2 1/2 Ton Dump Truck (Tipper) Conversion Kit
for Tamiya's 1/35 scale 2 1/2 Ton Truck

135th Construction Battalion
(A Division of the VLS Corporation)

Reviewed by Brett Green

Back when I was a kid in the 1960s and early 1970s, I lived near a couple of army disposal yards that were packed with a bewildering variety of WWII vintage wreckers, cranes, trucks and even the occasional armoured vehicle.

My friends and I would often explore these vehicles before being chased away. The M3 half tracks were pretty glamorous, but I remember seeing GMC and Studebaker tip trucks for sale too. After seeing hard service during wartime, these workhorses continued to labour in civil enterprise well into the 1970s.

VLS has kindly, if unintentionally, enabled me to relive my youth with 135th Construction Battalion's release of a Tipper Truck conversion for Tamiya's excellent 1/35 scale GMC 2 1/2 ton truck.

The conversion set comprises 27 parts in pale cream-coloured resin. The contents include a mounting frame for the truck chassis, the main tipper section, the hydraulic ram and other small details.

Casting of all the parts on my sample was flawless, and the detail is terrific. Woodgrain texture should look great with careful weathering, and the raised boltheads are crisply defined.

Cleanup should generally be straightforward. The mounting rack has a large section of waste resin between the frames, but this is very thin and will only take a few minutes to eliminate with a sharp hobby knife.

The Deuce and a Half Tipper Truck is a really interesting variation on the Tamiya kit. It should lend itself to some creative diorama scenarios, both military and civil.

Construction Battalion's approach will provide a well-detailed replica straight from the box, and should be within the capabilities of most modellers who have attempted a resin conversion or two.

I find myself much more interested in these vehicles now than when I actually had the opportunity to explore them in detail. If only I could take my digital camera back for a more appreciative examination...

Recommended.

Thanks to VLS for the review samples

These and other VLS products may be viewed at Model Mecca, the VLS Website

Review Copyright © 2004 by Brett Green
Page Created 03 June, 2004
Last updated 03 June, 2004

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