FOCUS ON … : 1/35 Allied Trucks In Plastic Kit Form

UPDATE : JANUARY 2012 – With all the new kits out in the past year this is now due for a big update so I’ll be trying over the next couple of months to update this, the staff car list, and the motorcycle list with the couple of dozen new additions that need to now be added.

This section called “FOCUS ON … :” takes a look at a particular subject and what is available in the way of kits and a little about what you can expect from each. A few weeks ago we took a look at German trucks in 1/35 scale plastic kits ( see HERE ), so now it’s time to take a look at what is available in allied trucks in the same medium.

It seems that the allied modeller is never as well served by the main kit manufacturers as the axis modeller in any given area, and so you would expect this to be true with trucks. But you’d be wrong. If you look around there are some out there, more than there are German trucks in fact. Though where the German trucks are mostly cargo versions the allied selection is a little more varied and many come from the lesser known manufacturers, particularly those in the Eastern European countries. On top of that there is the promise of more to come.

So let’s take a look at what is available if you’re looking for one and what you can expect to get with each.

Italeri WC54 Dodge Ambulance :

Another old Peerless Max kit redone by Italeri, then rereleased by Italeri. Actually quite a good kit for its age, a little heavy on detail in places and lacking on some of the finer detail but you do get a good interior and with the addition of the Eduard PE set it turns out as a very nice kit. If you want a WC 54 Ambulance it’s the only boy on the block so if you want one then you have to do your best with this one but it is actually quite nice. This platform was also used by Italeri to make a Wc-52 3/4 ton truck and a Dodge M6 Anti-tank vehicle which are both OOP but will be added here separately if Italeri also rerelease them.

Italeri Chevrolet  15 CWT :

One of Italeri’s older kits which can also be found under the Peerlass and Aifix name, but the newer rerelease from Italeri is much better quality mouldwise, even though it’s more or less the same kit. Being older some of the detail is a bit heavy, particularly the canvas tilt for the bed. No engine or figures are included, but Italeri figures are dreadful anyway so you’re better of without any. Still a good kit and the only one in play so worth the effort to work with it to bring it up to the current level of detail.

Italeri Bedford Truck :

Another kit that can be found in old Airfix or peerless Max livery that made it’s way to Italeri and has now been cleaned up and rereleased by them. The truck is quite a nice piece, and again is the only player for a 1/35 Ql Bedford so a good thing it is. A quite decent complete engine is included but no figures. The detail is again a little heavy in some places and missing in the fine detail department, mainly the interior of the cab. That aside it still makes a nice model.

Italeri Bedford QL Gun Portee :

The truck is the same kit as above with the same pedigree but with the inclusion of Italeri’s 6pdr Anti-tank gun and the mountings for it. The gun requires a bit more love to get the best out of being a little heavy in detail but it can still turn out quite presentable. You also get ammo tins and ammo for the gun. This kit includesthe gun and a few more bits so is a bit better value for money than the Italeri Bedford QL Truck on its own but only if you really want the gun as well.

Italeri 2 1/2 ton 6X6 Truck :

Another of Italeri’s rereleases and a very nicely made one for it’s age. Again it’s a little simplified and basic in some of the detail, particularly the interior and the .50 cal machine gun. You get the choice of a winch or no winch. No engine is included but it has a very nice underside. There is a driver figure  included but he is awful. Bin him. The only full cab version of the GMC around currently and a decent companion to the Tamiya version. Italeri also used this platform to make a tanker truck version which is OOP but will be added here separately if Italeri also rerelease it.

Italeri Russian Zis-5 :

A simple, cleanly moulded kit, a little soft in detail in some places and missing some of the smaller, finer details but still makes up into quite a good kit. This represents a Zis-5V with the simplified wooden cab. The wood grain detail is very nice, there’s a full, if somewhat simplified engine, the doors are separate part, and you get a single driver figure who isn’t the best figure around but does the job. The seven tyres included are all the soft vinyl type ones. Also available reboxed by Zvezda.

Italeri DUKW :

The oldest version of the Itaeri DUKW family and thus the most basic. The mould quality is still quite good though the detail is somewhat simplified with a lot of the finer detail just not being there. It comes with no cargo, no tilt, no gun, no crew. It is a very simple and basic kit to be honest. It still makes up into quite a nice kit if you just want a fair representaion of a DUKW, not to mention a rather large one and is usually quite cheap if you find it so worth it for a quick and simple build. For a better version try one of the later releases.

Italeri DUKW w 105mm Howitzer :

This is the same kit as above but with the inclusion of Italeri’s U.S. M2 105mm Howitzer and a few extra parts, mainly parts to accomodate the mounting of the gun and a tyre to hang over the side as a bumper when in the water. The gun itself isn’t bad, again the detail is a little simplified and as with most older kits there’s a little more cleanup required of knock-out marks as manufacturers back then hadn’t quite cottoned on to minimising their effect. The gun comes with three crew figures but as has been mentioned before Italeri just never could do figures so they really aren’t worth having.

Italeri DUKW 353 :

This kit may actually be a case of a manufacturer actually listening to feedback as this takes the original DUKW and makes it better. Not earthshatteringly better, but better none-the-less by including the wheel inflation parts of the tyres that are missing in the original kit, adding a pulpit ring mount with a Browning M2 .50 cal machine gun, and adding stowage in the form of four jerry cans, two fuel drums, two large boxes, two small boxes and some rolled stowage. The price difference between this one and the original one can often make the original seem the better option but only if you can find the original at the old pricing, the current pricings only have them $10 a part making this version the better value for money.

Italeri DUKW British Army :

The latest rendiditon of the DUKW by Italeri. This one again takes the first version and “updates” it with a few more parts. This time it gets British Army markings, a full tilt, the Browning M2 .50 cal machine gun with the pulpit ring mount. It also gets different stowage in the form of two boxes, two spare wheels and a jerry can. For some reason though it doesn’t this time get the tyre inflation bits. If a full tilt is important go for this kit, if not the DUKW 353 kit is the best option in my opinion.

Tamiya Quad :

An older kit that Tamiya has just cleaned up and rereleased. A nice, simple and well detailed kit that makes up very nicely. The interior is a little light on detail but the rest looks good despite its age and can be dressed up very nicely with the Eduard Photo-etched set which adds a lot of the missing finer detail like doorhandles etc. A single driver figure is included but no other equipment. This kit is also available together with the 25pdr Field Gun in a separate kit. Although it costs alittle more to buy both separately it’s worth it to get the gun crew.

Tamiya L.R.D.G. Chevrolet :

Available in two different kits, both OOP. The original 1970s kit and the much more recent version which is the excat same kit with the addition of the Italeri Breda Anti-Aircraft gun. Nicely detailed kit for its day. Includes the Lewis gun, a Boyes anti-tank gun, some boxes and rolled stowage. Also includes two figures and markings for a New Zealand truck. The original crops up on ebay and TradeMe from time to time, the newer one was a limited edition released in 2009 so still around but getting harder to find.

Tamiya 2 1/2 ton 6X6 Cargo Truck :

A very nicely made kit with a lot of deatil. The wood detail in particular is very nice. It includes a full engine and a single driver figure and Tamiya makes their own detail set for it which adds a Browning M2 .50 cal machine Gun on pulpit ring mount, cabin tilt and canvas door covers, several bits of stowage and even a dog. Possibly the best 1/35 scale plastic kit of an Allied cargo truck available at the present time, with the possible exception of the ICM Studebaker.

Tamiya GMC 2 1/2 ton 6X6 Cargo Truck “Red Ball Express” :

The same kit as above but with the Tamiya “Allied Vehicle Accessory Set” added which adds a lot of jerry cans and fuel drums for a load as well as a lot more stowage gear. You also get two additional figures, some welding tanks and some tools. If you’re buying one of these this is the beter choice of the two as it doesn’t cost much more than the base kit and you get a lot more in it.

Read a full review on this kit HERE

Tamiya Dragon Wagon Tank Transporter :

This kit features an abundant use of multi-media parts such as photo etched parts, pipes, chains, chrome plated parts, and rubber tyres. There are also metal plates with screws and washes to reinforce the trailer. It is a beautiful kit, not to mention a very involved one as it comes with a LOT of parts that are all beautifully detailed. Quite possibly one of the best 1/35 plastic injection moulded kits around. Like all Tamiya kits it goes together like a dream and looks just stunning. Not to mention big. You get four crew figures for inside, they’re the usual “twins” being two pairs of the same body/legs/head but with different arms. If you need a U.S. tank transporter get this kit without a doubt. In fact if you don’t need one get this kit anyway just for the fun of building and displaying it.

Tamiya M26 Armoured Tank Recovery Vehicle :

This kit uses the Tractor from the Dragon Wagon kit and comes with the same range range of muti-media parts though of course without the trailer parts. You do get an additional two standing figures for outside the truck as well as the four figures for the inside. There is a rumour Tamiya is to discontinue this kit as it doesn’t sell as well as the Dragon Wagon. I think people don’t realise is that all you lose is the trailer but you gain a lightweight crane mounted on the rear and this kit is around 2/3 the price of the Dragon Wagon so it would be a shame to see it go as it’s also a very nice kit in its own right.

ICM Studebaker US6 :

Another very nice kit of a U.S. cargo truck that saw service everywhere. The mouldings are good though requiring a little cleanup, the level of detail is good particularly the interior of the cab and you get a very nicely detailed complete engine and a very nice chassis. The doors are separate and can be modelled open or closed, the tailgate can be made to work and the seting in the rear can be modelled folded up or down. There is an error in the wheels in early releases of this kit that is passable if you’re not finicky. The tread pattern lines up front and back rather than being offset. That will require replacement wheels or delicate surgery to cut the wheels down the centre to be able to realign the tread and then fill the resultant gap from the cut. A seemingly small thing but it does detract from an otherwise excellent kit. ICM have since corrected the wheels but nothing identifies which kits are the new ones from the old ones.

ICM Studebaker US6 U4 :

This is the same kit as above except coming with the bumper mounted winch and a full tilt cover. This version also has the corrected tyres with the right pattern, otherwise it’s the same kit as the US6.  The US6 was more common in Russia, the US6 U4 was more common in U.S. service. Given the choice this is the better kit as you know you’ll get the right tyres and the full tilt cover is also a nice addition.

ICM BM-13-16N Katyusha :

This uses the same Studebaker US6 kit as above but replaces the rear cargo tray with the Russian Katyusha rocket system. The rocket frames and their mounting system are very well made and look good, only lacking the firing wires etc. This kit includes the new corrected tyres with the right tread pattern plus of course the very nice engine and chassis. You also get sixteen nicely detailed, and supposedly accurate, rockets.

Zvezda GAZ AA :

Actually a very nice kit with very clean mouldings and nice sharp detail. Some of the finer detail is missing (not that Russian trucks had much ) but you do get a very nice complete engine and a full tilt cover. The woodgrain effect on the wooden parts is very well done and you also get a nicely detailed chassis. The seven tyres included are all the soft vinyl type ones and to be honest a good set of resin ones with good tread detail would look better.

Zvezda GAZ AAA :

This is the same kit as above but being the twin rear-axled version so it comes with a new sprue that includes the parts for the new chassis frame, third axle and the suspension setup parts. So you still get the same high quality moulding, the same engine and the same full tilt cover. You also get an additional four soft vinyl tyres for the extra wheels.

Zvezda Zis-5 :

A reboxing of the old Italeri kit. A simple, cleanly moulded kit, a little soft in detail in some places and missing some of the smaller, finer details but still makes up into quite a good kit. This represents a Zis-5V with the simplified wooden cab. The wood grain detail is very nice, there’s a full, if somewhat simplified engine, the doors are separate part, and you get a single driver figure who isn’t the best figure around but does the job. The seven tyres included are all the soft vinyl type ones.

Ark Models  Zis-5 :

The best of the Zis-5 models currently available. This kit is of the earlier Zis-5 with the full metal cab and rounded wheel arches. The mouldings are very good, well detailed and sharp. You get a very decent full engine, nice woodgraining on the cargo bed planks and a well detailed chassis. This version also includes seven soft vinyl tyres but this kit has no figure. It builds up quicly and easily with no mojor clean-up or fit issues. Unless you specifically want a wooden cab if you’re looking for a Russian WWII truck this or one of the Zvezda GAZ versions is the one to go for.

AFV Club WC63 :

Originally released under the Skybow name this is an extremely nice kit with a very good level of detail and nice clean, sharp moulding. You get a very nice complete engine and a well detailed chassis. The wheels are injection moulded with the correct tread pattern. The interior of the cab area is nicely detailed and a full tilt cover is included as an optional part. No figures or personal equipment are included. Definitely a worthy choice if you’re looking for something a little different to the usual U.S. troop carrier.

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There is also the promise of a C15A and Bedford QLD from IBG and a Bedford Ql from SKP so I’ll update this if/when those are released. 

NB : If you know of anything we’ve missed please let us know so that we can update the list and keep it as accurate as possible.

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