Jeep Willys - 1st Polish Independant Parachute Brigade, Rifle Battalion - Holland 1944 - SK MODEL 1/35

Bought that kit for 5,30 Euros on the polish website Jadar (Heller mold in a SK Model box, with Intech decals).
I place the scene in Holland in September 1944. I abandoned my initial idea to use the Black Dog set which contains only American material. I will instead use British para material from Bronco.
Express build with some adjustment problems. I sanded the bottom of the dashboard, removed parts of the engine, played a little with the instructions sheet...
The Heller model reproducing a Hotchkiss M206 rather than a Willys Jeep, I did not use some parts: jerrycan stand, rectangular mirror, windshield wiper motor.
I intend to make a protective cover for the windshield in Milliput.
I retrieved a Chervrolet LRDG Tamiya Lewis machine gun mount, a .50mm Browning (12.7mm) from a Dragon Jeep and started filling the trailer with a Bronco wicker box, Verlinden crates, Ultracast cans and a B167 MkI steel ammunition box Ultracast also.

I was going to say that the Airborne Jeep wasn't fitted with a pedestal mount .50 cal until I came across this site

https://www.paradata.org.uk/article/airborne-jeep

Scroll through the pictures; there are 2 with the pedestal mount. Different model of .50 cal though.

Jean-Louis,

I have a feeling that as the Poles were kitted out by the British, the trailer shown - being US - would not be appropriate.

I believe Bronco produce a British "Airborne" trailer but I suspect that probably defeats the exercise in making the model you have (!)

Brian

Thank you for this interesting link.

Hi Brian,
you are right. The US trailer seems to be inapropriate. I will try to find one.

To make this Jeep look more like an airborne Jeep, I made the following changes:
- I modified the steering wheel with a piece of bunch pierced in the middle and a rod. The steering wheels of these vehicles were removable
- I changed the Heller windshield for a Tamiya one from the spare box
- changed Heller rectangular mirror for a round one (Tamiya)
- the arches of the tarpaulin are replaced by Tamiya arches, much more detailed
- the rear jerrycan support is removed, as well as the spare wheel support
- Two Tiger Model Design jerrycans (in resin) are placed behind the driver's and front passenger's seat. One of them is open, its cap hanging at the end of a chain
- a jerrycan and a soft jerrycan are placed between the two front seats
- on the left front fender, a blackout light + a small driving light
- the left front headlight is replaced by a Dragon blackout light
- an Italeri basket is placed on the right front fender
- the spare wheel is placed in front of the radiator (which frequently caused the engine to overheat)
- the tools moved on the front bumper. I took the opportunity to replace the american shovel by a more "british" one
- personal interpretation: I placed a fire extinguisher on the ground in front of the right front seat










Next step: final sanding and base coat...

Interesting. I don't think I've ever seen anyone model the gas cap hanging down like that. That's cool. A suggestion if I may: I'd thin out those oval shaped bumpers in the rear. A few minutes with a sharp no. 11 blade and a round file would do the trick.

Tiger Model Design has some interesting stuff, including those jerrycans.

For the rear bumpers, you are right, they are way too thick. I will have a look at the PE sets I have in my stash. Thank you for telling me.

I wouldn’t bother thinning the rear bumperettes . They were removed anyway and an A-frame fitted in its place.

Somebody’s got a nerve to sell that mould as an airborne jeep though........

I totally forgot to remove the bumpers before starting to paint...

Before priming, I added some details from a Tiger Model Design resin set:

- hood and windshield fasteners
- the butterfly screws to lock the windshield
- the accelerator, the brake pedal and the clutch pedal

Interesting piece you are working on. Should you perhaps shorten front bumper? I saw it on few pics from the above link?
Best regards,
Marko

Always love to see a Jeep build.
Makes me want to build my Jeep kits that are on the shelf.
Dan

Done !!! Thank you for suggesting.

Hi Dan ! Go, go, go !!! Do not let your Jeeps on the shelf

Well, a layer of green, after replacing the lost Tamiya mirror by a resin one from Tiger Model Design. This one is in two parts: support and mirror. I will glue the mirror last.
I also shortened the bumper, as I saw on Airborne Jeeps documents and as suggested by other modellers.

I broke the mirror for the second time. It will remain as it is...
A light green highlights drybrush and a layer of satin varnish. Next step: weathering.

no need to see where you've been: Move Forward!

this model is looking great.

Thank you !

Photos of the shredded SK Models decals, very very fragile... Archer decals (dry transfers) for the manufacturer's plates and the dials are really nice but not easy at all to put in place ... The "red cross" decal is from a Passion Models set (# P35D-001 "WWII US Army budget and insignia").
Starting to paint the Jerry Cans and some weathering with ochre yellow and pale green oils.

Little by little ... Five minutes here, five minutes there ... I progress slowly, but I move on. Difficult to find time for everything, but at least I have the satisfaction of progressing.
So, tonight: painting the steering wheel and the gear levers, painting the wipers, with Humbrol 33 matt black.

I started to select some accessories that will come to complete the Jeep: a mini-bike from this Dragon box (#6585),


a bag and a tarpaulin from Value Gear and three Bergen backpacks from Résicast (set #35.5661).


That's what it will look like...

very nice. I've never seen that idea (bike on the bumperettes) before. must not forget to leave room for the driver!

That's my personnal style. I think I saw that somewher on internet when I was looking for some documentation.

End of the painting of the Jeep, the machine gun and the tools (I painted the woods of two different colors). I still have the accessories to finish and to put in place.
Unfortunately for the trailer, I have not found one yet. I will try to find one in September, after I move from Canada.