Tamiya 1/35 SAS Jeep

 The first Willys MB Jeeps were produced in 1941, making it the oldest off-road vehicle make, and the first civilian models were produced in 1945. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second oldest 4-wheel-drive brand. The original Jeep vehicle that first appeared as the prototype Bantam BRC became the primary light 4-wheel-drive vehicle of the United States Army and Allies during World War II, as well as the postwar period. Many Jeep variants serving similar military and civilian roles have since been created in other nations.

The kit gives you a variety of armament configurations. There is a wide variety of equipment to fit depending on missions in the African desert. It is an easy build and there are no difficult parts that need attention. An engine would have been a welcome addition.

When building a military vehicle from the WW 2 North African Desert Campaign I automatically think of weathering due to the harsh conditions. This was unheard of 30 years ago. The kit is loaded  with goodies for various configurations .I wanted  the jeep to look worn out and poorly maintained.

The cargo on board is a mix of the kits, other Tamiya, Miniart and MB left overs. I did not want to overload the jeep with equipment and you might want to save some for other kits, the rope for towing is floss. How about denting and bending some parts. The figure is by MB The display I built.

The colors are by Gunze mainly dark yellow sandy yellow. The weathering was done as usual in various stages after flattening the model and then again. The rust effect was with burnt sienna oil and orange dry pastel. Burnt umber oil was used as well on the jerry cans to simulate heavy wear. Grey pastel was used for the tyres and general dusting. Grey paint was dry brushed around edges to simulate wear. The PSP plate is painted in brass or should it have been iron heavily weathered with burnt umber. The mud on the wheels is a mix of white glue and grub.

This is a delightful kit; cheap, easy to build and great fun to weather.

Amin Ghazzaoui

February 2014

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