ICM FWD Type B Ammunition Truck (35656) 1:35

[Mike]

FWD Type B Ammunition Truck (35656)

1:35 ICM via H G Hannants Ltd

 

 

Built by the Four Wheel Drive (FWD) company, this was a very early truck used by the military of Britain and the US during WWI, beginning in 1915 with a small order from the British Army.  It was full of curious technology from a modern standpoint, but then vehicles of this type were still in their infancy, so it’s hardly surprising that there were a few technological dead-ends.  It was originally supplied with solid rubber tyres and the front wheels had a strange toed-in look due to the suspension geometry that was set up to give a light steering load.  Its T-head engine produced a monstrous 36bhp for rice-pudding skin removal, and it could be connected to all four wheels, or either the front or rear in the event of necessity or damage to either drive-shaft.  It also had a distinctive turned-up nosed front because the engine was mounted below the cab, with only the radiator housed in the front and precious little (read: zero) protection for the driver and crew from the elements.

 

Over 12,000 were made before the end of WWI, with them finding a ready market in the post-war period in the civilian sector, sometimes with pneumatic tyres added to improve the ride quality, and a cover for the crew cab to increase creature comforts.

 

 

The Kit

This is a reboxing with new parts of a recent tooling from ICM, widening their WWI vehicle range once again.  Arriving in their usual top-opening box with captive flap on the lower tray, there are five sprues in grey styrene plus a tiny clear sprue, a similarly small decal sheet and the instruction booklet with colour cover and spot-colour inside.  It benefits from the same attention to detail that they have lavished on their other WWI kits, and you get a full model that includes engine and chassis details not supplied in some other manufacturer’s kits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Construction begins with the double ladder chassis with suspension and cross-rails included and adding the axles, brakes and drive-shafts, most of which are broadly familiar but a little odd looking into the bargain, especially the drum in the centre of the assembly, and the additional cross-mounted leaf-spring on the rear behind the back axle.  At the front the steering linkage is added to the front axle, with the rear axle having a distinct offset to its differential housing, before the wheels are made up from three layers each plus hubcap, then fitted to each corner of the vehicle.  The two-part radiator core has additional sides fitted then it is dropped into the front of the chassis, joined by the peculiar engine, which is very well detailed with almost 30 parts devoted to its construction.  Once it is painted and in place a two-part linkage under the engine, and exhaust are threaded through the chassis and attached to the manifold outlets, with the diagram helpfully ghosting one of the wheels to improve your view.  Chunky power transfer boxes are suspended from the underside of the chassis rails on a carrier with drive-shafts going to each of the axles, then up at the front the chassis is widened by adding tread-plated running board to the sides before beginning work on the cab and snub-nosed bonnet.  This assembly also includes an engine cover that ends up with the crew sitting on it and in the gap between the cowling and radiator the crew have a small footwell with driver controls and a fire extinguisher present, louvered side panels to the cowling and cooling fan for the radiator that is surrounded by a shaped cowling that plugs into the back of the radiator later, bringing the cooling fan and belt into play.

 

The fuel tank is made up from four sections plus two supports, then the lovely deeply upholstered crew bench-sofa is put together with moulded-in buttons giving it a Victorian drawing room feel.  The steering wheel and control levers are added to the sides of the cowling, then the seat is dropped on top with a nice cosy fuel tank right behind it.  The perfect cab - Exposed to the elements, high up and with extra heating in the summer, plus a big flammable tank right behind your seat if anyone takes pot-shots at you as you’re driving along.  The old-skool carriage-style front lamps and U-mounted searchlight are put in place on the front and a stowage box is placed on the left foot-plate, presumably tied down so you don’t lose it on the corners, and the hand-crank starter can optionally be inserted into a socket on the front chassis rail if you wish.

 

The 3-ton load bed begins with the floor and has five cross-beams slotted into position underneath, a front panel and two side panels that have braces moulded down the sides, adding stowage cubbies down the sides, for lantern-like parts, surrounded by a few pioneer tools on each side.  The tilt on this boxing is of a different style to previous issues, and most of the parts can be found on the new sprue.  The canvas is supported down the centre and forms a pitched roof to the area from one part, adding two ends, and drilling out several holes along the lower perimeter for tie-down ropes, which you will need to make from your own supplies.  The completed cover is placed over the open load-bed, which can then be mated to the chassis by two lugs at each end, adding U-shaped carriage bolts from under the chassis to give the impression of a sturdier connection, finishing off with three brackets on each side of the chassis rails.

 

 

Markings

There are three decal options on the small sheet, two in green, one in a mixed camouflage with black dividers.  From the box you can build one of the following:

 

• American Expeditionary Force, 1918
• American Expeditionary Force, May 1918
• US Ordnance Department, 1918

 

 

 

Decals are by ICM’s usual partners, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut close to the printed areas.

 

 

Conclusion

An early truck that became a staple of the battlefield in WWI and beyond in injection moulded styrene with plenty of detail.  It’s a nice kit and a further broadening of what’s available for WWI military modellers in 1:35.

 

Highly recommended.

 

Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd.

 

Review sample courtesy of