TMN: Preview: two new subjects in September from I Love Kit

An awesome pickup HEMTT & a historic Fletcher-class destroyer are the latest releases from I Love Kit. Art, info, sprues & built-up test kits in our preview...

Preview: two new subjects in September from I Love Kit

HEMTTA4 M977A4 Cargo Truck

By I Love Kit

Model no. #63561

1/35th scale

Product link on the website

Price: $135 USD from Hobbylink Japan

The Oshkosh M977A4 HEMTT Cargo Truck serves as the logistical backbone of modern battlefield operations, engineered specifically to bridge the gap between secure supply depots and hazardous forward-deployed units. With an impressive 8x8 drive configuration and an upgraded 515-horsepower Caterpillar C15 engine, this heavy tactical vehicle conquers punishing off-road terrains while hauling up to 21,561 pounds of critical ammunition, rations, and equipment. Its signature rear-mounted crane allows crews to independently load and unload massive payloads in remote environments, drastically reducing reliance on external materials-handling equipment and accelerating the pace of combat resupply missions.

Marking choices included in this kit

& the decals...

& masks included in this kit

Beyond its brute strength, the M977A4 prioritises crew survivability and modern operational readiness through a heavily redesigned, factory-armoured cab. Built in strict alignment with the military's Long-Term Armour Strategy (LTAS), the vehicle provides its operators with robust, integrated defence against small-arms fire and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) without sacrificing interior space or climate control. This balance of a ruggedised, blast-resistant chassis with advanced drive systems—including an automated air-ride suspension and an anti-lock braking network—ensures that vital logistics can be delivered safely and efficiently through the world's most contested combat zones.

Clear parts for the windows and lights are included, & photo-etched parts are included.

Model Length: 299.6 mm - Width: 103.5 mm

Total Parts: 740+

Total Sprues: 20 sprues and cab

More Features

- Detailed multi-directional slide-molded cab.

- Full drivetrain assembly complete with engine transmission, differential housing and suspension units.

- The main tyres are hollow rubber with a good tread pattern.

- Wheel hubs have good detail

The kit; made up by in-house model makers from I Love Kit.

USS Sullivans DD-537

By I Love Kit

Model no. #65310

1/350th scale

Product link on the website

Price: $65 USD from Hobbylink Japan

The USS The Sullivans (DD-537) is a legendary Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy, famously named to honour the five Sullivan brothers who tragically died together when the light cruiser USS Juneau (CL-52) was sunk during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942. Construction on the vessel began on October 10, 1942, and she officially entered service on September 30, 1943, quickly deploying to the Pacific theatre of World War II. Throughout the war, she engaged in intense combat operations, supporting the Allied landings at Leyte Gulf and repelling severe kamikaze attacks during the Battle of Okinawa while rescuing downed American pilots and crew members from damaged friendly ships. The highly decorated destroyer earned nine battle stars for her World War II service before briefly entering the reserve fleet in early 1946.

Marking choice included in this kit

& the decals...

The warship was recommissioned in July 1951 to serve with distinction in the Korean War, where she earned two additional battle stars for bombarding strategic enemy supply lines. She later went on to support the US Marine Corps landings in Lebanon in 1958 and participated in the critical naval blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. Following her final decommissioning in 1965, the ship was donated to the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park in New York to serve as a historic memorial museum ship. Though a severe hull breach caused her to partially submerge at her pier in April 2022, emergency teams successfully plugged the leaks and refloated the vessel. Comprehensive, $21 million dry dock restoration efforts are actively scheduled for late 2026 to ensure her long-term preservation for future generations.