Since I’ve been on a soft-skin kick for the past few months, I decided that the next kit to add to the collection would be a variant of Skybow’s ¼ ton Jeep. Being a relatively frugal shopper, I picked up the recoilless rifle version, hoping a standard Jeep could be built from the same kit. This is not the case. The M38A1C does not have the sprue that contains the normal windshield, rear seat, tailgate or spare tire mount found on the standard Jeep kit.

At first look, the kit is impressively molded on 5 separately bagged sprues. Three of the sprues are molded in OD green, one clear and the recoilless rifle is on a darker gray-green sprue. Model particulars are a well-detailed drive train, suspension, steering linkage and engine with an optional position hood and windshield and rotating tires. Recoilless rifle details include an optional position breech, spare ammo tubes, .50 caliber spotting rifle and a detailed M79 tripod that can be ground mounted. Decals for the dashboard data plates are included. Skybow has the finest detailing I have ever seen on military wheeled vehicles. About the only thing I was disappointed in not seeing were uncrated rounds and crewmen.

The directions are well laid out and have color callouts, unfortunately, not in the standard model paints used in the US. No real problem here since it is an OD green vehicle. The majority of the detail painting can be done by guesswork or previous modeling experience.

Markings are included for three different vehicles: an 82nd Airborne Jeep, 101st Airborne Jeep and a 3rd Marine Division Jeep circa 1963 Vietnam. Too bad Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force markings are not included. This Jeep fought many a valiant battle against Godzilla.

This is a superb kit and is highly recommended for military soft-skin as well as Jeep enthusiasts.