Dumpsters, Green
Scale: HO (1/87)
Item: HTD-8002 (green), HTD-8003 (blue)


Hi-Tech Details brings us a set of HO scale dumpsters in two colors, green or blue. Three kits to set. These provide a necessary model of these ubiquitous components of modern society.

Introduction

"Dumpster" is actually a brand name of the American company Dempster, but has become a "genericized trademark", so says Lauren Vork on http://www.ehow.com/about_4707319_dumpsters.html. I never knew. It's true that you see them everywhere now, and probably don't stop to think about them-- unless you're writing a review and need to set a timeframe. She goes on to say that the device (called a "wheelie bin" in Great Britain) first became commonplace in the 1970's.

Appearance

The first thing to note is the brightly-colored styrene plastic. These are very attractive in instantly recognizable prototype colors, either green or blue. The lids are molded separately in black-- well done! Moreover, for each of the three units provided in each packaging, there are 2 lids detailed outside (to model closed) and 2 lids detailed underneath (to model flipped open).

Build

I didn't paint my sample, so the color of the styrene is preserved, but the sanded edges show whiter in these blown-up photos. The wheels could use paint nonetheless, and rust and grime applied if the builder desires.

Assembly of these small parts is delicate, but the instructions are very well written and even warn of building too quickly, before glue joints are set. Another nice touch. Furthermore, the instructions refer to their website for a video assembly demonstration.

The sprues are crisp and free of flash; the plastic slightly soft but reacts adequately to Testors liquid cement. I did have a glued part fall off, but that may have been me moving the part around until after the glue had set.

I show photos here of one completed dumpster, to which I added a wad of masking tape for trash and a store-bought (badly-) prepainted figure for comparison.

Summary

Three dumpsters per package, available in either green or blue, both with separately molded black lids. This common item will enhance any modern-era HO scene. A fun little build too.