DLD Productions Kamodo APC

5/31/04 - DLD Productions has made so many improvements to their Kamodo kit this review is virtually obsolete. Not only have they improved some parts of the kit (including the tires) and reduced the number of part for an easier build, but have also lowered the price. Check DLD Production for the whole story on the improved Kamodo. 

I have never been one that was impressed with companies that make generic vehicles for miniature battles games. They generally want their products to fit into several different game genres so you end up with a vehicle that is very non-descript and doesn't really fit into most themed armies. That along with poor casting and you get something resembling a brick with wheels. For those reason I never gave DLD Productions a second glance. It wasn't till I stopped by their table at a local convention and took a close look at what they have to offer that I realized that here was something different.

DLD Productions has many resin kits to offer, but what caught my eye was their Kamodo APC, a generic personal carrier that would fit into most 25mm to 30mm modern or sci-fi game system. Far from being a brick with wheels this is a real kit! Over 80 pieces, several working hatches, and an detailed interior is quite impressive in a market when similar resin vehicles would be just a two-piece hull and some wheels. With so many parts a resin vehicle like that should cost over $60.00, but the Kamodo APC cost only $35.00!

With a cost of only $35.00 it is easy to assume that the quality of the kit is fairly poor. Nothing can be further from the truth. All piece are extremely detailed, right down to the nuts and bolts. The casting is also excellent. A few parts need some minor cleanup of excess resin, and just a few air holes that would need putty work. If I had to find any fault with this kit it would be with the tires. The treads on the tire and not uniform and could use a bit of cleanup work. However once painted and on the vehicle they are not as noticeable.

Just one more surprise. As Games Workshop has their Rhino tank which is the basis for almost every other tank in Warhammer 40k, so is the Kamodo the core vehicle for DLD Productions further releases. One optional variant available is a massive heavy fire support deck that can turn your simple APC into a wicked tank. The fire deck slides right onto the top of your APC. Want an APC again and just slide off the fire support deck and replace the original deck. Additional variations are planned by DLD so you can turn your APC in a tactical operations center, a mortar carrier, a recon scout vehicle, a radar station, or AT missile launcher.

DLD Productions have created a truly excellent kit at a amazing price. The kit does come in 80 pieces so you'll need some modeling experience to get it all together. However the novice modeler may wish to skip all of the interior detail and extra bits making building much easier. Keep up the good work DLD Productions!

DLD Production kits are available direct from DLD Production.