In Box Review of Italeri 1/35th Scale
DUKW Amphibious Truck
Kit No. 6482
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2002
Available in the later 2006 boxing, kit no. 6446 from Hobby-Link Japan for $27.53 or in the 2008 hoxing, kit no. 6466, also from Hobby-Link Japan for S29.06.
I bought my kit at the Toy Fair Store that used to be at the local mall and went out of business for $30.00, when it was marked down from $35.00.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2002
Available in the later 2006 boxing, kit no. 6446 from Hobby-Link Japan for $27.53 or in the 2008 hoxing, kit no. 6466, also from Hobby-Link Japan for S29.06.
I bought my kit at the Toy Fair Store that used to be at the local mall and went out of business for $30.00, when it was marked down from $35.00.
HISTORY:
The DUKW (colloquially known as Duck) is a six-wheel-drive amphibious modification of the 2+1⁄2-ton CCKW trucks used by the U.S. military during World War II and the Korean War.
Designed by a partnership under military auspices of Sparkman & Stephens and General Motors Corporation (GMC), the DUKW was used for the transportation of goods and troops over land and water. Excelling at approaching and crossing beaches in amphibious warfare attacks, it was intended only to last long enough to meet the demands of combat.
Surviving DUKWs have since found popularity as tourist craft in marine environments.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Amphibious transport
Place of origin: United States
Manufacturer: GMC Truck and Coach, Chevrolet
Produced: 1942–1945
No. built; 21,147
Mass: 13,600 lb (6,200 kg) empty
Length: 31 ft (9.45 m)
Width: 8 ft (2.44 m)
Height: 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) with top up, 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) minimum
Crew: 1
Main armament: Ring mount for .50in (12.7mm) M2 Browning machine gun fitted to one out of four DUKWs
Engine: GMC Model 270 of 91 hp (68 kW)
Payload capacity: 5,000 lb (2,300 kg) or 24 troops
Suspension: Live axles on leaf springs
Operational range: 400 mi (640 km) on road
Maximum speed: 50 mph (80 km/h) on road,6.4 mph (6 kn; 10 km/h) in water
The DUKW (colloquially known as Duck) is a six-wheel-drive amphibious modification of the 2+1⁄2-ton CCKW trucks used by the U.S. military during World War II and the Korean War.
Designed by a partnership under military auspices of Sparkman & Stephens and General Motors Corporation (GMC), the DUKW was used for the transportation of goods and troops over land and water. Excelling at approaching and crossing beaches in amphibious warfare attacks, it was intended only to last long enough to meet the demands of combat.
Surviving DUKWs have since found popularity as tourist craft in marine environments.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Amphibious transport
Place of origin: United States
Manufacturer: GMC Truck and Coach, Chevrolet
Produced: 1942–1945
No. built; 21,147
Mass: 13,600 lb (6,200 kg) empty
Length: 31 ft (9.45 m)
Width: 8 ft (2.44 m)
Height: 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) with top up, 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) minimum
Crew: 1
Main armament: Ring mount for .50in (12.7mm) M2 Browning machine gun fitted to one out of four DUKWs
Engine: GMC Model 270 of 91 hp (68 kW)
Payload capacity: 5,000 lb (2,300 kg) or 24 troops
Suspension: Live axles on leaf springs
Operational range: 400 mi (640 km) on road
Maximum speed: 50 mph (80 km/h) on road,6.4 mph (6 kn; 10 km/h) in water
THE KIT:
Italeri is an old prolific model company based in Italy. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales,
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows two DUKW’s coming ashore from a transport ship. Both are overall olive drab. The one in the lead has 6 infantrymen aboard and 2 drivers, all wearing steel helmets and just their heads showing. On the side of the hull there is a large circled white star insignia. It has cloth bumpers on the bow and stern. The second DUKW behind it also has the bumpers.
One corner of the box says the figures are not included.
One side panel of the box has 8 single-paragraph histories of the DUKW in 8 languages, including English. Each language is labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
Italeri is an old prolific model company based in Italy. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales,
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows two DUKW’s coming ashore from a transport ship. Both are overall olive drab. The one in the lead has 6 infantrymen aboard and 2 drivers, all wearing steel helmets and just their heads showing. On the side of the hull there is a large circled white star insignia. It has cloth bumpers on the bow and stern. The second DUKW behind it also has the bumpers.
One corner of the box says the figures are not included.
One side panel of the box has 8 single-paragraph histories of the DUKW in 8 languages, including English. Each language is labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
The other side panel says the kit contains one unassembled plastic model kit. Cement and paint needed to finish the model as shown are not included. Multilingual instruction sheet with drawings and decal sheet included. Suitable for children age 10 and over. Not suitable for children under 3 years because of sharp parts. In 6 languages, including English.
Suggested listing of Model Master hobby paints is shown, over Italari's street and web address.
Copyright of kit is 2002.
Followed by 3 color walk-around type photos of the model made up in the cover art scheme
Suggested listing of Model Master hobby paints is shown, over Italari's street and web address.
Copyright of kit is 2002.
Followed by 3 color walk-around type photos of the model made up in the cover art scheme
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit contains 3 olive drab trees, a clear trees and the decal sheet. Nothing is cello bagged.
Trees are alphabetized.
Olive drab tree A holds: the hull walls, steering wheel, windshield frame, dashboard, seats, wall panels, propellers etc. (50 parts)
The kit contains 3 olive drab trees, a clear trees and the decal sheet. Nothing is cello bagged.
Trees are alphabetized.
Olive drab tree A holds: the hull walls, steering wheel, windshield frame, dashboard, seats, wall panels, propellers etc. (50 parts)
Olive drab tree B holds the hull bottom and floor (2 parts)
Olive drab tree C holds: wheels, axles, leaf springs, jerry cans, nose bumper pads, suspension parts etc. (80 parts)
Clear tree D holds window panes and headlight lenses (5 parts)
There are no figures included.
There are no figures included.
The decals complete the kit contents.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 10 pages in 7 ½” x 12 ¾” page format.
Page 1 has the history of the DUKW in 8 languages, including English.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTION about the kit, in 11 languages, including English. Over coupons to mail in for any kit assistance and a suggested listing of Italeri and Model Master brands of hobby paints, in 6 languages, including English.
Page 3 is the parts-trees illustrations.
The bottom of page 3 on through to page 8 gives a grand total of 14 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 8 has decal application instructions on it, in 8 languages, including English.
Page 9 is a marking and painting guide.
It shows three 4-views of the DUKW.
The first one is overall olive-drab with a circled white star on the bow, a black bar with white 199/A4 on it on the sides of the hull, followed by a small black square with a white star on it.
It was with the U.S. Army, Normandy, 1944.
The second one is also of overall olive-drab. It has a circled white star on top of the bow, a white star on its sides, followed by white 714 and another white star.
It was with the U.S. Army, Germany, 1945.
The third one is in a white, olive drab and black green camouflage pattern, with a white star atop the bow and a circled white star on its sides.
It was with the U.S. Marine Corps, Iwo Jima, June 1945.
The detail is excellent. Highly recommended.
I have added a book about the DUKW to this kit. A review of it appears in the Books articles.
Page 1 has the history of the DUKW in 8 languages, including English.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTION about the kit, in 11 languages, including English. Over coupons to mail in for any kit assistance and a suggested listing of Italeri and Model Master brands of hobby paints, in 6 languages, including English.
Page 3 is the parts-trees illustrations.
The bottom of page 3 on through to page 8 gives a grand total of 14 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 8 has decal application instructions on it, in 8 languages, including English.
Page 9 is a marking and painting guide.
It shows three 4-views of the DUKW.
The first one is overall olive-drab with a circled white star on the bow, a black bar with white 199/A4 on it on the sides of the hull, followed by a small black square with a white star on it.
It was with the U.S. Army, Normandy, 1944.
The second one is also of overall olive-drab. It has a circled white star on top of the bow, a white star on its sides, followed by white 714 and another white star.
It was with the U.S. Army, Germany, 1945.
The third one is in a white, olive drab and black green camouflage pattern, with a white star atop the bow and a circled white star on its sides.
It was with the U.S. Marine Corps, Iwo Jima, June 1945.
The detail is excellent. Highly recommended.
I have added a book about the DUKW to this kit. A review of it appears in the Books articles.