MAD Modelbau - TPz 1 Fuchs KWS Hummel conversie kit (1/35) [ENGLISH]

The Transportpanzer 1 (TPz 1) Fuchs (English: fox) is a German 6x6 amphibious armored vehicle. The vehicle was developed by Daimler-Benz but manufactured and further developed by Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV). Fuchs was the second armored wheeled vehicle of the West German Bundeswehr. The Fuchs is used for various tasks such as troop transport, as an engineer vehicle, EOD vehicle, NBC reconnaissance, and electronic warfare. RMMV and its predecessors produced 1236 Fuchs 1s, most of them for the Bundeswehr. The Fuchs 2 is a further development of the design and was first shown in 2001. The Fuchs 2 is currently in production for export to Algeria, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. The vehicle is named after the fox (Vulpes vulpes), which is called "Fuchs" in German.
In 1988 the Royal Netherlands Army purchased 24 Fuchs 1 EOV vehicles. Twelve of these were converted into NBC vehicles in 2006.
Fuchs EOV Vehicle
During the Cold War, the Royal Netherlands Army recognized the need for tactical support in the field of electronic warfare (EPC). At the end of the 1970s, a letter of intent was signed by the State Secretary of Defense to join the German EPC program. Therefore, in 1988 the Netherlands also purchased the Fuchs and assigned them to the 102 EOV Company, which was founded on 23 November 1988 in Camp Holterhoek in Eibergen. In 2001 102 EOVcie moved to Garderen, and in October 2007 to the Lkol Tonnet barracks in 't Harde. In 2018, 102 EPC companies are part of the "Joint ISTAR Command" intelligence unit.
Initially, 102 had two platoons on standby and one mobilizable, each consisting of an EPC centre, four monitoring stations TPz 1A1 EloKa "Peiler" and two jammers TPz 1A1 Funkstörpanzer Fuchs "Hummel". In 2018, 102 EOV Company uses four different stations: a sensor station, a monitoring station and two types of jamming stations: 

Sensor station> On the vehicle roof there is an automatically folding telescopic all-round antenna with five arms. The sensor station intercepts radio and other data signals from a large area with a 19-metre-high antenna mast. The station transforms these signals into useful information. This gives soldiers a better picture of what is going on in their immediate vicinity.
Gauging station> The TPz 1A1 EloKa "Pillar". On the vehicle roof there is an automatically folding telescopic all-round antenna with eight arms, as well as a number of separate antennas for the HF range. The monitoring station is the 'smaller brother' of the sensor station. In combination with another monitoring station or sensor station, the sounder locates possible (enemy) transmitters.
Jamming stations> To make the use of radio and data traffic impossible for the enemy, 102 EOV Company has two types of jamming stations. These transmit on the frequency ranges with which the enemy communicates and where the interference is therefore necessary. The vehicles have large transmission powers to cover a large area. 102 EPC Company has:
TPz 1A1 Funkstörpanzer Fuchs „Hummel“.
TPz 1A1 Funkstörpanzer Fuchs „Hornisse“

In 2022, the Ministry of Defense made the decision to replace the current Fuchs systems. For a new system The Royal Netherlands Army is closely working together with Germany. Any new system should enter force in 2027.

Conversion set

Revell released a renewed version of the TPz 1 Fuchs A4 (number 03256) in 2017 in a specifically German version. This is a basic Fuchs version. MAD Modelbau from Germany then released a conversion set to the TPz 1A1 Funkstörpanzer Fuchs "Hummel" for this model, which can certainly also be used for the Dutch version.
The conversion set is a 3D printed product with improved parts this year (2023). The set is easy to order via the website of MAD Modelbau (no product number) and consists of about 33 parts that in some cases are combined in one printed part such as the antenna connections. All parts still have the support parts needed for 3D printing attached to the them. You have to remove them carefully yourself.
Mad Modelbau does not provide a manual or description with the set, but a photo "report" of the parts and where they will eventually end up is published on their website. You will also have to use them to remove the resin support parts and avoid cutting the official parts. You have to be careful here, but you can be done.

Mad Modelbau delivers the set in a neutral white box (without a label or anything, at least in my version) containing a simple zip bag with the loose parts inside. Unfortunately, without any support or extra packaging against mistreatment. Personally, I think that is asking for problems. In my bag there were indeed loose parts, fortunately after extensive inspection they turned out not to be parts, but with such minimal packaging and our brave parcel deliverers, this really must go wrong in the future.

These parts are in the conversion set: 
Aggregate
Antenna mast at the rear
Antenna kites
10x Antenne Connector 1
10x Antenna Connection 2
Exhaust
Roof
Clutch
Antenna on the back
Aft wall
Sidepods right and left
Glue aid Z-component
Antenna Plate
Sensor mast
You have to install all antennas with tension cables, cables and/or wire antennas with any tensioners yourself (between the masts) and that will certainly be a challenge.

I searched my archive for photos of Dutch Army Hummels and that yielded 37 very useful images, collecting for years pays! It certainly makes sense if you want to build the Army version to collect as much reference material as possible because the Revell standard Fuchs has quite a few differences from the Hummel. Simple example: the exhaust on the left side. By default, it just runs straight, with a small kink. On many Dutch Hummels it has been extended with a bend upwards and a kind of filter has been placed on it. Especially since the Fuchs/Hummel is an amphibious vehicle and the exhaust must therefore always be above the surface of the water.

Conclusion
This MAD Modelbau conversion set contains everything you need to create a Fuchs – Hummel version. It is based on the Bundeswehr German version. For the most part they do correspond to the Army version, but yes a rod here, the flashing light just in a different place, tools mounted slightly differently, you name it. In order to build the best possible Army version, it is definitely advisable to collect as much reference material as possible.
A clear minus is the packaging of the set. In a standard neutral cardboard box containing all 3D parts together in 1 zip bag without further protective packaging. That sometimes goes wrong with a shipment. All parts are still attached to the PCB supports, you still have to cut them loose.

Note that the set does not have a manual or description. But on the website of MAD Modelbau a number of photos have been placed that clearly show where the various parts belong. I have included them with this article for a good overview of the set.

The resin used is of good quality and not too thin. Still, you have to be careful, it breaks easier and always faster than full resin. As a precaution, I have already loosened all the parts and packed them better until I start building. The Revell model has been ordered and if I manage to put all those antennas and wires together in a Christian way, there will be a nice extra Army model in my collection. In addition to this conversion set, there are also after-market tires to be found and as an extra addition you can also take the after-market Fuchs cabin from MAD Modelbau for 22.00 euros. With the set described, you can create a beautiful Hummel that won't look out of place in many collections. Definitely recommended.

Thanks to MAD Modelbau for providing the review copy.