US MILITARY MULTIPURPOSE 3/4T VEHICLE
WC-51 "BEEP"
ZveZda 1:35, Ref. 3656
The DODGE WC-51 was a multi-purpose ¾ T vehicle introduced at the end of 1941. Production ceased in 1945.
Over 120,000 units rolled off the production line during this period.
This is a multi-purpose vehicle that can be used to transport both people and ammunition.
It's a well-presented kit that arrives from the East in a strong cardboard box, covered with a coloured dust jacket depicting a Dodge, almost obviously, shall we say, Soviet. When I opened the box, I noticed that part E52 was broken (which I don't think had any effect on assembly).
The plastic is light grey, as usual for this manufacturer. The ejection pads are discreetly positioned, and
the engraving is fine and consistent.
There's no photoetching part here, no resin or any other accessories, but Zvezda seems to have done
a good job and assembly shouldn't be a problem.
The finesse is there, as evidenced by the superb grille (F2).
The cab floor (F15) features the location and engraving for the winch control.
The capote (B cluster) is very well represented and can be used to make open or fully closed tantelets.
The decals were used to create two vehicles, one for the Red Army and the other for the 2nd Armoured Division of the French Free Army.
The instructions are clear, precise and in black and white; assembly is divided into 37 phases. A two-sided A5-size colour plate provides all the information we need to decorate the two versions on offer.
After checking, the model shown here is indeed a first-model WC51, as can be seen from the small fuel filler cap and the front left-hand body box (the latter extends down to the level of the driver's footboard and comes up against the spare wheel).
For the more fussy, note that the oil breather is of the second model (only fitted from 1944 to 1945), the absence of a representation of the fuel pump on the lower front right-hand part of the engine block and the absence of the ignition head on the left-hand side of the engine block between the oil breather and the oil filter.
The hooks on the rear boxes for the tarpaulin ropes will also have to be redone, as they are moulded in the mass.
In conclusion
This kit is a little wonder and has absolutely nothing to envy the Dodges from AFV and Italeri.
This model is really easy to assemble.
By Renaud Labarbe
I noticed that there was a driver for the Russian version. The driver is seated on a special seat with his body imprint (F16).
I also noted the presence of parts not used in this assembly (D16, D20 and D21). These parts are poorly designed in that the markings on the jerrycans are embossed, whereas in reality the markings are stamped.
