Gents,
I want to build a 1/35 or perhaps 1/48 Willys MB Jeep. What are the best kits around?
Thanks!!
Best one is the Tamiya Willys MB (newer one without trailer). They have a couple of old ones, one an SAS Desert Rat type and the other comes with a trailer, not very good kits.
Italeri Jeeps are still respectable, just not better than the new Tamiya.
Skybow (now AFV Club) does a really nice 1950s era Jeep called the M38A1. Very nice kit as well.
[#ditto] on the Skybow jeep. A very nice kit and worth the hunt to find one.
Saw a real M38 being towed on Route 17 North in Paramus about a week ago. I was in shock but pity i just had to go with the traffic flow.
As said before the Italeri (1/35th)jeep is a respectable kit.
CFR
I am working on that one right now. it is very good, fits well and has plenty of room for more minute accurizing… Ive put spark plug wires in mine and other plumbing as well as other engine bay details that a mechanic would be picky about.
For my 1/32 diorama (for some day…) i bought a Heller 1/35 Jeep. I spend quite some time measuring all different models of Jeep willys to find a model that would be (close to) 1/32.
Heller turns out best fo me, so that isn’t an option for yoou I guess.
It does have a trailer, which a nice extra.
For Italeri I remember it to be not entirely correct in size, but much better than the Heller. Better for you that is.
As for kit accuracy and build-ability, no clue.
Another thing I recall: shapes and size differ form model to model very very much. So it was well worth it being regarded (and who to blame?) as a modelling idiot, buying no model, opening every box and measuring some plastic pieces with the ruler behind my right ear…
Bandai makes a great 1/48 WWII Jeep. And you can find an adbundance of Bandai kits on ebay right now.
Dragon’s armoured jeep looks good on the box top, the photo etch armour doesn’t fit the body however. The Italieri has more detail than the Tamiya kit.The new dragon kit looks good on the sprues but I found molding deficiencies and ridiculous photo etch.Although Italieri’s has been posted on this site mine has a warped frame and hood. Hopefully Tamiya will issue a NEW kit sometime.
Mad rabbit: please note the original poster’s date. This thread comes from 2005. You’re also mistaken about Tamiya. Yes, their old one was bested by Italeri but their newer one (35219) is likely still the best one extant. However, the Bronco Ford Jeep may top them all.
That was the Tamiya kit that I am referring to. I think if someone is searching Jeep kits, like I was, the original post will still apply. I do have the Bronco kit, as well as the new Dragon, but I am still disappointed with the design and the quality of the molding although the level of detail is high in both…once again, I am hoping that Tamiya will, some day, produce a new kit with a higher level of detail.
It still sounds like you are confusing kits.
The Tamiya Willys MB (35219) from '97 is much more detailed and way better than the old Italeri jeep
The Bronco Ford GPW kits are even better and probably the best jeep kits on the market.
The Dragon jeeps are about on par with the Tamiya one, but have some areas that are not as detailed. Some of these were corrected on the later versions (Armored jeeps), but they still have issues.
I have to agree Tamiya second or newest M B is still a good kit for it age. It’s the most relaxing kit to assemble and if you want to take it further there’s a ton of after market out there for it.
Dragon built one that was enough for me.
Bronco I have yet to get one. But what I’ve seen so fare they look pretty good.
Back to the Subject of the Tamiya Jeep. They need to up date it a little, Add a sprue with a top,a covered wind shield and a small P E set.
Dave M
M-38 or M-38A1?
There is no M38 kit. You would have to convert a Willys MB using the higher windshield and larger tires from an M38A1 and modify the front lights.
For the M38A1, you are in luck. AFV Club (ex-Skybow) has an excellent kit.
They also make an M38A1C Recoilless Rifle Carrier version.
