The Patriot missile system came into the limelight when it was deployed to allied bases during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. I remember a lot of footage of it being fired at incoming SCUD missiles, where it had some success. I have always wanted a Patriot system in my preferred scale, and Trumpeter has released the system with its prime hauler, the M983 HEMTT.

You get over 150 parts molded onto 7 sprues of gray plastic, a sprue of clear parts for the cab, a few extra parts, 14 rubber tires, a die-cut masking set for the windows, and decals. The instruction booklet leads you through the 16 steps of construction, and there is a separate Painting & Marking guide in full color with color call-outs for several brands of paints. Unfortunately, there are no detailed painting instructions for the engine, inside the cab, etc., so I used references from the internet for my build.

Construction starts with the HEMTT. Axle units and a slightly detailed engine are added to a single-piece chassis, and everything lines up well. I left the wheels off until after painting. The cab is built up next. The seats are molded into the floor piece, to which you add a few more parts. Windows are inserted from the inside, and the masking set works well, so I had no issues there. The only construction problem I ran into was when trying to put the top and bottom parts of the cab together. I could not get the parts to connect, and with the windows masked, I could not see if there was something getting in the way. In the end, I resorted to some heavy-duty clamps and things were back to acceptable. The rear of the vehicle is next, and those parts fit well for the most part.

The trailer starts as two main parts, and then everything else gets added to that. There are two outrigger options, so you can build it in transit or in the firing position (I chose the latter). The outriggers are very simplified, and there are some major mold lines that need to be removed, but a file and sandpaper took care of them.

The missile system is next. Again, no issues were found during construction, and you can probably make the unit rise and lower if you want. The instructions only have you build it raised, even for the travel mode, which is odd.

The launch unit is attached to the trailer along with some boxes and railings, then the wheels are attached, and you are done with the build. The boxes have tabs that clip into the trailer, which gives a secure fit, but need to be removed for a more accurate model. An aftermarket set with photoetch for the many grill areas would add to the realism, and there should be a bunch of cables between the power units and the launcher, but that would have raised the price of this kit.

The painting guide only offers one option, and this is for a vehicle in the NATO tri-color camouflage. I wanted a Desert Storm vehicle, so I sprayed it overall in Desert Sand (Tamiya rattle can), but hand painted a couple of the missile boxes in the tri-color scheme just for some variation. The decals went on easily, and a flat coat sealed the deal.

I highly recommend this kit! Thanks to MRC and Trumpeter for the review sample, as well as to the IPMS/USA for allowing me to perform this review.