In Box Review of Peerless 1/35th Scale
GMC 2 1/2 Ton Cargo Truck
U.S. Army WWII CCKW-353 6 x 6
With AA Machine Gun & Crew
Item no. 3514
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1978
Out of production
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1978
Out of production
HISTORY:
The GMC CCKW, also known as "Jimmy", or the G-508 by its Ordnance Supply Catalog nr, was a highly successful series of off-road capable, 2 1⁄2-ton, 6×6 trucks, built in large numbers to a standardized design (from 1941 to 1945) for the U.S. Army, that saw heavy service, predominantly as cargo trucks, in both World War II and the Korean War.
The original "Deuce and a Half" formed the backbone of the famed Red Ball Express that kept Allied armies supplied as they pushed eastward after the Normandy invasion.
The CCKW came in many variants, including open or closed cab, long wheelbase (LWB) CCKW-353 and short (SWB) CCKW-352, and over a score of specialized models, but the bulk were standard, general purpose, cargo models. A large minority were built with a front mounted winch, and one in four of the cabs had a machine-gun mounting ring above the co-driver's position.
Of the almost 2.4 million trucks that the U.S. Army bought between 1939 and December 1945, across all payload weight classes, some 812,000, or just over one third, were 2+1⁄2-ton trucks. GMC's total production of the CCKW and its variants, including the 2 1/2 ton, 6x6, amphibious DUKW, and the 6×4, 5-ton (on-road) CCW-353, amounted to some 572,500 units – almost a quarter of the total WWII U.S. truck production, and 70 percent of the total 2 1⁄2 ton trucks. GMC's total of 550,000 purely 6×6 models, including the DUKW.
It formed the overwhelming majority of the ~675,000 six by six 2 1⁄2-ton trucks, and came in less than 100,000 shy of the almost 650,000 World War II jeeps. Additionally, GM built over 150,000 units of the CCKWs smaller brother, the 1 1⁄2 ton, 4×4 Chevrolet G506, at the same factory.
The GMC CCKW began to be phased out, once the M35 series trucks were first deployed in the 1950s, but remained in active U.S. service until the mid-1960s. Eventually, the M35 series, originally developed by REO Motors, succeeded the CCKW as the U.S. Army's standard 2 1⁄2 ton, 6×6 cargo truck.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: 2+1⁄2-ton 6x6 Cargo truck
Place of origin: United States
Designer: Yellow Truck and Coach Co.
Designed: 1941
Manufacture: Yellow/GMC Truck and Coach, Chevrolet
Produced: 1941–1945
No. built: Grand Total: ~572,500 including all variants; CCKW specific: ~518,000— LWB CCKW-353: ~464,000 and— SWB CCKW-352: ~54,000 units, plus ~54,500 non CCKW variants
Variants: 1939 ACKWX – 2,466 units, C.O.E. AFKWX – 7,235 units, 6×4 CCW-353 – 23,649 units, DUKW amphibs – 21,147 units
Specifications (353 Cargo w/winch:
Mass: 8,800 lb (4,000 kg) empty, 16,400 lb (7,400 kg) loaded
Length: 270 1⁄8 in (6.86 m)
Width: 88 in (2.24 m)
Height: 93 in (2.36 m) to cab, 109 1⁄8 in (2.77 m) overall
Engine: GMC 270 straight-6 of 91.5 hp (68.2 kW) at 2,750 rpm[1] or 104 hp (78 kW) at 2,750 rpm
Transmission: 5 spd. × 2 range trf. case
Suspension: Beam axles on leaf springs
Fuel capacity: 40 US gal (150 L)
Operational range: 300 mi (482.8 km)
Maximum speed: 45 mph (72 km/h)
The GMC CCKW, also known as "Jimmy", or the G-508 by its Ordnance Supply Catalog nr, was a highly successful series of off-road capable, 2 1⁄2-ton, 6×6 trucks, built in large numbers to a standardized design (from 1941 to 1945) for the U.S. Army, that saw heavy service, predominantly as cargo trucks, in both World War II and the Korean War.
The original "Deuce and a Half" formed the backbone of the famed Red Ball Express that kept Allied armies supplied as they pushed eastward after the Normandy invasion.
The CCKW came in many variants, including open or closed cab, long wheelbase (LWB) CCKW-353 and short (SWB) CCKW-352, and over a score of specialized models, but the bulk were standard, general purpose, cargo models. A large minority were built with a front mounted winch, and one in four of the cabs had a machine-gun mounting ring above the co-driver's position.
Of the almost 2.4 million trucks that the U.S. Army bought between 1939 and December 1945, across all payload weight classes, some 812,000, or just over one third, were 2+1⁄2-ton trucks. GMC's total production of the CCKW and its variants, including the 2 1/2 ton, 6x6, amphibious DUKW, and the 6×4, 5-ton (on-road) CCW-353, amounted to some 572,500 units – almost a quarter of the total WWII U.S. truck production, and 70 percent of the total 2 1⁄2 ton trucks. GMC's total of 550,000 purely 6×6 models, including the DUKW.
It formed the overwhelming majority of the ~675,000 six by six 2 1⁄2-ton trucks, and came in less than 100,000 shy of the almost 650,000 World War II jeeps. Additionally, GM built over 150,000 units of the CCKWs smaller brother, the 1 1⁄2 ton, 4×4 Chevrolet G506, at the same factory.
The GMC CCKW began to be phased out, once the M35 series trucks were first deployed in the 1950s, but remained in active U.S. service until the mid-1960s. Eventually, the M35 series, originally developed by REO Motors, succeeded the CCKW as the U.S. Army's standard 2 1⁄2 ton, 6×6 cargo truck.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: 2+1⁄2-ton 6x6 Cargo truck
Place of origin: United States
Designer: Yellow Truck and Coach Co.
Designed: 1941
Manufacture: Yellow/GMC Truck and Coach, Chevrolet
Produced: 1941–1945
No. built: Grand Total: ~572,500 including all variants; CCKW specific: ~518,000— LWB CCKW-353: ~464,000 and— SWB CCKW-352: ~54,000 units, plus ~54,500 non CCKW variants
Variants: 1939 ACKWX – 2,466 units, C.O.E. AFKWX – 7,235 units, 6×4 CCW-353 – 23,649 units, DUKW amphibs – 21,147 units
Specifications (353 Cargo w/winch:
Mass: 8,800 lb (4,000 kg) empty, 16,400 lb (7,400 kg) loaded
Length: 270 1⁄8 in (6.86 m)
Width: 88 in (2.24 m)
Height: 93 in (2.36 m) to cab, 109 1⁄8 in (2.77 m) overall
Engine: GMC 270 straight-6 of 91.5 hp (68.2 kW) at 2,750 rpm[1] or 104 hp (78 kW) at 2,750 rpm
Transmission: 5 spd. × 2 range trf. case
Suspension: Beam axles on leaf springs
Fuel capacity: 40 US gal (150 L)
Operational range: 300 mi (482.8 km)
Maximum speed: 45 mph (72 km/h)
THE KIT:
Peerless is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer. They are based in Philadelphia, PA. This kit was made in Japan.
The kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art is a color illustration of a GMC 2 ½ ton truck, that is rolling down a dirt road in a grassy field. There is a forest in the background.
The truck is overall olive-drab, with a large white star on the cab doors and top of the hood.. On the front bumper, reading left to right, there is white 941-E and white D-20 on the right. On the sides of the hood is white U.S.A. over white serial no. 497197.
A man is manning the machine-gun that is mounted in a turret ring on the roof of the cab.
One side panel shows three color photos of the truck made up in 4 different schemes. All are overall olive-drab.
The first one has the large white stars on the cab doors and atop the hood. White T and upside-down U on the left of the front bumper and H-8 on the right. White U.S.A. over white serial no. 3341299 on the sides of the hood.
The second one has the large white stars In the same places. White 25-1b27 stenciled on the left of the front bumper and white stenciled B-16 on the right. White U.S.A. over white 3339497 on the sides of the hood.
The third one is the second one repeated again.
The fourth one has the large white stars in the same places. White Td on the left side of the front bumper and white H8 on the left side. White U.S.A. over 3341259 on the sides of the hood.
Peerless is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer. They are based in Philadelphia, PA. This kit was made in Japan.
The kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art is a color illustration of a GMC 2 ½ ton truck, that is rolling down a dirt road in a grassy field. There is a forest in the background.
The truck is overall olive-drab, with a large white star on the cab doors and top of the hood.. On the front bumper, reading left to right, there is white 941-E and white D-20 on the right. On the sides of the hood is white U.S.A. over white serial no. 497197.
A man is manning the machine-gun that is mounted in a turret ring on the roof of the cab.
One side panel shows three color photos of the truck made up in 4 different schemes. All are overall olive-drab.
The first one has the large white stars on the cab doors and atop the hood. White T and upside-down U on the left of the front bumper and H-8 on the right. White U.S.A. over white serial no. 3341299 on the sides of the hood.
The second one has the large white stars In the same places. White 25-1b27 stenciled on the left of the front bumper and white stenciled B-16 on the right. White U.S.A. over white 3339497 on the sides of the hood.
The third one is the second one repeated again.
The fourth one has the large white stars in the same places. White Td on the left side of the front bumper and white H8 on the left side. White U.S.A. over 3341259 on the sides of the hood.
The other side-panel of the box shows 4 color box arts of other kits that Peerless manufacturers: Item no. 3509, a Bedford QL gun portee, Item no. 3510, a Canadian Chevrolet field gun tractor, Item no. 3511, a Dodge ¾ ton ambulance and Item no. 3512, a Steyr RSO/01 tractor.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 5 very dark-green trees of parts, a clear tree and the decal sheet in 3 stapled-shut cello bags.
Trees are alphabetized.
Black vinyl letter A tree holds the tires and poly caps (17 tires and 3 poly caps)
This kit contains 5 very dark-green trees of parts, a clear tree and the decal sheet in 3 stapled-shut cello bags.
Trees are alphabetized.
Black vinyl letter A tree holds the tires and poly caps (17 tires and 3 poly caps)
Dark-green letter B tree holds: wheel rims, leaf springs, axles, exhaust, shift levers etc. (68 parts)
Dark-green letter C tree holds: the frame, hood, grill, radiator, chassis etc. (35 parts)
Dark-green letter D tree holds: the cab, cab doors, floor, machine gun turret ring, dash etc. (14 parts)
Dark-green letter E tree holds: cargo area parts (14 parts)
The clear tree is not alphabetized. It holds the cab windows (4 parts)
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that is accordion-folded into 8 pages in 7” x 10 ¼” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art.
Over the history of the truck in English.
Page 2 begins with the parts-trees illustrations, over a listing of the parts names.
Page 3 on through to page 7 gives a grand total of 9 assembly steps.
In the left side columns on pages 6 and 7 are the assembly instructions for the two crewmen.
Page 8 is the painting and marking instructions . It shows four 2-views.
Three show the large white star on the cab doors and atop the hood.
One shows the large white star in a circle on those locations.
The first 2-view has white 98-369F stenciled on the left side of the front bumper and stenciled white SV-11 on the right side. It has a small white star, over U.S. Army on its rear. White U.S.A. over white 4205996 on the sides of the hood.
The second 2-view has white 3A-6470M on the left side of the front bumper and white TR T 43 on the right. Small white star over the numbers that are on the front bumper repeated.
The third 2-view has white T upside-down U, a square divided horizontally with a number 9 in the top half and number 8 in the lower half, followed by small white star and H-9 across the front bumper.
The fourth (and last) 2-view has a large white star in a circle on the cab doors, top of the hood and rear. White T triangle 3G on the left side of the front bumper and A-5 on the right side. White 4159919 followed by a smaller serial no. 1804M on the sides of the hood.
The biggest FLAW in this kit is the decal sheet. It is white insignias that are against a white backing paper. They absolutely blend in and the smaller marks (lettering on the front bumper and sides of the hood) are invisible to the naked eye or the strongest magnifier I own. Peerless should have printed the markings on a darker shade of backing paper. Only the large white stars can be seen. Bad, Bad move Peerless !
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art.
Over the history of the truck in English.
Page 2 begins with the parts-trees illustrations, over a listing of the parts names.
Page 3 on through to page 7 gives a grand total of 9 assembly steps.
In the left side columns on pages 6 and 7 are the assembly instructions for the two crewmen.
Page 8 is the painting and marking instructions . It shows four 2-views.
Three show the large white star on the cab doors and atop the hood.
One shows the large white star in a circle on those locations.
The first 2-view has white 98-369F stenciled on the left side of the front bumper and stenciled white SV-11 on the right side. It has a small white star, over U.S. Army on its rear. White U.S.A. over white 4205996 on the sides of the hood.
The second 2-view has white 3A-6470M on the left side of the front bumper and white TR T 43 on the right. Small white star over the numbers that are on the front bumper repeated.
The third 2-view has white T upside-down U, a square divided horizontally with a number 9 in the top half and number 8 in the lower half, followed by small white star and H-9 across the front bumper.
The fourth (and last) 2-view has a large white star in a circle on the cab doors, top of the hood and rear. White T triangle 3G on the left side of the front bumper and A-5 on the right side. White 4159919 followed by a smaller serial no. 1804M on the sides of the hood.
The biggest FLAW in this kit is the decal sheet. It is white insignias that are against a white backing paper. They absolutely blend in and the smaller marks (lettering on the front bumper and sides of the hood) are invisible to the naked eye or the strongest magnifier I own. Peerless should have printed the markings on a darker shade of backing paper. Only the large white stars can be seen. Bad, Bad move Peerless !
No units are named for these four.
Peerless street address in Philadelphia PA is given and kit was made in Japan.
Detail is very good. However, there is no canvas hood to go over the cargo area or any cargo provided in the kit. There should have been both in the kit.
Recommended.
Peerless street address in Philadelphia PA is given and kit was made in Japan.
Detail is very good. However, there is no canvas hood to go over the cargo area or any cargo provided in the kit. There should have been both in the kit.
Recommended.