I have today received my MB Mk II (Male). Oh dear! A cursory glance revealed rounded top track tensioners instead of squared ends, so the sides are the MK 1 moulding. (in fact the sprue is marked 72001 as per the Mk1's). The moulding sprue for the gun sponsons is that from the Mk1 but cut from the remainder (which featured the steering tail). The third sprue is new and features the new rear panel, narrowed drivers hatch and a pair of Lewis guns, plus the bits that were also on the 'steering tail' sprue. The rear panel features an offset storage? box and the tracks each have 15 moulded-on track extenders - neatly represented, evenly placed. The box art shows Gun sponsons From a Mk1 - by that I mean the paint finish suggested is camouflage patterned. I am not sticking my neck out here, but I do not recall reference to Male tanks having sponsons from Mk1s, Females certainly.
The box contents are: 3 tank sprues and one track sprue. There appears to be a little more flash than previously but the twist in the upper and lower body halves is negligible, being apparent only on the base half. As before, the tracks are rubber band style and will need some 'mud' to disguise some of the moulding entry points. The 'cheese' rear hatch is a separate moulding.
There are no 'extras', no PE, no Decals, so this kit doesn't offer many bangs for your bucks! A bit of a disappointment given that the Airfix offering has more 'accuracies' as a Mk 2.
I will add to this when I start the model.
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Regards TeeELL
Growing old is compulsory, growing up is optional.
Unfortunately when I heard they were going to do a MKII, I did email them giving them a few photos and a list of the more obvious differences. It would appear that yet again it was advice given to late to change their build.
It will still make up into a good interpretation of a MKII, but, things will have to be changed.... again!
Overall the Master Box main Body will still give you a better detailed base for your build than the Airfix MKII. The missing flange round the edge is still a big bugbear of mine.
Obviously the Track Adjuster cut out will have to be made square instead of round. The Sponsons are fine, even with camouflage, as they were often taken from broken down MK1s. I can't make it out very clearly, but it looks like the flanges of the MKII are missing from around the Cab front openings.
Overall it will still make a nice kit, just annoying that a chance to make alterations has been missed... sounds so much like another case of the Airfix Female MK1.
I've quite a few other models that I am tackling at the moment so I will take a closer look at the Mk II in due course. It is such a shame that, when so much information has come to light through this forum, that companies do not act upon it. That you contacted them to give them essential details of the Mk II and that they chose to ignore them is just such a pity. Still, if they had got it write what would we write about and discuss on the forum. Helen, have you seen photos of 'Male' gun sponsons that are clearly from Mk1's (ie retaining the camouflage)?
__________________
Regards TeeELL
Growing old is compulsory, growing up is optional.
I'm currently working on converting the track tensioner ends - to make them squared. I've made four squared ridges out of solder. One I shave off the circular shape, I will glue these on. After the glue dries, I will sand them down carefully so they are not as proud.
They cover up the rounded parts perfectly - once primer goes on.
