Introduction
The following introduction is as provided by ICM:
The Studebaker US6 heavy cargo truck was developed by the Studebaker Corporation in 1941. The vehicle featured a robust design and excellent payload capacity, with its 6-cylinder Hercules JXD engine producing 94 horsepower, ensuring high off-road capabilities for the Studebaker US6. Approximately 200,000 vehicles of thirteen variations were manufactured in total. The Studebaker US6-U5 version was a versatile fuel tanker equipped with a 750-gallon (2840 liters) tank from Heil. The tank consisted of two tandem-mounted 375-gallon tanks, with racks on the sides for storing 5-gallon fuel cans. Conversion of the vehicles into fuel tankers took place at Heil’s factory in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Around 1150 of these converted vehicles were produced. They were supplied to US allies, though some speculations suggest that some fuel tankers may have also been used by units of the US Army.
Review
This offering from ICM arrives in a flip top cardboard tray with a separate card lid. Inside the contents are supplied in a single plastic bag with regards to the plastic elements, with the clear sprue within it own bag within the main. The decal sheets is packaged in the loose instruction booklet. An examination of the parts reveals no moulding issues, you are going to locate ejector pins marks that will need to be addressed, and a number of the gates are a little on the large side for my liking.
This release from ICM of the Studebaker is provided with the multi part chassis, which does provided good detail throughout and on all faces but does mean that a high level of care is required to ensure that it is correctly orientated. If you start assembly from the rear of the chassis 2 large mouldings in that location will help to keep you on the right path. Unlike MiniArt, ICM has not used photo etch in their release, and so you have plastic mouldings which even if a little thicker that they should be scale wise, are very mush easier to use. A decent engine and gearbox is included in the piece, and this includes the driver shafts and axles, and is an aspect from ICM that they do very well despite them not using photo etch. As usual my pet grumble is present, in that the wheels are locked in a forward position. But the steering components are all present. The engine bay will require the addition of some plumbing to be added to finish the detail in that area. The leaf spring suspension will need a careful clean up, as there is a light mould seam all around the centre circumference. However, something that should please all modellers, the 10 road wheels plus the spare are injection moulded.
The cab is where you will need to be on the look out for ejector pin marks, especially on the roof. The seating is a little basic, as it is has no life to it. However all of the required elements are present, the clear aspects are reasonably thin. However you do not have the ability to show the windscreen open, which I believe was a feature of this truck. The doors have detail on both faces, but again watch for potential ejector pins marks that may need attention. The bull bars at the front of the vehicle, is nicely detailed for injection moulded plastic. The hood of the cab will not be easily shown open, but I have no doubt that modellers will find a way.
The bed of the truck has 2 options to it which shows the side gates raised or removed. If raised you have the ability to show the drop down seating either packed or in place. The wood detail is generally good and a nice touch is that it can be assembled off of the model making painting an easier prospect. In addition the roof framing bars are included within the release, and can be shown in place minus the canvas cover. It also gives you an accurate framework for making you own canvas or partial canvas, and for those modellers who want a canvas but they do not have the skill set to make their own an injection moulded canvas is supplied in the release.
ICM has provided 3 finishing options for this release, which are:
Studebaker US6-U3, Wehrmacht Trophy Truck, Easter Front, 1943
Studebaker US6-U3, Wehrmacht Trophy Truck, 11th Pz. D., Probably 1944
Studebaker US6-U3, Wehrmacht Trophy Truck, Winter 1944
Review
ICM along with one other company are going out of their way to provided huge numbers of soft skinned vehicles in all of their various guises. For me ICM benefit the modeller due to their ease of build and not having photo etch, which not every modeller can handle. While this means that some of the details are a little on the heavy side it does mean that the model can be started and finished without risk of turning into a shelf queen. So for me, this is a nice release of a popular vehicle that is very build able.