MRC has provided the IPMS/USA reviewer corps with Trumpeter’s new 2024 tooled 1/72^nd scale US M1240 M-ATV MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected – All Terrain Vehicle).

In the Box

The kit is enclosed in a top open box with a photo of the completed kit on the cover. Inside are several bags of sprues and parts all individually wrapped for protection. Five (5) tires are bagged and made from black vinyl. Also, enclosed is a small decal sheet and die-cut masks for the clear parts. The instructions are well illustrated with 29 steps.

Review Process

Trumpeter has you starting with assembling the chassis. Steps 1-13 covers the entire chassis assembly and because of the independent suspension of each wheel, I ran into some alignment issues at the very end. So, care must be taken to make sure all four (4) axles are installed properly so that all the tires are touching a flat surface in the end.

Next up, steps 14-22 are the cab assembly. The dashboard is well molded, and the kit provided decals can be used to add color or you can brush paint all the nice, raised features. I did this review as a box stock build, but some tape or aftermarket seat belts will really add some visual interest for the cab interior. Please note in step 16 some parts are mislabeled; part A35 should be A38, and A36 should be A39. Illustrations in the instructions were able to help sort out this potential confusion. During these steps, painting the interior will be needed prior to installing the floorboard. I did leave off the clear ballistic proof windows until the very end so I could spray clear flat coats and not have to worry about messing up the interior side of the windows. The kit provided masks are great for helping move the assembly along.

I did run into one problem with part A26, which is the lower aft armor plating that fits over the chassis frame later down the road. During a check fit to the chassis, the bottom opening of A26 is TOO SMALL to fit over the frame. If I was to build this again, I would leave off this part until you install the cab to the chassis. To allow A26 to fit over the frame, some major twisting on this part will be needed to maneuver it around the frame. Also, getting it off the chassis is harder than putting it back on without some permanent deformation of the part.

Steps 24-29 assemble the remaining back-end features and install the upper turret. Another mislabeling also happens in step 28. Part A38 should be A36, and part A39 should be A35. Again, good illustrations help solve the issue.

During this build, I used several shades of yellow sand colors. For the areas that are in the shade, I used darker colors or tinted it with a dark filter. For the exterior, I used Tamiya XF-57 Buff as the main sand color. I did add light weathering by using ground up charcoal. Once satisfied with the weathering, I airbrushed AK’s Ultra Clear Matt.

Once all the painting was completed, I installed the windows, comms/situational awareness components, and doors, I then considered it good.

Conclusion

This was a fun kit to complete but it did have some build issues. Some engineering procedures during the assembly had me scratching my head on part A26. Due to the small size of this kit, I would recommend it to those who are OK with dealing with small parts and are fans of the subject. This is a very cool looking armored vehicle and highly detailed for its diminutive size. If planned well, a show winner can be made from this kit.

I want to thank MRC for providing the Trumpeter US M1240 M-ATV MRAP kit and IPMS/USA for allowing me the opportunity to review.