenada.