In Box Review of Skybow 1/35th Scale
U.S. 3/4 ton 4 x 4 Weapons Carrier "Beep" WC51/52
With M24A2 Pedestal Truck Mount
By Ray Mehlberger
My kit is out of production, but AFV Club has the truck as kit no. AF35S15 available at Sprue Bros for $23.99 or from MBK in Germany for 22.00 Eur, from Hobby Link Japan for 24.00 yen and from Think Hobbies in Canada for $27.95.
My kit is out of production, but AFV Club has the truck as kit no. AF35S15 available at Sprue Bros for $23.99 or from MBK in Germany for 22.00 Eur, from Hobby Link Japan for 24.00 yen and from Think Hobbies in Canada for $27.95.
HISTORY:
The Dodge WC series was a range of light military trucks produced by Dodge and Fargo during World War II. The series included weapon carriers, telephone installation trucks, ambulances, reconnaissance vehicles, mobile workshops and command cars. They were replaced after the war by the Dodge M-series vehicles. WC was a Dodge model code: W for 1941 and C for half-ton rating. The C code was retained for the ¾ ton and 1½ ton 6×6 Dodges.
WC-51.
WC51 Truck, Cargo, 3/4 ton, 4x4 w/o Winch Dodge (G502) Weapons Carrier. 123,541 were built. The open cab pickup could be fitted with an optional M24A1 machine gun mount, which bolted across the front of the bed. The mount could carry the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle, the M1919 Browning machine gun, or the M2 Browning machine gun.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 13 ft 11 in / 4.24 m
Height (with canvas cover): 6 ft 10 in / 2.08 m
Height (with top down): 5 ft 2 in / 1.57 m
Weight: 5,645 lb / 2 560 kg net
Width: 6 ft 11 in / 2.11 meters
Payload: 1,750 lb / 800 kg
Dodge WC 52
WC52 Truck, Cargo, 3/4 ton, 4x4 w/Winch Dodge (G502) Weapons Carriers was identical to the WC51, but fitted with a Braden MU2 7,500 lb / 3 402 kg capacity winch at the front bumper. 59,114 built.
Length: 14 ft 9 in / 4,48 m
Height (with canvas cover): 6 ft 10 in / 2,08 m
Height (with top down): 5 ft 2 in / 1,57 m
Weight: 5,945 lb / 2 697 kg net
Width: 6 ft 11 in / 2,10 m
Payload: 1,750 lb / 800 kg
The Dodge WC series was a range of light military trucks produced by Dodge and Fargo during World War II. The series included weapon carriers, telephone installation trucks, ambulances, reconnaissance vehicles, mobile workshops and command cars. They were replaced after the war by the Dodge M-series vehicles. WC was a Dodge model code: W for 1941 and C for half-ton rating. The C code was retained for the ¾ ton and 1½ ton 6×6 Dodges.
WC-51.
WC51 Truck, Cargo, 3/4 ton, 4x4 w/o Winch Dodge (G502) Weapons Carrier. 123,541 were built. The open cab pickup could be fitted with an optional M24A1 machine gun mount, which bolted across the front of the bed. The mount could carry the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle, the M1919 Browning machine gun, or the M2 Browning machine gun.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 13 ft 11 in / 4.24 m
Height (with canvas cover): 6 ft 10 in / 2.08 m
Height (with top down): 5 ft 2 in / 1.57 m
Weight: 5,645 lb / 2 560 kg net
Width: 6 ft 11 in / 2.11 meters
Payload: 1,750 lb / 800 kg
Dodge WC 52
WC52 Truck, Cargo, 3/4 ton, 4x4 w/Winch Dodge (G502) Weapons Carriers was identical to the WC51, but fitted with a Braden MU2 7,500 lb / 3 402 kg capacity winch at the front bumper. 59,114 built.
Length: 14 ft 9 in / 4,48 m
Height (with canvas cover): 6 ft 10 in / 2,08 m
Height (with top down): 5 ft 2 in / 1,57 m
Weight: 5,945 lb / 2 697 kg net
Width: 6 ft 11 in / 2,10 m
Payload: 1,750 lb / 800 kg
THE KIT:
Skybow was a model company based in Taiwan. I strongly think the molds for this truck were also under the Max label at one time.
The kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows the truck in overall olive-drab with the white number 2120843-S on the sides of the hood, a large white star in a circle on top of the hood and a smaller one on the sides of the rear bed and center of the front bumper. To the left of the star on front is a white 6A15 triangle. On the right side of the bumper is a white A7.
This is a WC51MG with the 6th Armyk, 15th Armored Division, Italy.
On a side panel is 2 walk around type color photos of the model made up in the box art scheme.
Skybow was a model company based in Taiwan. I strongly think the molds for this truck were also under the Max label at one time.
The kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows the truck in overall olive-drab with the white number 2120843-S on the sides of the hood, a large white star in a circle on top of the hood and a smaller one on the sides of the rear bed and center of the front bumper. To the left of the star on front is a white 6A15 triangle. On the right side of the bumper is a white A7.
This is a WC51MG with the 6th Armyk, 15th Armored Division, Italy.
On a side panel is 2 walk around type color photos of the model made up in the box art scheme.
This is followed by a single color photo of the model made up as a WC52 type with a wench on the front in the center between 2 bumper sections. It is overall olive-drab also. The sections each have a white tip. The left one has the white number 82AB 107 and a white 1B4 on the right one. There is a large white star on the sides of the rear bed, a white number 2020498-S on the sides of the hood, a large white star on the left rear fender, a white 82AB over 1B4 on the left rear license plate and white 1B4 on the right.
This truck is with the 82nd Airborne, 1944, in France.
A third color photo shows a WC51 in the usual overall olive-drab. It has the canvas roof support bows in place on it over the cargo bed. It has a large white star in a ring on top of the hood, the white serial number 3 triangle 391F on the left side of the front bumper, a star in the center of the bumper and C24 on the right. There is a medium-sized white star on the left rear fender, a white 3 triangle over 391F on the left rear license plate and a white C24 on the right. This truck is with the 3rd Army, 39th Infantry Regiment, France.
This truck is with the 82nd Airborne, 1944, in France.
A third color photo shows a WC51 in the usual overall olive-drab. It has the canvas roof support bows in place on it over the cargo bed. It has a large white star in a ring on top of the hood, the white serial number 3 triangle 391F on the left side of the front bumper, a star in the center of the bumper and C24 on the right. There is a medium-sized white star on the left rear fender, a white 3 triangle over 391F on the left rear license plate and a white C24 on the right. This truck is with the 3rd Army, 39th Infantry Regiment, France.
The other side panel has 3 color box arts of other AFV kits that Skybow marketed:
1. Kit no. TP3506 a WC57 "Gen. Patton's command car".
2. Kit no. TP3505 a M38A1C with M40A1 105mm recoiless rifle.
3. Kit no. TP3503 a M38A1 Utilities truck
1. Kit no. TP3506 a WC57 "Gen. Patton's command car".
2. Kit no. TP3505 a M38A1C with M40A1 105mm recoiless rifle.
3. Kit no. TP3503 a M38A1 Utilities truck
These box arts are followed by Accurate Armor's address in Glasgow, Scotland. For what reason I'm puzzled??
These 3 schemes are the ones on the decal sheet.
These 3 schemes are the ones on the decal sheet.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 8 olive-drab trees of parts, each tree in re-sealable cello bags, black vinyl poly-caps, a clear parts tree, a length of white string both in another cello bag, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a staple-bound booklet of 12 pages in 7 1/2" x 11" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the truck in English, Japanese and Chinese.
Page 2 begins with international assembly symbol explanations, followed by a paint color listing and READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY instructions in multiple languages, including English, above the 1st assembly step.
Page 3 through 10 give a balance of a grand total of 22 assembly steps.
Page 11 has two 5-views for painting and marking schemes. These 2 schemes already described above.
Page 12 has another 5-view for the 3rd scheme (already described above), over the decal application instructions and an after-market service coupon in Chinese.
Large olive-drab letter A parts tree holds: engine parts, muffler and exhuast pipe, leaf springs, axles, radiator, radiator fan, suspension arms, fan belt etc. (59 parts)
This kit contains 8 olive-drab trees of parts, each tree in re-sealable cello bags, black vinyl poly-caps, a clear parts tree, a length of white string both in another cello bag, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a staple-bound booklet of 12 pages in 7 1/2" x 11" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the truck in English, Japanese and Chinese.
Page 2 begins with international assembly symbol explanations, followed by a paint color listing and READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY instructions in multiple languages, including English, above the 1st assembly step.
Page 3 through 10 give a balance of a grand total of 22 assembly steps.
Page 11 has two 5-views for painting and marking schemes. These 2 schemes already described above.
Page 12 has another 5-view for the 3rd scheme (already described above), over the decal application instructions and an after-market service coupon in Chinese.
Large olive-drab letter A parts tree holds: engine parts, muffler and exhuast pipe, leaf springs, axles, radiator, radiator fan, suspension arms, fan belt etc. (59 parts)
Large olive-drab letter B parts tree holds: the steering column, Jerry cans, fire wall, windshield frame, 2 alternate grills, the dashboard, steering wheel, hood parts, fenders etc. (61 parts)
Large olive-drab letter C parts tree holds: the rear compartment floor and side walls, drive shaft, roof support bows etc. (17 parts)
Small olive-drab letter D parts tree holds: the 50 cal machine gun, it's pedestal mount and ammo box (9 parts)
Medium sized olive-drab letter E parts tree holds wheel centers and tires (23 parts)
Very small sized olive drab letter F parts tree holds tools (5 parts)
Lettering now jumps to the small olive-drab letter H part. It is the frame.
There is no letter I parts tree.
There is no letter I parts tree.
Medium sized letter J parts tree holds: the floor, seats, running boards, tie rods, seat bases, door frames, windshield frame, rear compartment rear wall and door, rear compartment front wall etc. (22 parts)
The clear tree holds the windshield and light lenses (4 parts)
The length of white string and the black vinyl poly caps (6 of them) and the decal sheet completes the kits contents.
I think this kit is pretty nice. Only wish that there were some figures to put in it.
I purchased my kit years ago at my local hobby shop.
It has a copyright date of 2001.
I purchased my kit years ago at my local hobby shop.
It has a copyright date of 2001.