In Box Review of Tamiya 1/35th Scale
U.S. M20 Armored Utility Car
Kit no. 35234
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1999
Available at 5 locations overseas on the web.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1999
Available at 5 locations overseas on the web.
HISTORY:
In 1942, the Mechanized Cavalry Unit production requests for a high speed, all-purpose, armored vehicle using the M8 light Armored Car as a base. In answer to this request, Ford Motor Company developed the M20 Armored Utility Car in April of 1943.
The M20’s output of 110 hp/3000 rpm came from a Hercules JXD liquid-cooled, gasoline engine. Its transmission consisted of four forward-gears and one reverse. Although the six-wheel drive suspension and the steel-plated body of the M8 were inherited by the M20, the rotating turret was removed, providing space for a highly maneuverable, lightly armored fighting compartment. The inside of the cabin was equipped with a folding map table in the center front, passenger seats along both sides, a gunner’s seat in the center rear, as well as radio sets, such as SCR-508 or SCR-694. Stored in the sponsons.
In addition to the driver and assistant driver, a crew of four could ride in the vehicle. The main armament of the M20 was the 12.7mm M2 .50 caliber Browning machine gun, which rotated on a ring mount, set on the top of the fighting compartment.
Additional arms, such as an M9A1 60mm rocket-launcher (Bazooka), rocket ammunition and an M1 carbine gun were kept inside the vehicle. Being highly maneuverable and useful as a command and cargo vehicle, the M20 was widely used during and after WWII by the U.S. and its allies.
In 1942, the Mechanized Cavalry Unit production requests for a high speed, all-purpose, armored vehicle using the M8 light Armored Car as a base. In answer to this request, Ford Motor Company developed the M20 Armored Utility Car in April of 1943.
The M20’s output of 110 hp/3000 rpm came from a Hercules JXD liquid-cooled, gasoline engine. Its transmission consisted of four forward-gears and one reverse. Although the six-wheel drive suspension and the steel-plated body of the M8 were inherited by the M20, the rotating turret was removed, providing space for a highly maneuverable, lightly armored fighting compartment. The inside of the cabin was equipped with a folding map table in the center front, passenger seats along both sides, a gunner’s seat in the center rear, as well as radio sets, such as SCR-508 or SCR-694. Stored in the sponsons.
In addition to the driver and assistant driver, a crew of four could ride in the vehicle. The main armament of the M20 was the 12.7mm M2 .50 caliber Browning machine gun, which rotated on a ring mount, set on the top of the fighting compartment.
Additional arms, such as an M9A1 60mm rocket-launcher (Bazooka), rocket ammunition and an M1 carbine gun were kept inside the vehicle. Being highly maneuverable and useful as a command and cargo vehicle, the M20 was widely used during and after WWII by the U.S. and its allies.
THE KIT
Tamiya is an old prolific model company based in Shizuoka, Japan. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a M20 posed against one of Tamiya’s SIGNATURE all white backgrounds that they use for the majority of their box arts.
The M20 is overall olive-drab, with a large circled white star on its nose, a small yellow circle with black 7 on it on the front of the right fender, white TEX over white TIRE PRESSURE over FR60 REAR 50 on the sides of the right fender and white serial no. U.S.A. 6033362-S on the sides of the hull.
One corner of the box art says: Highly accurate static display model. Interior and exterior detailing. Realistic chassis under-surface and suspension. Includes 2 figures.
Another corner of the box art says: Ready to assemble precision model kit. Modeling skills helpful if under 10 years of age. Cement and paint not included.
One side-panel of the box shows a color side-view illustration of the M20 that is overall olive-drab. No markings are shown. Followed by a paragraph all in Japanese and color illustrations of the 2 figures in the kit, the standing commander and the driver. Both wear tan shirts and green pants cuffed over low shoes and steel helmets. The commander has a pistol holster on his belt and he is looking through a pair of binoculars.
Tamiya is an old prolific model company based in Shizuoka, Japan. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a M20 posed against one of Tamiya’s SIGNATURE all white backgrounds that they use for the majority of their box arts.
The M20 is overall olive-drab, with a large circled white star on its nose, a small yellow circle with black 7 on it on the front of the right fender, white TEX over white TIRE PRESSURE over FR60 REAR 50 on the sides of the right fender and white serial no. U.S.A. 6033362-S on the sides of the hull.
One corner of the box art says: Highly accurate static display model. Interior and exterior detailing. Realistic chassis under-surface and suspension. Includes 2 figures.
Another corner of the box art says: Ready to assemble precision model kit. Modeling skills helpful if under 10 years of age. Cement and paint not included.
One side-panel of the box shows a color side-view illustration of the M20 that is overall olive-drab. No markings are shown. Followed by a paragraph all in Japanese and color illustrations of the 2 figures in the kit, the standing commander and the driver. Both wear tan shirts and green pants cuffed over low shoes and steel helmets. The commander has a pistol holster on his belt and he is looking through a pair of binoculars.
The other side-panel of the box has a color 3-view illustration of the M20. It is overall olive-drab, with a large white star on its nose and a small white star on the right rear fender. It carries a stenciled white serial no. U.S.A. 60112642 on the sides of its hull and a yellow circle with a black panther’s head that is chewing a tank on it.
Tamiya’s street address in Shizuoka, Japan is provided.
Tamiya’s street address in Shizuoka, Japan is provided.
The inside lid of the box contains important information and warnings in 13 languages.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 5 olive-drab trees, a length of white string, black poly-caps and the decal sheet in 4 sealed clear cello bags. There are no clear parts.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 10 pages in 6 ¾” x 10 ¼” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the model made up in the box art scheme with the commander looking out the top with binoculars, over the history of the M20 in English, German, French and Japanese.
Page 2 begins with READ BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions, suggested tools shown and a suggested paint color listing and PRECAUTIONS in multiple languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 through to the top of page 9 gives a grand total of 17 assembly steps. Step 17 also shows assembly and painting instruction for the commander figure.
The bottom of page 9 is a painting and marking guide showing a 4-view of the M20. It is in the box art scheme (already described above).
It was with the 2nd Armored Division, 82nd Armored Recon Battalion, C Co., 1st Platoon, France, August 1944.
Page 10 shows another 4-view and a 3-view.
The 4-view is the scheme on the side-panel with the Panther’s head illustration on it (already described above).
It was with the 807th Tank Destroyer Battalion, B Co., 1st Platoon, Germany, 1945.
The 3-view is overall olive-drab, with a black bar at the forward end of the sides of the hull with white serial no. MF 44515C on it, a small white square with black D on it, followed by a rectangle that has alternating red and blue corners around a white center. The small white square with 7 on it is repeated above the MF serial no. bar on the back of the left rear fender. On the nose there is black bar with red, white and blue stripes on the left side of it and white serial no. 415349 on it,
It was with the Free French Army, 5th Armored Division, 2nd Dragon Regiment, Commander’s vehicle, France, August 1944.
Trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions.
There are 2 identical olive-drab letter A trees that hold: wheels, leaf springs, suspension parts etc. (41 parts ea.)
This kit holds 5 olive-drab trees, a length of white string, black poly-caps and the decal sheet in 4 sealed clear cello bags. There are no clear parts.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 10 pages in 6 ¾” x 10 ¼” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the model made up in the box art scheme with the commander looking out the top with binoculars, over the history of the M20 in English, German, French and Japanese.
Page 2 begins with READ BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions, suggested tools shown and a suggested paint color listing and PRECAUTIONS in multiple languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 through to the top of page 9 gives a grand total of 17 assembly steps. Step 17 also shows assembly and painting instruction for the commander figure.
The bottom of page 9 is a painting and marking guide showing a 4-view of the M20. It is in the box art scheme (already described above).
It was with the 2nd Armored Division, 82nd Armored Recon Battalion, C Co., 1st Platoon, France, August 1944.
Page 10 shows another 4-view and a 3-view.
The 4-view is the scheme on the side-panel with the Panther’s head illustration on it (already described above).
It was with the 807th Tank Destroyer Battalion, B Co., 1st Platoon, Germany, 1945.
The 3-view is overall olive-drab, with a black bar at the forward end of the sides of the hull with white serial no. MF 44515C on it, a small white square with black D on it, followed by a rectangle that has alternating red and blue corners around a white center. The small white square with 7 on it is repeated above the MF serial no. bar on the back of the left rear fender. On the nose there is black bar with red, white and blue stripes on the left side of it and white serial no. 415349 on it,
It was with the Free French Army, 5th Armored Division, 2nd Dragon Regiment, Commander’s vehicle, France, August 1944.
Trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions.
There are 2 identical olive-drab letter A trees that hold: wheels, leaf springs, suspension parts etc. (41 parts ea.)
Olive-drab letter B tree holds: the commander figure, drive chain, exhaust system, dashboard, seats, axe, shovel etc. (52 parts)
Olive-drab letter C tree holds: the engine compartment doors, side walls, fenders, top and hull etc. (16 parts)
Olive-drab E tree holds the .050 M.G., ammo boxes, etc.(8 parts)
Lettering jumps to the olive-drab letter F tree. It holds: the seated driver figure, machine gun mount rings, floor and body panels, bazooka etc (48 parts)
Next is the length of white string to use for tow cables and 4 poly caps to mount the wheels on to the axles.
The decal sheet completes the kit contents.
There are no clear parts included.
I have added my company’s (Armor Research) brass fender set to the kit.
I have added my company’s (Armor Research) brass fender set to the kit.
The detail is excellent inside and out.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.