Skybow
TP3504
As the U.S.
spun up for WWII, they had just introduced a new, more tactically
focused and purpose built series of 3/4 ton 4x4 vehicles to supplant
and replace the 1/2 ton 4x4 series from the late 1930s. The WC-51/52
Weapons Carrier variant was designed for a squad of eight men (six
in troop seats and two in the cab) and was a very powerful and handy
vehicle for its size. But when the Army announced that it was going
to upgrade the size of a squad to 12 men, it seemed too small.
As the 2 1/2
ton trucks were deemed too big, and were finding too many other
functions to fill, Chrysler responded by creating what they felt
would be a good stand-in for the 2 1/2 ton class truck. By adding
four more feet to the WC-51 body, and an extra driven axle and new
suspension, they felt they had a sure winner that would meet all
of the requirements. The new truck was designated the WC-62 (without
winch) and WC-63 (with winch). The 1943 rollout prototype was dubbed
the "Big Shot" in large print on the sides of the body,
and ads from the Fargo division of Chrysler even showed it carrying
16 troops (albeit when compared with the scale of the vehicle, they
all would have had to be four feet tall...)
The WC-62/63
should have been a great gap filler, but in reality, they were found
to have a lot of shortcomings. The WC-51 weighed 7,050 pounds and
the winch added 300 pounds to that number. They had an engine that
produced a net 76 HP but could easily move the vehicle around. But
the WC-62/63 weighed in at 10,225 pounds/10,525 pounds respectively,
but had the same engine. Even adding a two-speed transfer case did
not help it out, as it was clearly underpowered. On paper the two
were interchangeable, but in the field the WC-62/63 quickly found
itself an orphan.
While it had
been suggested it could replace the GMC CCKW in most functions,
in reality it was ill-suited for most of the tasks handled by the
larger truck. Being slower and less maneuverable than the 4x4 was
not to its advantage, either. The result was that while over a quarter
million 3/4 ton based vehicles were built, only 43,000 of these
were built and most of them were quietly dumped after the war ended.
The only real
function it found was as the prime mover for the M1 57mm antitank
gun, the U.S. model of the famed British 6-pounder. This was only
in infantry regiments and divisions, as armored units used either
M2 or M3 halftracks for that function. Other than that, it was usually
a "hack" used for "trash hauling"rations,
personnel transfers, laundry, mail, etc.
Having said
all that, it had a certain charm and was (to me at least) one of
the best looking of the WC-51 family. Skybow has continued the great
job they started with the WC-51/52 "Beep" kit and the
WC-56/57 Command Car kits in this one, and it is another beauty.
The kit replicates
the original in that it pulls most of its parts from the previous
kitsthe clear parts and sprues A, B, E, F, and J are straight
from the WC-51 kit. It also includes the same two sprues for the
.50 caliber and its ring mount. But the kit adds a new chassis,
a new body, a supplemental suspension sprue with two more wheels
and a third axle, and a sprue with two very nicely done injection
molded canvas roofs for the body and cab.
I looked over
all of the parts with this kit and the only comment I have is that
if the body canvas is used, there are no bows for it. These will
have to be added from bent Evergreen or similar strip, and 0.020"
x 0.060" is about the right size for them. These go on the
inside of the canvas, so most modelers probably won't even bother.
The kit comes
with a very nice instruction booklet, which having built the WC-56/57
kit, must be followed to ensure you drill out the holes needed
for the version you have selected. Three sets of markings are included:
a truck from a Quartermaster truck company, one from a corps-level
artillery battalion in the 3rd Army, and the prototype at rollout
("Big Shot"). The first two are "hacks" and
can be stuffed to the rafters with odds and ends, so they offer
a lot of possibilities as is for diorama builders.
The only really
sad thing is that the old Italeri M1 57mm gun is currently out of
production, as it would make a great lashup with this nice new prime
mover!
- Cookie Sewell
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