Russ Amott reviews and builds the 1/20 scale U.S. Army 1/4-Ton 4x4 Truck (Slat Grill) from Fine Molds.

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Thanks!

Thanks for the review . Seems like their trying to sell this kit to scale modelers ands those other guys who like to motorise their toys Not enough detail for us and probably too much for the other guys . Even if we got the AM set some parts would still need to be rebuilt / replaced . Seems too much money to me for a toy ...and whats with the scale , would have been better in 1/24 .
I expect a lot better from a manufactuer like FineMoldsa

It seems like a lot of manufacturers seem to be trying to getting away with shortcuts and with a "fudge it" mentality. Im actually very disappointed to hear that this kit is not in the A range.

James, thanks for the help with the review.

Thanks for the comments. I am still not really sure who the target audience for this kit is. Maybe as the next releases come out it will be more clear. Italeri just came out with a new 1/24 kit, so maybe Fine Molds wanted to set up in a new scale, although with the motorized options, 1/20 may have been the best fit.

A VERY good Review.

I think your percentage was spot on - just going by the pretty heavy detail on the model. I was (sort of) complaining in a recent Review I wrote about the windscreen wipers being moulded onto the windscreeen, that's one thing in 1/35th, quite another when they are so basic in 1/20th...

It's got a lot of possibilities for super-detailing, but it seems crazy to have to replace items like the grab-handles on the side - Fine-Molds should have done them properly in the first place. It's a damned site easier doing details like this in 1/20th when you can approach 'Scale' than in any smaller scale

Good Review, but, at the end of the day, a Review is only as good as what's being offered, so yes, your punctuation was spot-on - it looks like a little disappointing release - particularly looking at other softskin models in 1/35th...

Thank you, Jim.

This is disappointing

I really wanted this kit to be good. I'm a big fan of Fine Molds, and I do like a large scale Jeep.

Thank you Russ for a balanced and fair review, even if that results in a lower than average score for the kit. You have saved me the best part of £40!

Chris

I remember back in the 90's Tamiya came out with the "Collectors Club" die cast vehicles and they had the very same slat grilled jeep model in the very same 1/20 scale

Hello Russ (and others friends), I agree with the opinion - that this is not a kit for Fine Molds capabilities - this is 2011 not 70' or 80' , in fact it is not 100% Fine Molds kit, main parts such as body, frame e.t.c. - A, B, C sprues, are based on old forms of Japanese manufacturing MITSUWA - out of stock kit 1 / 20 U.S Jeep Willys MB with trailer, the other parts like as the wheels, grill, windshild with lights - sprues D, E, G) this is new product of Fine Molds. No comment about this kit, I expected more fine details like on 1/20 scale, although, shape is OK. Good review.

Thanks and Cheers.

Peter (Willysmbfan)

Small correction, probably, only 2 sprues are new Fine Molds (D and E), the rest are old Mitsuwa Model ( see on web Mitsuwa Models 1/20 U.S. Willys MB Nr. 381, Nr. 372 or Nr. 332 - all out of stock items, sometimes available on web auctions)

Piotr -Willysmbfan