Videoaviation.com 1/32 MJ1-A (Early) Loader
By Roger Sams
History
The MJ1-A Aerial Stores Lift Truck (also called Jammer) was the standard USAF lift truck used to transport, load and unload a wide variety of munitions and other stores. A 25-hp diesel engine powers the drive wheels and cantilever lift arm, which has a capacity to lift 3,000 pounds. The Jammer served as the standard USAF bomb load vehicle since the 1950s. It was used extensively during both the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War. It can lift stores to a maximum height of 78 inches and uses side fork adapters and extension lift arms for increased flexibility. Controls at the rear of the lift table allow the load crew to make small adjustments for precise positioning of stores during loading. The MJ-1 series lift trucks were phased out of service with the USAF in favor of the Next Generation Munitions Handler by the early 2000s but continue to be used by other allied nations.
Packaging
The kit comes in a sturdy white cardboard box with a CAD illustration of the loader and some basic safety information on the top. Inside, the smaller pieces are bagged while the larger pieces are enclosed in bubble wrapped. My sample had no damage or broken pieces.
Instructions
The 3 page instruction sheet are high quality, well printed drawings that outline the logical 15 step construction sequence. There's a complete parts lay out at the beginning and a thorough painting and decaling guide at the end. The only paint scheme recommendation is yellow which was fairly common during the Vietnam era. Later versions off the jammer were often painted a dark OD green. No particular brand of paint or specific color was recommended. Overall the instructions are excellent. You should have no problem following the clear and concise drawings
Kit Parts
There are 35 total parts for the loader and 5 for the included driver/operator figure. All the parts are made of solid grey resin with very little flash. My sample had no air holes. The pour plugs appear to be easily removed and conveniently on the bottom or hidden side of the parts. Obviously it was well thought in its design phase. The smaller parts are thin and delicately cast, you will have to use care removing the plugs. There's good detail throughout the kit. The larger assemblies have good surface detail and will require some serious sanding to remove big pour plugs, fortunately there all on the bottom. I dry fitted the two larger sub-assemblies and had an excellent fit.
Decals
Printed by Fantasy Printshop, the decals are in good register and very well printed. Markings are provided for one USAF vehicle and include vehicle type and registration number, tire pressure markings and what are probably reflective marking for the edges of the vehicle. A decal is provided for the instrument panel too but the panel outline is raised on the model so this decal might be difficult to use. You'll have to decide what you want to do when it comes to the instrument panel. The decaling diagram is thorough and well laid out.
Figure
A seated driver/operator figure is provided. It's cast in the standard 5 piece breakdown (head, torso, arms, legs). Casting is pretty solid overall with good detail to what I'd guess is a common Vietnam ear Air Force OD fatigues. The detail is a little soft on the face and head but definitely not a show stopper. The figure should build up just fine and be a nice addition to the Jammer.
Extras
My sample kit was labeled MJ1-A (Early) but also included parts, decals and instructions to make the late version. Also included a nicely cast female driver/operator. I'll construct the early version.
Overall Impression
This is an excellent kit! Definitely a cool subject and perfect for a diorama or as a stand-alone model. The real vehicle, as you might guess, has numerous hydraulic lines all of which aren't included on the model. Some super detailing would really make this kit pop! And there's plenty of reference material on the Internet to help you out. The inclusion of a driver figure is an excellent touch and will really bring any diorama to life.
Thanks to Videoaviation.com and Resin Modeling Accessories for providing the sample kit.