Preface
"This hands-on review is NifeliZ's collaborative experiment in authenticity: a diverse team-from office professionals and LEGO enthusiasts to musicians and photographers-built our own kits alongside fans to experience their joys, struggles, and "aha" moments firsthand. By sharing raw insights into what works, what doesn't, and how we'll improve, we aim to create products that truly resonate with builders while offering you practical guidance.
Whether avoiding pitfalls or enhancing your creative flow, this collective journey-fueled by varied perspectives but united in purpose-is designed to make every assembly smoother, every connection more meaningful, and every build a shared story of growth."
If tanks on World War II battlefields were "frontline artists", the M7 Priest would surely be the most diligent among them. Tasked with the honorable mission of providing fire support to infantry, it earned the nickname “Priest” from soldiers. Today, however, we don't need to go to the battlefield to experience it-we can assemble a miniature M7 Priest tank right in our living room. Naturally, we pick up the instruction manual with respect, dust off the table lightly, as if about to embark on a tiny military engineering project.
Hello everyone, it's Cecilia again. If you're into military models, lego-style building sets, or World War II collectibles, you'll definitely find the upcoming experience interesting. Today, I bring you the M7 Priest-a miniature World War II tank model. Let's take a look at the assembly process from parts to finished product.
1. Packaging and Box Contents
Upon receiving the M7 Priest Tank Model, I noticed its sleek black box design. The overall look is simple, with the tank model on the cover understated yet detailed.
Box Contents:
•Bag 1 - 4 bags (Steps 1–38)
•Bag 2 - 4 bags (Steps 39–126)
•Transparent Bag - 1
•1 Instruction Manual
•1 storage box
•1 bookmark
•1 sticker
With all parts ready, it's time to start assembling.
2.Assembly Process
Bag 1 contains 4 parts bags
Let's start with bag [1.21] to assemble the chassis structure.
Next, open bags [22.37-1] and [22.37-2].
I noticed that in step 34, the colors of the parts in the manual differ slightly from the actual pieces. It doesn't affect assembly, but it looks a bit odd. I would recommend the manual be printed with colors more closely matching the real parts.
By step 37, the suspension system is complete. The overall structure is solid, and seeing the chassis formed gives me a sense of reassurance.
Next, open bag [38], which contains the tracks.
The manual provides a 1:1 length reference. I like to count the pieces first and then assemble them one by one. Pressing each track segment into place is surprisingly satisfying-it's genuinely relaxing.
After completing the tracks, the fit is excellent. Each segment meshes tightly, and the movement is very smooth.
Now move on to Bag 2, which includes four parts bags plus one accessory bag.
First, open bag [39.59].
This section focuses on the base of the turret.
Next, open bags [60.95-1] and [60.95-2].
The part used in step 60 actually has studs on both sides, but this isn't easy to recognize at first glance in the instruction manual. I had to look back and forth several times before confirming it. If a top-down view were added next to this step, it would become much clearer and make the assembly process noticeably smoother.
The parts in step 65 don't fit very well, which prevents the following pieces from being installed properly. I had to try several times, which was admittedly a bit frustrating, before finally forcing it into place.
If these were replaced with two identical parts, the issue could be resolved without affecting any subsequent assembly. Hopefully, this can be improved in future versions.
By step 95, I completed the turret assembly (the main gun and the front section of the fighting compartment). All parts fit well, and the overall structure looks complete.
Finally, open bag [96.126].
In the illustration for step 120, the instruction manual indicates that the parts are packed in a separate bag.
At the time, I wasn't entirely sure which bag it referred to. Fortunately, that bag contained only these two parts, so they were easy to identify at a glance; otherwise, I might have needed more time to confirm.
Adding a corresponding bag number or a brief note next to the illustration would make this step much clearer.
By step 124, the rear cover is completed. The addition of tail lights, tools, and storage boxes fills the rear of the tank nicely without making it look cluttered.
Finally, adding a few "bombs" as decorative elements makes the overall model feel more lively.
Next comes the decals. These are still transfer decals, and I habitually press them down first to ensure the pattern can be transferred smoothly.
With that, the final model is complete. The addition of the white star markings instantly gives the vehicle a classic World War II U.S. Army appearance.
3.Overall Evaluation
After completing the M7 Priest Tank, it's clear that the overall structure is quite compact, and the shape largely captures the visual characteristics of the tank. The proportions of the vehicle are well balanced, and details such as the turret, upper equipment, and rear tools are all represented, giving the finished model a complete appearance.
The finished model is reasonably stable and doesn't come apart easily during normal handling. The tracks move smoothly when pushed-though not at high speed-with a natural feel and moderate resistance, making it suitable for both display and light interaction.
From an assembly standpoint, the overall difficulty is not high. Most steps can be completed simply by following the instruction manual, and even beginners should be able to finish it without much trouble. Some color differences are slightly noticeable on the finished model, but they do not affect understanding the structure or the assembly process. However, in certain steps, the parts are quite small and dark in color, making them difficult to distinguish in the grayscale illustrations of the manual. Providing clearer angles or additional annotations would reduce the chance of mistakes and make the assembly process more intuitive and smooth.
The completed model is relatively small in size, but the shape is clearly defined, making it suitable for display. Overall, the M7 Priest tank is a military-themed model with a simple structure, moderate detail, and a relatively smooth assembly process. The finished model has a solid, restrained appearance, making it well suited for collection or desktop display.
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