TAG | Italeri Commando Jeep
21
FOCUS ON … : 1/35 Light Wheeled Utility Vehicle Kits in Plastic
0 Comments | Posted by Dean in 4. All Reviews, 6. Resources
This section called “FOCUS ON … :” takes a look at a particular subject and what is available in the way of kits, after market accessories, etc. Today the focus is on 1/35 scale plastic kitsets of light wheeled utility vehicles in WWII ( I’ve excluded staff cars and bikes as I’ll look at them on their own in turn in a few weeks ).
It seems that tanks have always been more popular than SPGs and SPGs more popular than Armoured Cars, and Armoured Cars more popular than Trucks and right down the bottom is light wheeled utility vehicles. But when you look around you’llfind plenty out there and even more now with a few newer additions.
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 Willys Jeep :
The first incarnation of the Willys by Italeri and now OOP. This version comes with an optional soft-top, a trailer and two figures but honestly the figures are best thrown away, Italeri just could not do figures. The kit includes a reasonable representation of the engine as well as good frame detail. Though it is OOP this kit is still available however included with the Revell LCM3 landing craft.
Fit and finish is reasonably good for the age of the kit and it still presents well having the benefit of the trailer as well.
Italeri 1/4 ton 4×4 Truck :
Better known as the Willys Jeep, but one assumes Italeri had some licencing issues there. Detailwise this is about on a par with the Tamiya offering though this offers no driver. This offering is a tidied up re-release of the above and now comes sans canvas top and trailer but instead with a radio, .50 Cal Browning MG and wire cutter mounted on the front bumper. All else is as above. Overall the fit and finish is reasonably good.
The mouldings are tidy, the detail in places can be a little soft or simplified but overall a good little kit and considering if you want a Willys you’re limited to the Italeri or Tamiya offering then it pretty much comes down to what comes with it as this still makes up into quite a nice kit.
One odd feature that is concealed by the boxart is that in this kit the radiator grille is the cutaway one found in the Commando Jeep ( one assumes for simplified production they opted to share the radiator grilles between kits ) with the vertical bars removed to improve airflow ( a feature incorporated into SAS jeeps in the desert ). Decals are provded for four vehicle options though all are based in Germany in 1945.
Italeri Commando Jeep :
Basically the same base kit as above but this version removes the .50 cal, the wire cutter and the radio and replaces them with five Vickers K MGs, a Bren gun and an MP40 as well as long range fuel tanks and extra stowage to allow you to build an SAS jeep. As above this has the cut radiator grille. This makes up into quite a nice kit and makes a good companion to the Tamiya SAS jeep. This kit does have a driver figure incuded ( the original US driver complete with canvas top frames on the same sprue ) but again he is best binned.
Italeri Kubelwagen Type 82 :
Not as detailed as it’s Tamiya counterpart lacking detail like the engine, seperate doors, floor slats, and exhaust pipes that are all found on the Tamiya kit. It’s a rewarding kit for the superdetailer to go mad on but honestly if you want a good OOB Kubel get the Tamiya offering. The mouldings are reasonably good, again some detail is a bit soft and lacking but what you do get requires minmal cleanup.
This kit includes a DAK officer and a trooper sitting at a radio in front of a zeltbahn tent. These figures are slightly better than some of their earlier offerings but still are a long way short of what we expect in a 1/35 scale plastic figure these days. This kit can also be found boxed as a Heller kit.
Italeri Schwimmwagen Type 166 :
Again not as detailed as the Tamiya equivalent, though less noticeably so this time, though again my advice would be given the choice to chose the Tamiya kit. Fit and finish is on a par with the Italeri Kubelwagen.
This comes with three figures and a bicycle. One figure is a woman civilian, one a Luftwaffe officer in a leather jacket and the third a Fallschirmjager trooper holding the bike. Again these figures are okay but not spectacular.
Italeri Volkswagen :
As far as I know the only offering of this kit available so if you want one this is your only choice. There’s not a lot to this kit and I’d give the level of detail similar marks to the Kubel. It does however come with seven figures and a fuel drum which are actually quite well presented ( so much so one wonders if they aren’t a reboxing of another manufacturers figures ). All are dressed in DAK uniforms and make quite a nice little vignette.
Tamiya GAZ 67B Russian Field Car :
Long out of production but if you can find one this is your only option. It isn’t the best kit Tamiya made but with some work it can be turned into a reasonably good kit. The mouldings are good but the detail is somewhat lacking.
Comes with three figures, one pulling a light machine gun on a wheeled trolley.
Tamiya Willys MB Jeep :
There are two versions of the Tamiya Willys around, the old discontinued version comes with a trailer and four figures, the 1997 version comes with just one figure. Whilst that sounds like the older one is the better one it isn’t. Yes it comes with more but the kit itself is rather poor compared to the later one ( or any of the Italeri ones ). The current version is a very nice kit, well moulded and building up into a nice representation of the Willys Jeep.
As mentioned it comes with one figure ( a driver ) and also includes an engine, an optional pedestal mounted M1919A4 .30cal MG, a M1 Garand rifle in a vehicle mount bracket and a Thompson SMG in a vehicle mount bag.
As I said with the Italeri jeep which you choose is a case of horses for courses, the Tamiya Jeep has the .30cal MG, the Italeri the .50cal, the wire cutter and the radio.
Tamiya Willys Jeep SAS :
As above with some variations to allow you to depict a SAS jeep as used in the desert. The radiator grille is modified to have all but two of the vertical bars removed to improve airflow, the M1919A4 MG goes in favour of three Vickers K guns and you lose the engine. In exchange you get extra weapons and stowage – a Browning .50cal MG, a Thompson SMG, a Bren gun, an MP40 SMG, sand channels, ammo tins and a total of 15 jerry cans.
There are two figures included, both wearing the traditional arab style headgear the SAS were known for as well as shorts and rolled up sleeves. The driver also wears gloves and both are provided with goggles.
Tamiya US Amphibian Ford GPA :
Based on the Willys Jeep platform the GPA ( General Purpose Amphibious ) was the little brother to the DUKW. This is a very nice little kit that makes up easily and well.
A driver figure is included as well as a small ammount of stowage ( a box, a large rolled tarp and two small rolled tarps.
Tamiya Kubelwagen Type 82 :
A much better rendition than the Italeri kit having sperate doors, the fuel tank, floor boards, a partial engine and brake detail. It makes up into a very nice kit and would be my recommendation for a Kubel ( aside from the Dragon version discussed below ). The usual Tamiya kit that is clean and sharp and just goes together like a dream. There are many upgrade aftermarket kits available for the super detailer but just built OOB this is still a very nice model.
It comes with one driver figure wearing a peaked cap and ankle boots. He is posed half in and half out of the driver’s door.
Tamiya Kubelwagen Type 82 Afrikakorps :
As above but with the wheels swapped for those with the large balloon tyres used in the desert and the driver swapped for a standing figure in DAK shorts and shirt.
Tamiya Kubelwagen Type 82 Ramcke :
As above but with the addition of five figures representing members of the Ramcke Parachute Brigade ( Fallschirmjagers ).
Tamiya Schwimmwagen Type 166 :
There are two versions of the Tamiya Schwimmwagen out there, the original which is best left alone and the current one which makes up into a very nice kit and is prefered over the Italeri version. It’s a simple and easy kit and presents well once complete. A single driver figure is included. This kit is also available combined together with Tamiya’s four figure Front Line Reconnaisance set.
Tamiya British Light Utility 10Hp “Tilly” :
As this kit is new I don’t have any real info on it yet but first reports are that the moulding and detail are excellent and that it is a very fine kit made with the input from suitable experts on the Tilly.
Dragon/Cyber Hobby Kubelwagen Variants :
These kits were produced by Cyber Hobby ( an arm of Dragon ) as limited production kits in four variants – Workshop, Cold Weather Starter, Radiocar, and Ambulance. Each variant used the Hasegawa/Bego Kubelwagen as the base and then added appropriate figures and conversion parts specific to each.
The kit itself is very good, better even than the Tamiya kit coming with a full engine, fuel tank, separate doors, separate floor boards and well detailed front suspension. Each kit is usually loaded with PE, figures and accessories for each variant.
Being a limited edition they are no longer available but if you can get one I’d recommend you do as they are well worth it.
AFV Club 3/4 ton WC 56/57 :
A well made kit, well detailed including engine, chassis and either a .50cal Browning MG or a five gallon oil tank. It has the option to be built as a WC 56 or WC 57 version and can be displayed as Patton’s Command vehicle. No figures are included. Being the only kit of this available you don’t get a lot of choice if you want one but you won’t be dissappointed with the end result. ( Previously produced as a Skybow kit ).
AFV Club 3/4 ton WC 51 :
A very nice kit with very nice detailing and making up into a vehicle that was used all over the Western and Eastern theatre but this is the only representation in kit form. It includes a full engine and transmission with well detailed underside. No figures are included but it does have a quite good .50cal pedestal mounted MG and includes a length of string to use for the cable. ( Previously produced as a Skybow kit ).
Miniart 4×4 Bantam BRC :
The Bantam lost out to the Ford Willys for the contract to supply the US armed forces so instead made several thousand vehicles which were provided to Russia and Britain as part of the lend lese programme. So this kit coming with a US crew is a little odd.
The kit itself makes up into a very nice model but there is more than the usual clean-up required to remove flash and mould seams. It has an engine and a nicely detailed underside. Five crew are included with two being MPs and the rest seated or standing in the Bantam
Miniart Soviet Command Car with crew :
As for the Bantam BRC but with a russian crew instead ( four seated males and one standing female signaller ).
Minart British Command Car with crew :
As for the Bantam BRC but with a British/Commonwealth crew instead ( an officer and two NCOs in shorts and rolled up sleeves ) and markings for 1st Armoured in North Africa in 1942 and the RAAF in Libya in 1941.
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.
.
For those who don’t know them Black Dog are manufacturers of resin add-ons for 1/48 scale kits who have now moved into 1/35. Most of their kits consist of large stowage piles for adding to various vehicles and these two new ones will probably be well received here with our history in the LRDG and SAS during WWII.
These are stowage sets for the Tamiya or Italeri Jeep and the Tamiya LRDG truck. Personally I think the LRDG one looks a little overdone but the stowage pile does look interesting.
