December 10, 2025

Preview: The civilian (updated) version of the 35th scale U.S. Tow Truck G506 from MiniArt

The reprint of MiniArt's 35th scale U.S. Tow Truck G506 has been added to with some workshop equipment to really make this a working truck. See colours, new parts & CADs in our preview...
Preview: The civilian (updated) version of the 35th scale U.S. Tow Truck G506 from MiniArt

U.S. Tow Truck G506
From MiniArt
Kit No #38056
1/35th scale
The kit contains a truck & towing gear
Four colour variants are included in this kit
Photo-etch parts are included
A special edition of the fourth truck in the series from MiniArt of the G-506 truck series from World War II is here. It will be the 1/35th scale U.S. Tow Truck G506, this time in civilian service.

The Subject: Chevrolet G506 trucks
The Chevrolet G506 trucks were a series of 1½-ton trucks used by the U.S. Army during and after World War II.

The G506 assembly plant during WWII
The G506 was a U.S. Army Ordnance Corps supply catalogue designation for the 1.5-tonne, 4X4 truck chassis built in large numbers by the Chevrolet Motor Division of GMC. The basic G506 truck chassis was used for several models that saw service throughout World War II and the Korean War. All of the G506 series trucks were powered by the Chevrolet 235 cu. in. 83 hp six-cylinder engine mated to a four-speed transmission and two-speed transfer case. It had a wheelbase of 145 inches.
All of the G506 series trucks were powered by the Chevrolet 235 cu. in. 83 hp six-cylinder engine mated to a four-speed transmission and two-speed transfer case. It had a wheelbase of 145 inches.
During World War II, the U.S. sent 151,053 1.5-tonne trucks of the G506 type to Russia as part of the Lend-Lease programme. The Russians thought that the American trucks were better than the Russian trucks, especially off-road. Russian supply capability improved dramatically in the spring and summer of 1943, mainly as the result of the American trucks that were arriving in large numbers.
After World War II these trucks saw extensive use in the civilian field, owing to the surplus of vehicles in supply and lack of need for that many trucks. These workhorses turned their hands at several roles in everyday use for several decades, due to their rugged nature and reliability.
Those wanting to make a modern rat rod type of vehicle. This one below might be a good choice for some modellers!

The kit: Miniart's 35th scale U.S. Tow Truck G506
MiniArt' series of the Chevrolet G-506 trucks continues in this special edition of the colourful post-WWII use of the truck in civilian use. This kit has four marking types included in the box. Again with this kit, the renowned author David Doyle is credited with his assistance from MiniArt in this project.

We have some CAD images of the kit to show you that indicate a lot of the features of this forthcoming kit...
- The truck comes with the flatbed body type with a 3-tonne service crane attachment.
- The front grille for the front is made from photo etch. - MiniArt supply tools to bend this in the correct manner
- The cab comes in several curved parts that join at seams to make construction easier. The roof itself is a single part.
- The full chassis, engine, running gear, suspension and linkages for the truck are included
- A spare wheel is, of course, included. The full engine bay is provided in this boxing.
- Passenger doors, the hood and the tailgate can be posed open or closed. Also, the bonnet (hood) is, of course, able to be opened to show off that lovely engine compartment. The steel wire mesh is provided in these photo-etched parts, as are the battery brackets. 
- There are two options for the front fenders that sit above two types of wheels provided in the kit. The rear bumpers are also photo-etched.
- The side bracket for the truck's tools is included with photo-etched details.
- Scale thick photo-etched parts are used for tie-downs on the metal tray.
- Spare jerrycans with brackets to hold them are included
We also have the sprues to add to the preview to show you a little of the plastic in the kit.
4 decal options are included in this kit
The photo-etch & decals are provided in the kit.
The special edition additions in this kit:
This special edition kit no. 38113 has a new sprues with equipment. These are toolboxes, oil pumps & containers, a vice, pulling tools and winding handles included on sprues Ce_x1, Ab_x1 and Ad_x1.
The added sprues are below.

This kit is due next month. See more about all of MiniArt's kits on their website...