¹⁄35

The Much Maligned Italeri HMMWVs

M998 HMMWV Desert Patrol Hummer #249

The next kit Italeri produced was the M998 HMMWV Desert Patrol Hummer kit number 249. This kit is a prototype of a ten man squad carrier tested at the US Army’s National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. It was armed with an M2 Browning .50 caliber machine gun. Although it is an interesting variant, the vehicle was not put into production.

This model is the same basic kit as kit #247, the only difference being the “B” sprue that provides the squared hard top roof of the model and weapons station. There is also an additional clear part added for the rear window. The model suffers from the same basic problems as the other Italeri HMMWVs like lack of interior details, wipers, front bumper and wheels. Other problems with this variant are the rear bumper and rear troop doors. On the prototype, the tailgate is replaced by a pair of doors that go from the top of the roof to the bottom of the cargo bed allowing easy entry into the troop compartment. Since the kit utilizes the same lower chassis as all Italeri HMMWVs, the tailgate remains in place and the troop doors go to the top of the tailgate. Additionally, the kit is missing the rear bumper found on the prototype. It is like the type fitted to the S250 carrier, ambulance and prime mover variants. The cargo racks and straps that adorn the sides of the prototype are also missing, and would require reshaping of the rear sides of the hard top.

Strangely, even though the prototype was tested by and for the US Army at the NTC, the decals depict a USMC vehicle.

Copyright ©2002 - Text and Photos by Robin Gronovius (sabot). All Rights Reserved.