In Box Review of Sky Bow 1/35th Scale
U.S. WC63 “Big Shot” 1-1/2 Ton 6x6 Personnel Carrier
Kit no. TP3504
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2002
Out of production
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2002
Out of production
HISTORY:
When the U.S. Army increased the size of their rifle squads from 8 to 12 troops, they ordered the biggest brother in their famous WC series of light trucks, the WC62/53. The extra four feet of body space in this 1-1/2 ton six-wheeler was big enough for 12 fully equipped G.I.s, together with extra equipment, but it was more usually used for general transport.
Most of the components used in this 1-1/2 ton six-wheeler are shared with its four-wheeled brothers. However, to increase traction a new two-speed transfer case was specified. After WW2, this component was fitted throughout the range, which by then had evolved to become the M37 series.
Sometimes known as the “Fargo”, its popular name was coined when the launch publicity declared the “Every mother’s son loves the BIG SHOT. Fifty-five thousand WC62/63 SNL G-507s were produced between 1943 and 1944.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type : 1-1⁄2-ton 6X6 truck
Place of origin: United States
Wars: World War II, Korean War
Manufacturer: Dodge / Fargo
Produced: 1940–1945
Build total: ~382,350 excl. variants, Consisting of: 1⁄2-ton 4×2 models, 1,542 units, All 4×4 Models~337,600 units – across:
~82,390 1⁄2-ton units (1940–1942) and 255,195 3⁄4-ton units (1942–1945), 1-1⁄2-ton 6×6 Models 43,224 units
Variants: D8A 1⁄2-ton, 4×4 (1941, Canada), D3/4 APT 3⁄4-ton, 4×4 (1945, Canada), VF-401 – VF-407 11⁄2-ton, 4×4 (1940), T-203B 11⁄2-ton, 4×4 (1941), WF-32 / G-618 11⁄2-ton, 4×2 (1942–1944, Iran)
Mass: 5,250 lb (2,380 kg) empty, (5,550 lb (2,520 kg) with winch)
Length: 166 7⁄8 in (424 cm), (176 1⁄2 in (448 cm) with winch)
Width: 82 3⁄4 in (210 cm)
Height: 81 7⁄8 in (208 cm)
Engine: Dodge T-214 of 92 hp (69 kW)
Payload capacity: 1,500 pounds (680 kg)
Transmission: 4 speed × 1 range
Suspension: Live beam axles on leaf springs
Ground clearance: 10 23⁄32 in (27.2 cm)
Fuel capacity: 30 US gal (114 liters)
Operational range: 240 mi (386.2 km)
Maximum speed: 55 mph (89 km/h)
When the U.S. Army increased the size of their rifle squads from 8 to 12 troops, they ordered the biggest brother in their famous WC series of light trucks, the WC62/53. The extra four feet of body space in this 1-1/2 ton six-wheeler was big enough for 12 fully equipped G.I.s, together with extra equipment, but it was more usually used for general transport.
Most of the components used in this 1-1/2 ton six-wheeler are shared with its four-wheeled brothers. However, to increase traction a new two-speed transfer case was specified. After WW2, this component was fitted throughout the range, which by then had evolved to become the M37 series.
Sometimes known as the “Fargo”, its popular name was coined when the launch publicity declared the “Every mother’s son loves the BIG SHOT. Fifty-five thousand WC62/63 SNL G-507s were produced between 1943 and 1944.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type : 1-1⁄2-ton 6X6 truck
Place of origin: United States
Wars: World War II, Korean War
Manufacturer: Dodge / Fargo
Produced: 1940–1945
Build total: ~382,350 excl. variants, Consisting of: 1⁄2-ton 4×2 models, 1,542 units, All 4×4 Models~337,600 units – across:
~82,390 1⁄2-ton units (1940–1942) and 255,195 3⁄4-ton units (1942–1945), 1-1⁄2-ton 6×6 Models 43,224 units
Variants: D8A 1⁄2-ton, 4×4 (1941, Canada), D3/4 APT 3⁄4-ton, 4×4 (1945, Canada), VF-401 – VF-407 11⁄2-ton, 4×4 (1940), T-203B 11⁄2-ton, 4×4 (1941), WF-32 / G-618 11⁄2-ton, 4×2 (1942–1944, Iran)
Mass: 5,250 lb (2,380 kg) empty, (5,550 lb (2,520 kg) with winch)
Length: 166 7⁄8 in (424 cm), (176 1⁄2 in (448 cm) with winch)
Width: 82 3⁄4 in (210 cm)
Height: 81 7⁄8 in (208 cm)
Engine: Dodge T-214 of 92 hp (69 kW)
Payload capacity: 1,500 pounds (680 kg)
Transmission: 4 speed × 1 range
Suspension: Live beam axles on leaf springs
Ground clearance: 10 23⁄32 in (27.2 cm)
Fuel capacity: 30 US gal (114 liters)
Operational range: 240 mi (386.2 km)
Maximum speed: 55 mph (89 km/h)
THE KIT:
Sky Bow is an old prolific model company based in Taiwan R.O.C. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a WC63 “Big Shot” truck posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya brand also does the majority of their box arts.
The truck is overall olive drab with a tan canvas roof over the cargo compartment and all-white markings. It has a .50 caliber machine gun on a circular pedestal mount on the passenger side of the cab.
It has a lone star on the sides of its cargo compartment, a star in a circle atop its hood, winterized-44 over its grill, 87-336f stenciled on the front of its left front bumper and C-32 stenciled on its right front bumper. On the sides of its hood it has stenciled U.S.A. over serial no. 3334610-S.
One side panel of the box shows 3 color box arts of other truck kits that Sky Bow manufactures: kit no. TP3501, a U.S. ¾ ton 4x4 weapons carrier “Beep”, kit no. TP3506, a WC57 “General Patton’s Command Car 4x4 command and reconnaissance truck and kit no. TP3507, a WC37. These are followed by Accurate Armor’s street address in Glasgow, Scotland, who was the importer and distributor for Sky Bow there.
Sky Bow is an old prolific model company based in Taiwan R.O.C. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a WC63 “Big Shot” truck posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya brand also does the majority of their box arts.
The truck is overall olive drab with a tan canvas roof over the cargo compartment and all-white markings. It has a .50 caliber machine gun on a circular pedestal mount on the passenger side of the cab.
It has a lone star on the sides of its cargo compartment, a star in a circle atop its hood, winterized-44 over its grill, 87-336f stenciled on the front of its left front bumper and C-32 stenciled on its right front bumper. On the sides of its hood it has stenciled U.S.A. over serial no. 3334610-S.
One side panel of the box shows 3 color box arts of other truck kits that Sky Bow manufactures: kit no. TP3501, a U.S. ¾ ton 4x4 weapons carrier “Beep”, kit no. TP3506, a WC57 “General Patton’s Command Car 4x4 command and reconnaissance truck and kit no. TP3507, a WC37. These are followed by Accurate Armor’s street address in Glasgow, Scotland, who was the importer and distributor for Sky Bow there.
The other side panel shows 4 color photos of the model made up in the box art scheme. One photo shows just the chassis. The second photo shows the canvas tarp over the cargo compartment removed, the third and fourth photos showing the canvas tarps in place over the driver’s cabin and the cargo compartment, with the 4th photo showing the machine gun in place.
These are followed by Sky Bows street address, telephone and FAX numbers in Taipei, R.O.C.
These are followed by Sky Bows street address, telephone and FAX numbers in Taipei, R.O.C.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 11 olive-drab parts trees, a clear tree, black poly-caps, a length of white string and the decal sheet in 8 self-sealing clear poly bags.
The instructions consists of a staple-bound booklet of 16 pages in 6 ¼” x 10 ¼” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the history of the “Big Shot” in English, Japanese and Chinese.
Page 2 begins with international assembly symbol explanations in 7 languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 11 gives a grand total of 24 assembly steps.
Pages 12, 13 & 14 are painting and marking guides, each showing a 5-view illustration. ALL the schemes are trucks in overall olive-drab, with white markings.
Page 12 shows the truck with a lone star on the sides of its fighting compartment, a circled star atop its hood, stenciled U.S.A. over ser. no. 3324902-S on the sides of its hood. White ends on its front bumpers with serial no. IA-3549TC small star TRK183. A star on its left rear fender, over maximum speed 25 mph and caution left hand drive no signals on its right rear fender. On its rear bumpers its says IA-3549TK on its left side and TRI 183 on the right bumper.
It was with the First Army 3549 Truck Company, number 183, WC62.
Page 13 shows the truck as another 5-view. It shows its .50 cal machine gun mounted. It is the box art scheme (already described above). It further shows the same markings on the rear of it as the one shown on page 12. Below them on its bumper is 87-3368 on the left and C-32 on the right.
It was with 3rd Army, 12th U.S. Corps., 87th “Golden Acorn” Infantry Division, 336th Field Artillery Battalion, Company C-32 vehicle in convoy, WC63MG.
Page 14 shows a 5-view of “Big Shot”. It is also overall olive drab with white lettering. It has all its tarps and the machine gun removed. On its sides it has “BIG SHOT” in large letters, followed by a star. On the hood sides is U.S.A. over ser. no. 2397503. On the left side of its front bumper is MVCC 102K and on the right side is NJC-2. These are repeated on its rear with a star on the left fender.
At the bottom of page 14 there is decal application instructions in English, Chinese and Japanese, with a service coupon in only Chinese.
Pages 15 and 16 of the instructions are blank.
Parts trees are not illustrated in the instructions. They do, however, have alphabetizing and part no. tabs next to the parts on the trees. This means careful study of the assembly steps to get the correct parts for each assembly Bad move Sky Bow!
Olive-drab letter A tree holds: the grill, leaf springs, exhaust pipe, axles, drive chain, motor parts, cooling fan and its belt etc. (58 parts)
The kit holds 11 olive-drab parts trees, a clear tree, black poly-caps, a length of white string and the decal sheet in 8 self-sealing clear poly bags.
The instructions consists of a staple-bound booklet of 16 pages in 6 ¼” x 10 ¼” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the history of the “Big Shot” in English, Japanese and Chinese.
Page 2 begins with international assembly symbol explanations in 7 languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 11 gives a grand total of 24 assembly steps.
Pages 12, 13 & 14 are painting and marking guides, each showing a 5-view illustration. ALL the schemes are trucks in overall olive-drab, with white markings.
Page 12 shows the truck with a lone star on the sides of its fighting compartment, a circled star atop its hood, stenciled U.S.A. over ser. no. 3324902-S on the sides of its hood. White ends on its front bumpers with serial no. IA-3549TC small star TRK183. A star on its left rear fender, over maximum speed 25 mph and caution left hand drive no signals on its right rear fender. On its rear bumpers its says IA-3549TK on its left side and TRI 183 on the right bumper.
It was with the First Army 3549 Truck Company, number 183, WC62.
Page 13 shows the truck as another 5-view. It shows its .50 cal machine gun mounted. It is the box art scheme (already described above). It further shows the same markings on the rear of it as the one shown on page 12. Below them on its bumper is 87-3368 on the left and C-32 on the right.
It was with 3rd Army, 12th U.S. Corps., 87th “Golden Acorn” Infantry Division, 336th Field Artillery Battalion, Company C-32 vehicle in convoy, WC63MG.
Page 14 shows a 5-view of “Big Shot”. It is also overall olive drab with white lettering. It has all its tarps and the machine gun removed. On its sides it has “BIG SHOT” in large letters, followed by a star. On the hood sides is U.S.A. over ser. no. 2397503. On the left side of its front bumper is MVCC 102K and on the right side is NJC-2. These are repeated on its rear with a star on the left fender.
At the bottom of page 14 there is decal application instructions in English, Chinese and Japanese, with a service coupon in only Chinese.
Pages 15 and 16 of the instructions are blank.
Parts trees are not illustrated in the instructions. They do, however, have alphabetizing and part no. tabs next to the parts on the trees. This means careful study of the assembly steps to get the correct parts for each assembly Bad move Sky Bow!
Olive-drab letter A tree holds: the grill, leaf springs, exhaust pipe, axles, drive chain, motor parts, cooling fan and its belt etc. (58 parts)
Olive-drab letter B tree holds: the front fenders, jerry can, windshield frame, steering wheel, hood sides etc. (60 parts)
Olive-drab letter C tree holds the cargo compartment’s floor & sides etc. (11 parts)
Olive-drab letter D tree holds the machine gun and its mount (9 parts)
Olive-drab letter E tree holds the tires and their rims etc. (23 parts)
Olive-drab letter F tree holds tools (5 parts)
Clear letter G tree holds the windshield panes and headlight lenses (4 parts)
Olive-drab letter H tree holds a spare wheel, axles etc. (42 parts)
Black letter I tree is poly-caps (6 parts)
Lettering jumps to the olive-drab letter L tree. It holds the machine gun ring mount (9 parts)
Olive-drab letter M tree holds the chassis (1 part)
Lettering jumps again to the olive-drab K tree. It holds the canvas roofs (2 parts)
There are no crew figures or a cargo load included. It would have been nice to have gotten at least a driver figure.
The decal sheet and the length of white string complete the kits contents. The string is never shown anywhere in the assembly steps and I wonder what it is used for?
The decal sheet and the length of white string complete the kits contents. The string is never shown anywhere in the assembly steps and I wonder what it is used for?