Preview: The 16th scale 1/4 ton truck w/ trailer from Takom...

Takom release CADS of their 16th scale 1/4 ton truck, trailer & driver. See what we can glean from the CADs in our updated preview...

Preview: The 16th scale 1/4 ton truck w/ trailer from Takom...

US Army 1/4 Ton Utility Truck w/ 1/4 Ton Trailer & Driver

From Takom

1/16th scale

Kit No #1026

Photo-etch included 

Kit designed by Jason Studios

The kit comes with one figure included

The Subject: The original "1/4 ton utility truck & trailer"

With the United States' involvement in WWII on the horizon, the government recognised a desperate need to replace its ageing fleet of Model T's, calling for a small, lightweight, three-seat, four-wheel-drive vehicle. Karl Probst started work on his design for a barely solvent truck company called Bantam on July 17, 1940, and finished two days later.  By the 22nd, the entire proposal—including cost estimates—was handed in to Uncle Sam.

Bantam didn’t have the capabilities to produce the sheer quantity needed to fight the Nazis, so the Army brought Willys and Ford to the table and handed them the blueprints. Ford had a number of innovations on its "Pygmy" design, while the Willys Quad, shown, even featured four-wheel steering.

The front's legendary shape was actually Ford's contribution – with the war looming, emphasis on both quality and ease of production meant Willys had to adopt several components, not the least of which was the Pygmy’s flat front grill, shown here.

While it’s commonly thought that “jeep” is a truncation of a General Purpose vehicle, or GP, that’s likely wrong. Ford’s version was officially named GPW, where G means Government, P refers to the distance between the wheels (80 inches), and W stands for Willys, since the vehicles Ford produced were technically under licence from Willys. 

The trailer from the kit is seen here behind the Jeep

Alternately, some say it was common lingo to refer to all military prototypes as “jeeps,” and that “peeps” even entered the lexicon briefly. All we know is...maybe?

The most interesting theory is that Jeep is named after a cartoon character. This little guy’s name is Eugene the Jeep. He’s a character in “Popeye” that was first drawn up a few years prior to the Bantam 4x4.

In the 4x4's first public outing, it was driven up the steps of the U.S. Capitol

When asked what it was, the driver replied simply, “It’s a jeep.” Two years later, Willys-Overland filed a trademark application.

A few other interesting subjects in the Willys family a modeller might take on...

New features revealed by the 16th scale 1/4 tonne truck w/trailer & driver from Takom

OK, we do not know much as of yet about this kit apart from the CAD art, but now we have the CAD images; there is more to glean about this kit – the trailer, the roof section and the driver give the model maker several options to choose from.

- 1/16th scale injection-plastic kit with photo-etch parts included, designed by Jason Studio from an original version of the Jeep. The driver is included in the kit, as is the rear-mounted MG and a cable-cutting device on the front of the vehicle. The Jeep's rugged chassis and running gear/suspension are faithfully represented, along with the full engine & steering plus suspension gear.

- Full engine and chassis detail provided with opening bonnet (hood) that will show it off. The seats and driver's controls are all included, of course. Front wheels can be posed by the modeller also.

All four wheels of the completed kit move/roll (if that's your thing...)

The small utility trailer can be used with the canvas cover on or off; there are US petrol cans and other stowage included

The driver is also designed by Jason Studio and is the same as the driver you have seen before from Takom.

Photo-etched parts are included in this kit, and they make up the thinner parts, like the chain and other kit parts that are too fragile or thick in plastic.

The cover for the jeep and the windscreen come in up or down options.

The kit should be available in April

That is all we know about this release for now. You can see more about Takom's kits on their website or on their Facebook page