Italeri
6392
There is a basic
disconnect between modelers and model companies; what the modelers
may want does not necessarily seem to be saleable by the companies,
and thus they will not spend the time and effortand especially
moneyin bringing a long-desired subject into reality. In some
cases, as with the clearly popular T-55 and Centurion, the reasons
for this reluctance seem to be rather obscure, as these will be
long time sellers and good for years to come. With other vehicles,
such as strange German "paper" vehicles that never saw
the light of day, they are seen as a good idea due to the popularity
of German subjects. The reality of the middle position is often
seen on websites and in magazines where modelers complain about
the lack of the former, and model companies and hobby shops wind
up dumping the latter at a loss.
One vehicle
which has been on many of the "Top Ten Wants" lists for
years is a 1/35 scale model of the GMC DUKW amphibious cargo truck
from WWII. None of the major companies thought it would be a big
seller, and thus for years it was ignored as a "loser"
effort by their design and marketing departments. Now, after six
years of rumors that Tamiya would do one to follow on the heels
of their excellent CCKW truck kit, Italeri has released a kit of
this "want" to see how the demand will really react.
First off, let
me start by saying that Italeri takes a lot of abuse by the "knowing
few" in that many of their kits are simplified and not as detailed
as those from other companies. In some cases, such as the AM General
M939 line of medium U.S. cargo trucks, I have to agree, as they
could easily have done a better job of it without glaring errors
like a wooden cargo floor and "half" tanks on the underside
details. On the other hand, Italeri also appears to be the only
company right now reading the "Top Ten Wants" lists and
trying to answer the mail. Hence, they have come out with kits like
the M109A6 Paladin, sWS German halftracks, the LVT-4 and LVT(A)-1,
and now the DUKW. Nobody else has bothered, so even if the kits
are not up to the standards of the "knowing few," they
got us as modelers someplace where we were not before.
But the kits
themselves need to be evaluated on their own merits, not the standards
of the "knowing few." The kit that Italeri has produced
is a clean, neat model of the DUKW and captures the look of the
prototypes very nicely. The moldings are clean, and in my example
not marred by sinkholes, which was always a minor problem with many
past Italeri kits. This is a relatively big model, but there was
no warpage in any of the four main hull sectionstop, bottom
and sides. Details such as rivets and weld beads are understated,
which is better in a model than the usual ham-handed approach taken
in years past by most companies.
The details
match up with the later production versions of the DUKW with the
"swept back" windshield and side windows, which appear
to have been standardized in most vehicles built after 1943. The
original vehicle used a standard CCKW type windshield which was
bolt upright. The unidirectional "mud" pattern wheels
and tires are not bad, but the wheels are standard two-piece affairs
which leaves them with "squared" shoulders rather than
the more common rounded profile as offered in the Tamiya CCKW kit.
Curiously, the kit shows the wave breaker (part 52A) in the erected
position, whereas most shots of this version of the DUKW show it
with the wave breaker not used or folded down when in the water.
Italeri also provides more controls and interior bits than they
have with some past kits.
On the negative
side, there are some things which appear to have been glossed over.
The grating for engine ventilation behind the crew compartment (part
15A) is somewhat coarse, but then again, it is down on the floor
of a bulkheaded compartment and not that visible. The cargo bed
plates on the original appear to be (at least from the ones I have
seen, so there may be other versions) made from plywood; while the
kit does not attempt to show wood grain, all things considered this
may not be a negative feature. I have found that for the most part
it's better to replicated plywood in 1/35 scale with a flatter coat
of paint than any of the surrounding "steel" elements
and drybrushing with a tannish shade to make it look like wood with
the paint wearing off.
The one truly
disappointing thing with the kit is that what you get issimilar
to the Tamiya CCKW kitthe "FOB Detroit" version
without a single optional part to use on it. In the case of the
DUKW, this is not a good idea. Most prominent of the missing parts
are the four wheel well skirts which were common on the later production
models. Even the early models soon show the use of at least the
front skirts on the vehicle. While they can be made up from sheet
and strip styrene, it would have been better if at a minimum Italeri
had included them with the kit.
Also missing
is any option to install a ring mount for a .50 caliber AA machine
gun. While photographs show that not many DUKWs actually carried
them, the kit gives the modeler no choice in the matter. The mount
bases are provided in the kit, so that if the modeler purchases
the Tamiya CCKW add-on kit with the ring mount and gun he can install
them on this kit with little trouble.
Lastly, items
missing include top bows (seen far more often than the canvas top,
as the DUKW was used most extensively as a ship-to-shore delivery
service with cargo being craned or netted into its cargo bay) and
a canvas top. Considering the relatively unsuccessful ability of
most manufacturers to produce a realistic canvas tarp in styrene,
this is not in and of itself an error. No figures are included,
nor is any cargo provided to fill the cargo bay. This almost immediately
calls for the recommendation to modelers to pick up the Tamiya CCKW
accessory kits: U.S. Vehicle
Accessories, a set of various jerry cans, boxes, tarps, crates
and barrels plus folding buckets to fill up the cargo bay, and U.S.
Cargo and Accessories for 2 ½ Ton Trucks, with the M49
series hip ring and .50 caliber M2HB. That adds $17 to the price
of the kit, however. Used with the DUKW, both will go a long way
at making a much better ETO DUKW. (German jerry cans obviously don't
work for the Pacific!)
Decals are provided
for three rather generic vehicles, which is a shame as there are
a good number of clear photos of some much better schemes and more
colorful markings. (My personal favorite is one named "Beaufighter"
from the Operation Dragoon landings in August 1944.) Also, so many
of these vehicles remain in use today on the part of tourism in
many cities and attractions, and a post-war one in use by a city
fire department or tourism bureau would make for some amazing finishes.
This kit has
been much wanted and I personally give Italeri my compliments for
having the courage to produce it.
- Cookie Sewell
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