THIS KIT WAS A GREAT surprise - and a delight to many model makers - when it was announced. Until now, Meng, one of the newer Chinese model companies operating out of Hong Kong, has concentrated mostly on 1:35 scale AFVs and associated military, with a few aircraft in 1:72, 1:48, and 1:32 scales. Now this 1:24 scale kit - a Ford F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab - has been produced to fill a gap that seems to have been oddly missed by the American manufacturers.
Mat Irvine: This review will be followed by a buildup in the not too distant future, but until then, let’s have a look at what’s in the Meng Ford F-350 box. What you get is a highly-detailed kit, with full engine, chassis, and drivetrain detail. The four-wheel drive axles are there, and the front wheels are steerable.
Box contents (below) include a single chrome-plated runner, a small decal sheet, and peel-off chrome foil for the rear-view mirrors.
The cab is a one-piece moulding, with separate floor, side panels, and seats. Even the headlining is separate, a feature that’s rare on any model car (or truck) kit. The pick-up bed has separate sides as well as tailgate, and there are parts to extend the bed with the tailgate down, to make for a slightly larger load area. That option, and a choice between two sets of wheels, are the only variations available, but too much of a choice can sometimes be a disadvantage - here you can just get on and enjoy the build.
The box is somewhat unusual, having a slip-on outer cover (below).
Being a full-blooded US pickup, the Ford F-350 has a large amount of chrome, which is reflected in this Meng model. Besides both sets of wheels, the massive grille and bumpers are also chrome-plated. The small, but comprehensive, decal sheet provides classic blue Ford oval badges. The colour-printed instructions give details for stock colours - graphite, red, and green.
As I mentioned, the US kit companies have missed out on these larger Ford pickups. Fine if you want the best-selling F-150, or even an F-250. However, the last F-350 available was the early 1990s version by Monogram.
The 20-page instruction booklet (below) is detailed and clearly laid out.
Scale stats
Meng Ford 350 Super Duty Crew Cab
Scale: 1:24
Parts: 171
Assembled length: 277 mm (10.75 in)
Manufacturer’s ref: CS-001
Thanks to Models for Sale for supplying the kit.
