ICM Model WOT 8 (35590) 1:35

[Mike]

Model WOT 8 (35590)
1:35 ICM via Hannants

 

Made by Ford UK under the Fordson brand, the WOT 8 was the last of a long line of vehicles using similar nomenclature in service of the British Army.  Introduced in 1941 there were approximately 2,500 built, with a number of those sent to Russia as Lend/Lease vehicles of which a few were converted to carry Katyusha rockets.  In British service they were used as a prime mover for artillery, particularly in North Africa and Italy.  Its large fuel tank gave it a healthy range and a reasonable top speed thanks to the Ford V8 engine that put out 85hp, which wasn’t terrible for the day.

The Kit
This is a new tool from ICM as part of their WOT line, the WOT6 we reviewed last March here.  The kit arrives in a standard ICM box with their captive inner lid and a nice rendition of the vehicle on the top.  Inside are eight sprues in grey styrene, five black wheels in flexible plastic, a clear sprue, a small fret of Photo Etch (PE) brass and a tiny decal sheet that is found inside the glossy colour instruction booklet.  A few of the parts aren’t used in this variant, but ICM have already indicated they’re going to do a Katyusha fitted variant this year, so we’ve got that to look forward to too.  I don’t know about you, but I’m an admirer of rocket launchers and such like.

 

 

Construction begins with the chassis ladder and the front sub-frame with cross-members and leaf spring suspension, plus a full V8 block made up from a good number of parts.  The exhaust has a silencer near the rear and exits the underside at the rear of the aft suspension springs to which the rear axle and differential are fitted, then joined to the central transfer box by a driveshaft with the front axle having a similar reversed layout plus steering box.  The drum brakes are hidden behind the wheels, which are made up from the flexible “rubber” part that is sandwiched between the inner and outer hub, plus extra detail parts on both sides, eventually slotting onto a long axle front and rear.  The underside is mostly complete, and attention turns to the body beginning with the engine compartment between the two curved front wings.  Radiator, air filter and fan are added along with a hand-crank for manual starting, then the radiator hosing is installed so that the side plates that isolate the power plant from the crew cab interior can be added.  In the right foot well the driver’s controls are added, with a handbrake further to the rear, and a central instrument panel sits almost on top of the engine.  The crew seats sit atop boxes and have separate cushions for back and base, after which the cab can be boxed in, adding detail parts and glazing panels as you go.  The sloping cab is trimmed with a dash panel and steering wheel, then separate doors with handles and more glazing are put in place either open, closed or anywhere in between at your whim, then closed in with the rear cab and finally the curved-sided roof.  The PE radiator grilles have to be bent to match the contours of the sloped front, and these are later joined by a rain “porch” that prevents ingress of water in the winter, and probably helps divert engine heat from the open cab windows in the summer.

 

The spare wheel and the substantial fuel tank are built next, and positioned behind the cab wall and in front of the flatbed.  This is made from a large floor, detailed sides, front and tailgate, with stowage boxes between the front and rear angled mudguards, which have braces holding them at the correct angle to the floor.  The bed's cross-rails mesh with cut-outs in the chassis rails, then the wing mirrors, wipers and grab handles are added to the cab, with the tilt hoops glued across the flatbed, and joined by shortened rails that support the tilt lengthways.  You can also build the model with the tilt deployed by using the five parts provided on the sprues, but these don’t show the tubular framework inside, so won’t withstand close scrutiny unless you add some detail in there in the shape of wire or half-round rod.

Markings
There are two decal options for the vehicle, both of which are olive green with a khaki tilt.  Despite being a British vehicle the white star was adopted later in the war as the universal Allies marking, which one option uses.

 

• WOT 8 1st Czech Armoured Brigade, Germany, Spring 1945
• WOT 8 France, Summer 1944

 

The decals are printed in the usual ICM style with good register and clarity, but the yellow circles seem a little translucent, so it may be wise to prepare for them with a white base layer.

Conclusion
Another first-rate kit from ICM of an often overlooked British truck that was fairly common both during WWII and after.

 

Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd.

Review sample courtesy of

[AntPhillips]

All hail ICM and their penchant for British WW2 softskins, I wonder if this one will find its way into a Revell box like its bigger brother.

[Andrew Jones]

Nice kit ,but let down once again by the post-war tyres.