06/24 Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 (edited) “Good Lord, I don’t think we could continue the war without the jeep, it does everything. It goes everywhere. It’s as faithful as a dog, strong as a mule, and as agile as a goat. It constantly carries twice what it was designed for, and keeps on going. It doesn’t even ride so badly after you get used to it.” Ernie Pyle As some light relief from my Rolls Royce armoured car, and to make use of my holiday days without spending them entirely in scratch building the bits Meng messed up, I turned to one of my favourite kits of all time. Unbelievably the Tamiya “new” jeep is 23 years old, and I’ve no idea how many I’ve built in that time, but let’s say more than several... Whereas the Rolls Royce featured a hand built chassis and engine, the Jeep was a product of the mass production era, built in its thousands, (more than 640,000 during the war). And so it is with the models, the Meng Rolls Royce needs care and a degree of craftsmanship (which means I could be in trouble!) whereas the Tamiya Jeep really is as close to shake the box as it gets. It may lack some of the finer details of the Bronco, Meng and Takom offerings, and we may yet see some of them built too, but it builds into something that is unmistakably a Jeep, and when it was first released it was, in my opinion, better than any Jeep kit that had preceded it. So here we have the product of about two hours work, most of that being cleaning up the barely noticeable mould seams, some of which could easily be skipped if I wasn’t feeling fastidious. Tamiya 1/35 scale Jeep by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr Tamiya 1/35 scale Jeep by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr Tamiya 1/35 scale Jeep by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr Oh, and the title? General George C. Marshall. Edited October 20, 2020 by 06/24 Spelling 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M3talpig Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 Such a nice kit ... few little bits missing which have you scratching your head...like no foot pedals...but otherwise a really simple kit and good looking when finished will follow along if i may. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted October 20, 2020 Author Share Posted October 20, 2020 Pedals, and hood and screen T latches, are the main omissions I’m aware of, is there anything else significant? I have a plan for the latches, as I think my Takom version in the stash may have spares. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M3talpig Posted October 21, 2020 Share Posted October 21, 2020 5 hours ago, 06/24 said: is there anything else significant? Not that i remember Jon easily fixable errors from what was a very enjoyable kit to put together Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted October 21, 2020 Author Share Posted October 21, 2020 Added some pedals and British blackout light covers from scrap sprue. The light covers are less wonky than they appear in the photo, honest! 1/35 Tamiya Jeep by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted October 24, 2020 Author Share Posted October 24, 2020 A primer/witness coat of Humbrol Desert Tan on the front end, ready for the radiator to be painted and fitted. Haven’t touched the rear at this stage as there are still items to fit, but wanted to take advantage of an unexpected dry day and get some paint down while I could, the front also needed paint before the bonnet/hood is fitted and makes access impossible. 1/35 Tamiya Willys MB Jeep - British Army North Africa by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr 1/35 Tamiya Willys MB Jeep - British Army North Africa by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted October 25, 2020 Author Share Posted October 25, 2020 I’ve realised a lot of British Jeeps, at least those in photos from North Africa, didn’t have the blackout light on the near side wing, so I’ve filled the hole: 1/35 Tamiya Jeep by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr And added bolt heads to the grab handles: 1/35 Tamiya Jeep by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted October 25, 2020 Author Share Posted October 25, 2020 1/35 8th Army Jeep, North Africa 1942 by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Nice smooth paint job. John. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted October 27, 2020 Author Share Posted October 27, 2020 Bit more progress: Tamiya Jeep with The Bodi driver figure 1/35 by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr The lad driving is from The Bodi, currently still a bit ‘armless. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitsticker Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 Hi Jon I hope you don't mind if I follow, always been fascinated by the Jeeps of that era... I think that Morris did a UK version too, possibly RR powered.....(I've probably got myself mixed up there, what's more iconic than a US Jeep!!) Good luck with the build (you're almost finished!) Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted October 29, 2020 Author Share Posted October 29, 2020 16 hours ago, Kitsticker said: Hi Jon I hope you don't mind if I follow, always been fascinated by the Jeeps of that era... I think that Morris did a UK version too, possibly RR powered.....(I've probably got myself mixed up there, what's more iconic than a US Jeep!!) Good luck with the build (you're almost finished!) Geoff Followers welcome, not that I’m convinced my builds offer much education or entertainment. I wonder if you’re thinking of the post-war Austin Champ? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Champ I’m not aware of any real wartime British equivalent to the Jeep, the Tilly in its various forms was rear wheel drive only, like the German equivalent the Kubelwagen? I’m not sure if some of the heavier Humber cars might have been 4wd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted October 29, 2020 Author Share Posted October 29, 2020 THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942. © IWM (E 15573) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted October 29, 2020 Author Share Posted October 29, 2020 That is the prototype photo I’m using for inspiration. Unless I’m mistaken the Jeep pictured has the earlier black steering wheel. Not much progress this week, but the driver now has arms and is fixed to the steering wheel, even a well sculpted figure like this was hard to get with a natural look against the hard bits of the kit, model figures just aren’t as squishy as the real thing! I cast envious glances at those with the talent to sculpt their own. The Bodi British driver, 1/35 scale by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr The Bodi British driver, 1/35 scale by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted October 29, 2020 Author Share Posted October 29, 2020 I’ve replaced the kit windshield with one from the Bronco kit, as it’s a quicker route to a plain frame without the fittings for a US style rifle rack. It’s not glued in place, as it still needs the glass fitted. Debating how to mask the glass if I fit before paint. Well, not so much how, more trying to find the motivation as masking is not one of my favourite things. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 Detail painting has started, not my favourite task, and not one that I am much good at. 1/35 Jeep by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 Feels like we’re kinda on the home straight now 1/35 Tamiya Jeep with The Bodi driver figure - work in progress by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr 1/35 Tamiya Jeep with The Bodi driver figure - work in progress by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Looking good from here. Stuart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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