Barcode: 0 89195 86748 3
Packaging: 24 pieces per carton
Box Size: 8.7" x 11" x 1.8"

Features:

• Newly tooled 1/4 Ton 4x4 Truck
• Canvas windscreen cover molded w/details
• Photo-etched hood newly produced
• Photo-etched armor plates newly produced
• Slide-molded jerry cans w/photo-etched racks represented by multiple parts
• Intricate detailed bazookas w/newly tooled mount
• Delicate headlamp w/photo-etched parts is included
• Detailed dashboard & driver's compartment
• Armored plate over front grille
• Intricate engine grille reproduced
• On-vehicle tools w/newly produced photo-etched parts included
• Highly detailed steering mechanism and suspension system
• Highly detailed chassis
• Well-defined wheels w/authentic tire tread pattern
• One-piece slide-molded body tub
• Well-detailed seats w/realistic cloth pattern
• Compartment sides rendered w/rivets and fine details
• Complex engine represented by multiple parts
  

The military vehicle known in official US nomenclature as Truck, 1/4 Ton, 4x4, is probably the world’s most famous design in its class. This iconic WWII vehicle was produced from 1941-45, with more than 634,000 rolling off American production lines. They faithfully served not only the US military, but also allies like the UK, France and Russia. These small 4x4 vehicles were employed in numerous battlefield tasks, with one role being that of reconnaissance and scouting. Some vehicles involved in such missions were fitted with steel plates to better protect the occupants, and early efforts soon led to the fitting of specially designed armor kits.

Following a very popular earlier release (Item No.6714), Dragon has produced another exciting 1/35 scale kit of a 1/4-Ton Armored 4x4 Truck. The difference is that it carries two bazookas instead of the original kit’s .50-cal machine gun. The twin bazookas are fitted on a pintle mount that’s newly tooled especially for this release. Such an improvised weapon installation was observed on scout jeeps during the Battle of the Bulge, for example. The vehicle features a solid one-piece body tub for accurate assembly and alignment. Under the hood is an extremely realistic-looking engine that assembles from multiple parts; it can be shown off if the modeler chooses to model the hood up. Atop the hood, the windscreen is depicted wrapped in a canvas cover. The new armor plates are rendered in photo-etched metal to give a true-to-scale appearance, while other metal components provide items such as tool mounting brackets, hood retainers and various straps. All in all, this is one extremely potent little vehicle!

Reviews:

Armoured ? Ton 4x4 Truck w/Bazookas
Manufacturer: Dragon Models
Scale: 1/35
Material: Styrene & photo-etch
Serial Number: 6748
Price: TBA

Dragon:

The military vehicle known in official US nomenclature as Truck, 1/4 Ton, 4x4, is probably the world's most famous design in its class. This iconic WWII vehicle was produced from 1941-45, with more than 634,000 rolling off American production lines. They faithfully served not only the US military, but also allies like the UK, France and Russia. These small 4x4 vehicles were employed in numerous battlefield tasks, with one role being that of reconnaissance and scouting. Some vehicles involved in such missions were fitted with steel plates to better protect the occupants, and early efforts soon led to the fitting of specially designed armour kits.

The Kit Contents

The kit is supplied in one of the smaller standard Dragon boxes...and even so the contents rattle around a bit...mind you I suppose it a small vehicle after all. Perhaps they should have put two in, the same as they do for some of the small scale offerings? The kit is largely the same vehicle as 6714 but with two bazooka's instead of the .50 cal and different armour supplied as etched brass. Like that one there are improved parts included that are slightly different to certain parts included in the Cyber-Hobby 'Desert Raider' kit. I built that one. I enjoyed it too, despite the usual whinging from certain people that the gap between the radiator grill and the headlights was a millimetre too big. It hasn't yet been mistaken for another type of vehicle though.

It's not a complicated model, consisting of a one-piece slide-moulded chassis, fitted to a one-piece chassis. There's a full engine and drive train provided, which, with the addition of some wiring etc., is enough to leave the hood opened if you wish t display it that way, or even model the vehicle upside down in a ditch. The various hood catches are supplied as photo-etch.

The inside of the vehicle...if it can be called that on this vehicle...is of course fully detailed also. The dashboard being moulded with just the outlines of the dials, the faces being supplied as decals. There are etch parts supplied as headlight brushguards, and also for the single jerrycan rack at the rear of the vehicle. The options for displaying or converting the vehicle are reduced by the fact that only a canvas covered folded down windscreen is provided in the kit. It's obvious why Dragon have supplied it in this form, given the etch supplied as armour, but I feel the choice should have been offered anyway.

The twin bazooka's are supplied in two parts, and are fitted to a single pedestal mount in the back of the Jeep. The extra armour for the vehicle is as mentioned, supplied on the etched brass fret, and takes the form of a frontal flat plate ahead of the engine compartment over the radiator cover, and a 'U' shaped large shield in front of the crew compartment, flared over the rear wheel arches.

Conclusion

It's a small model, but well engineered and as usual for Dragon, superbly moulded. They've worked on certain parts that came in for some criticism on their original vehicle, and released the much improved 6714, and they've carried those changes through to this version. It will prove to be a quick and enjoyable build, and looks the part once built. Recommended.

- Vinnie Branigan