In Box Review of Testors Italeri 1/35th Scale
U.S. M32 Sherman Recovery Vehicle
Kit no. 806
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Italeri Is a prolific model company based in Italy. They make all manner of model subjects in the popular scales. For a time, years ago, their kits were imported to the U.S. and sold under the Testors label. This is one of those kits.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Italeri Is a prolific model company based in Italy. They make all manner of model subjects in the popular scales. For a time, years ago, their kits were imported to the U.S. and sold under the Testors label. This is one of those kits.
HISTORY:
From the time that tanks were first used in battle, it was discovered that the only means of moving a disabled tank was to tow it with another tank. From 1916 well into WWII, towing was the usual means of moving tanks.
When the United States put the M3 Medium tank into service in 1941, it was found that with tanks becoming heavier and more complex, specialized tank recovery vehicles (TRV) were needed. To simplify production, training, and spare parts problems, these recovery vehicles were based closely on the chassis of the same vehicle they would be recovering. A special recovery vehicle based on the M3, the M31 TRV, was put into service.
When the M3 Medium was replaced by the improved M4 Sherman Medium, a TRV version of the M4, the M32 TRV began production in September 1943. It was an extremely sophisticated vehicle for its time. The M32 TRV served the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps from early 1944 on, towing and recovering disabled tanks and other armored fighting vehicles. It was also used to remove and replace engines, transmissions, and complete turrets and guns with its large A-frame boom and engine-driven winch.
A total of 1,599 M32’s were built between December 1943 and May 1945. Built on several different versions, those based on the M4A1 and M4A3 (M32B1 and M32B3, respectively) chassis were produced in the largest numbers.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: 5
Weight: 62,000 lbs
Length: 19.1 ft
Width: 8.98 ft
Height: 8.58 ft
Ground clearance: 17”
Engine: Continental R-975-C-1, 9 cylinder, 4 cycle radial gasoline engine: 350 BHP @ 2,400 RPM
Transmission: Manual, 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Speed: 26 mph
Range: 102 mile on roads
Armament: One 81mm mortar (for smoke only), one.50 cal machine gun, one .30 cal machine gun and the crew’s personal weapons
Armor thickness: Maximum: 2.95”,Minimum: .47”
Winch capacity: 30 tons
From the time that tanks were first used in battle, it was discovered that the only means of moving a disabled tank was to tow it with another tank. From 1916 well into WWII, towing was the usual means of moving tanks.
When the United States put the M3 Medium tank into service in 1941, it was found that with tanks becoming heavier and more complex, specialized tank recovery vehicles (TRV) were needed. To simplify production, training, and spare parts problems, these recovery vehicles were based closely on the chassis of the same vehicle they would be recovering. A special recovery vehicle based on the M3, the M31 TRV, was put into service.
When the M3 Medium was replaced by the improved M4 Sherman Medium, a TRV version of the M4, the M32 TRV began production in September 1943. It was an extremely sophisticated vehicle for its time. The M32 TRV served the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps from early 1944 on, towing and recovering disabled tanks and other armored fighting vehicles. It was also used to remove and replace engines, transmissions, and complete turrets and guns with its large A-frame boom and engine-driven winch.
A total of 1,599 M32’s were built between December 1943 and May 1945. Built on several different versions, those based on the M4A1 and M4A3 (M32B1 and M32B3, respectively) chassis were produced in the largest numbers.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: 5
Weight: 62,000 lbs
Length: 19.1 ft
Width: 8.98 ft
Height: 8.58 ft
Ground clearance: 17”
Engine: Continental R-975-C-1, 9 cylinder, 4 cycle radial gasoline engine: 350 BHP @ 2,400 RPM
Transmission: Manual, 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Speed: 26 mph
Range: 102 mile on roads
Armament: One 81mm mortar (for smoke only), one.50 cal machine gun, one .30 cal machine gun and the crew’s personal weapons
Armor thickness: Maximum: 2.95”,Minimum: .47”
Winch capacity: 30 tons
THE KIT:
This kit came in what was one of Testor’s signature orange shrink-wrapped end opening type box. Inside was a cardboard tray holding all the contents. This tray made the kit a little sturdier, as otherwise it was easily crushed.
The box art is a color photo of the model made up and sitting on a modeler’s work bench. It is overall olive drab with the white serial no. USA 20418150 far back on the sides of the hull. Sadly, this is the ONLY scheme provided in the kit.
One side panel of the box has a small color repeat of the box art subject and listings of Testor's brand glue, bottled and spray paints, tools, paint brushes, masking tape, tweezers and a tack rag.
The other side panel has the small color repeat of the box art subject and a 2 paragraph history of the M32.
This kit came in what was one of Testor’s signature orange shrink-wrapped end opening type box. Inside was a cardboard tray holding all the contents. This tray made the kit a little sturdier, as otherwise it was easily crushed.
The box art is a color photo of the model made up and sitting on a modeler’s work bench. It is overall olive drab with the white serial no. USA 20418150 far back on the sides of the hull. Sadly, this is the ONLY scheme provided in the kit.
One side panel of the box has a small color repeat of the box art subject and listings of Testor's brand glue, bottled and spray paints, tools, paint brushes, masking tape, tweezers and a tack rag.
The other side panel has the small color repeat of the box art subject and a 2 paragraph history of the M32.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 3 jet black trees of parts, black vinyl rubber-band type treads in a sealed cello bag.
The decal sheet is loose. The instructions complete the kit’s contents
The instructions consist of 3 large sheets, each folded in the center to form a booklet of 12 unbound pages in 9” x 12” page format.
The back of the box has 8 color walk around type photos of the box art subject and a kit features list. The model shown was built by Bruce MacRae.
Kit was made in Italy and the printing done in USA. The copyright date of the kit is 1980. Testor's street address in Rockford, Illinois is provided.
Trees are not alphabetized, like you normally see in most model kits. Instead they are labeled with geometric symbols: a circle, star and square for the plastic trees and a black dot for the vinyl tracks.
The black circle tree holds: the bogies, road wheels, drive sprockets, idler wheels, return rollers, final transfer housings and the hull tub etc. (71 parts)
This kit contains 3 jet black trees of parts, black vinyl rubber-band type treads in a sealed cello bag.
The decal sheet is loose. The instructions complete the kit’s contents
The instructions consist of 3 large sheets, each folded in the center to form a booklet of 12 unbound pages in 9” x 12” page format.
The back of the box has 8 color walk around type photos of the box art subject and a kit features list. The model shown was built by Bruce MacRae.
Kit was made in Italy and the printing done in USA. The copyright date of the kit is 1980. Testor's street address in Rockford, Illinois is provided.
Trees are not alphabetized, like you normally see in most model kits. Instead they are labeled with geometric symbols: a circle, star and square for the plastic trees and a black dot for the vinyl tracks.
The black circle tree holds: the bogies, road wheels, drive sprockets, idler wheels, return rollers, final transfer housings and the hull tub etc. (71 parts)
The black star tree holds: the hull top, rear hull wall, hull nose, hatches, tools, .50 cal machine gun, Thompson sub machine gun, Jerry cans, tow cable etc. (86 parts) 14 parts are shaded out in the parts trees illustrations as being excess and not needed to complete the model.
The black square tree holds: the boom parts, a central interior floor section, 2 internal side lockers, turret parts etc. (110 parts)
The black dot tree is the 2 long runs of black vinyl rubber band type treads. These are not the newer glueable type and have to be heat riveted to form loops.
The decal sheet and the instructions complete things in this kit.
Page 1 of the instructions begins with a black and white photo of the model made up, followed by the history of the M32, BEFORE STARTING, PREPARATION OF PARTS and PAINTING INSTRUCTIONS.
Page 2 has the parts trees illustrations.
Page 3 through 10 give a grand total of 13 assembly steps with text in each step telling the order of assembly.
In step 13 there is instructions on how to stretch sprue to make a radio antenna.
Page 11 has a 6-view for marking and painting. This is the one and only scheme and it is the box art one. The white star on the decal sheet is not shown as to where to place it. Also, the unit of the M32 is not provided.
Page 12 has a lengthy discussion of weathering hints with a black and white photo of the model made up at the bottom of the page.
This kit has great exterior detail and some detail for inside the turret (mainly crew seats).
However, inside the hull is just that floor panel in the center with side lockers either side of it. Nothing else in there.
There are no crew figures provided and no clear parts for the headlights.
I recommend this kit to modelers that have experience with kits of this complexity. This kit Is not for the novice, nor is it a weekend project.
I wish more marking options had been provided and some crew figures. Also some clear parts.
I bought my kit years ago from a fellow in town that was going to go in the mail order hobby business. Which he never did. He had many of the Testors Italeri kits for sale and I got quite a few of them at rock bottom prices from him. He was a great visionary, but did not follow through on various of his business schemes.
Page 2 has the parts trees illustrations.
Page 3 through 10 give a grand total of 13 assembly steps with text in each step telling the order of assembly.
In step 13 there is instructions on how to stretch sprue to make a radio antenna.
Page 11 has a 6-view for marking and painting. This is the one and only scheme and it is the box art one. The white star on the decal sheet is not shown as to where to place it. Also, the unit of the M32 is not provided.
Page 12 has a lengthy discussion of weathering hints with a black and white photo of the model made up at the bottom of the page.
This kit has great exterior detail and some detail for inside the turret (mainly crew seats).
However, inside the hull is just that floor panel in the center with side lockers either side of it. Nothing else in there.
There are no crew figures provided and no clear parts for the headlights.
I recommend this kit to modelers that have experience with kits of this complexity. This kit Is not for the novice, nor is it a weekend project.
I wish more marking options had been provided and some crew figures. Also some clear parts.
I bought my kit years ago from a fellow in town that was going to go in the mail order hobby business. Which he never did. He had many of the Testors Italeri kits for sale and I got quite a few of them at rock bottom prices from him. He was a great visionary, but did not follow through on various of his business schemes.