Author Topic: Willys MB Jeep - More Plastic Upgrades 200131  (Read 116252 times)

Rubicon Models

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Re: Willys MB - The Jeep
« Reply #15 on: December 22, 2015, 05:38:50 pm »
More work had been done on the Willys MB.  We also updated our project spec as follow:





Revised features include:

- Slide mould one piece jeep body for model integrity & ease of assembly
- Hopefully single sprue plastic base kit (excluding the jeep body)
- Accessories will include spade & axe, jerry can, and spare tire
- Flippable windshield
- Removable canvas top (?)
- HMG and MMG option
- Crew including driver, passenger, and gunner
- All new waterslide decal sheet

We are also looking into special equipment, which include - tow bar / capstan / deep fording kit / cable cutter / expansion tank / radio set.

PLUS a special Commonwealth version including SAS / Airborne / LRDG features.

This is an ongoing project, we will revise specification as we move forward.
Comments & suggestions welcome!
;)

Yaquir

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Re: Willys MB - The Jeep
« Reply #16 on: December 22, 2015, 08:22:26 pm »
Sounds pretty good  :)

Pinky

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Re: Willys MB - The Jeep
« Reply #17 on: December 22, 2015, 08:55:28 pm »
It certainly looks the part. 

The aerial mount on the side seems to have been fitted in various places and at various angels, so presumably it's a separate part.

It would be great if you'd overhaul your .50 cal, so it was chunkier and had separate grips, but I suppose it should look the same as the other kits.  The current design is very fragile though.

A few other suggestions for add-ons: a windshield with a canvas cover (seems to have been quite common); an optional .30 cal (either to replace the .50 cal or to mount above the front passenger's position); a rear stowage rack.  The radio seems like a useful inclusion.

ultravanillasmurf

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Re: Willys MB - The Jeep
« Reply #18 on: December 23, 2015, 04:23:22 am »
Yay to the Commonwealth version!

airborne

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Re: Willys MB - The Jeep
« Reply #19 on: December 27, 2015, 12:50:40 am »
Don`t  forget back lights standard US W-2 pattern next to reflecters. and the tow hook, 2 rear bumpers.  Rear seat was a standard item even with 50 cal. Will you do two hoop sets, one down, and one up "V" with hood. Looking great, really great.
« Last Edit: December 27, 2015, 01:00:41 am by airborne »

Rubicon Models

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Re: Willys MB - The Jeep
« Reply #20 on: January 23, 2016, 11:23:33 am »
Don`t  forget back lights standard US W-2 pattern next to reflecters. and the tow hook, 2 rear bumpers.  Rear seat was a standard item even with 50 cal. Will you do two hoop sets, one down, and one up "V" with hood. Looking great, really great.

Those details will be check towards the end of the 3d drawing stage.  We are focusing now just on the major components of the vehicles.

Rubicon Models

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Re: Willys MB - The Jeep
« Reply #21 on: January 23, 2016, 11:25:11 am »
A much needed update on the jeep!  Here is some preliminary progress on the Commonwealth version of the Willys MB... with extra fuel containers and Vickers K at the back!



More to be done!
Comments?

Pinky

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Re: Willys MB - The Jeep
« Reply #22 on: January 23, 2016, 01:56:37 pm »
It's not so much a "Commonwealth" version as the beginnings of a special forces version.

Vickers "K"(also apparently known as "GO" - Gas Operated) guns were mounted on special forces jeeps (LRDG, SAS and Airborne).  These were intended as aircraft armament, but were released to the special forces when they were replaced in RAF service.  On the early, non-standardised Jeep conversion (most commonly used by the SAS in North Africa), there was normally a pair of K guns fitted facing forwards in front of the passenger's seat and a twin or single K gun on a pedestal behind the passenger.  A few vehicles carried the .50 cal, but it was an earlier version than the one shown in your drawing, with a perforated sleeve (like the .30 cal).  If carried, it was mounted facing forwards in front of the passenger seat.  These improvised vehicles carried racks of jerrycans and had the radiator grille cut away and a condenser mounted on the front.

Later in the war the British standardised the conversion for use by the SAS (although there seem to have been variations in the details).   This had the twin K guns on the front (sometimes just a single gun), a Bren gun on the side just forward of the driver, and a single K gun mounted on the rear (not always fitted).  Of course, there were variations, but this was the normal load out.  The .50 cal doesn't seem to have been carried (in fact it was pretty rare on all non-US Jeeps). 

These modified Jeeps also had an armoured shield for the driver, and distinctive curved windshields for the driver and gunner (sometimes rectangular, and not always fitted).  It was at this stage that the special fuel tanks shown in your drawing appeared - they were normally higher and more rounded than those in your drawing, but there seem to have been variations in the design.  The armoured panel on the rear extended further down than in your drawing, and the edges were rounded. The spare tyre was moved to the bonnet.  The radiator grille also seems to have been modified - cut away entirely on some vehicles.  The 1st and 2nd photos below show examples of SAS vehicles in service in NW Europe.

The Airborne Recce version (as used at Arnhem in 1944) was a stripped-down Jeep which normally had a single K gun mounted in front of the passenger seat.  The folding windscreen was removed, and the spare wheel was moved to the front (apparently to reduce shrapnel damage to the engine).  There were other modifications to save weight and make it easier to fit it into a glider - many fittings were removed, and the pioneer tools were mounted on the bumper.  There were several variations depending on its intended role.  The 3rd photo below shows a typical Airborne Recce vehicle.

So if you were looking at providing a kit which an accurately depicts a late war SAS Jeep, it would need quite a lot of additional parts.  The early SAS Jeep is easier - your forthcoming Allied stowage set will obviously supply most of the soft stowage and jerrycans needed, so it would just be a case of providing the K guns, condenser and maybe some stowage (and the crew!).  An Airborne Recce Jeep would be quite a simple variant to depict.     

I hope that helps.
« Last Edit: January 24, 2016, 03:19:04 pm by Pinky »

Yaquir

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Re: Willys MB - The Jeep
« Reply #23 on: January 23, 2016, 05:15:23 pm »
A twin K gun as option would be nice. Apart from that: very nice model with excellent details  :)

Patrick R

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Re: Willys MB - The Jeep
« Reply #24 on: January 24, 2016, 06:50:21 pm »
What about the US recon versions that had .30 cal MG's on the passenger side ?


Pinky

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Re: Willys MB - The Jeep
« Reply #25 on: January 24, 2016, 11:16:07 pm »
What about the US recon versions that had .30 cal MG's on the passenger side ?

Just use a spare .30 cal from the M3A1 half-track kit.  It comes with several. 

ultravanillasmurf

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Re: Willys MB - The Jeep
« Reply #26 on: January 25, 2016, 01:08:47 am »
What about the US recon versions that had .30 cal MG's on the passenger side ?

Just use a spare .30 cal from the M3A1 half-track kit.  It comes with several.
And a German 'can as a foot rest...

airborne

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Re: Willys MB - The Jeep
« Reply #27 on: January 31, 2016, 04:48:17 am »
Very pleased with this little item what a great machine to  join the U.S.A.  machines.

Rubicon Models

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Re: Willys MB - The Jeep
« Reply #28 on: February 19, 2016, 02:45:03 pm »
Some more CNY sweet poison... the Brits got some love!
...not finished yet, still WIP!









Enjoy!

Pinky

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Re: Willys MB - The Jeep
« Reply #29 on: February 19, 2016, 11:21:56 pm »
It's coming on nicely.  There are still a couple of issues though (and I realise that there were different versions of the SAS Jeep).  The forward-facing Vickers K armour was normally separate, and moved with the guns - that searchlight arrangement seems to have been uncommon.  The windscreens were more rounded, and larger.  The rear armour was (as I mentioned) a larger plate that was attached to the rear of the vehicle.  And the rear Vickers K was normally a single mount, while there was a Bren gun forward of the driver.