Tanks, planes, guns, artillery and troops win wars. But the unsung heroes are the lines of transport that provides everything that is thrown at the enemy and feeds the troops that operate the systems. Gecko Models has provided a 1/35th scale kit that was the major transport in use by the British army prior to the start of World War 2 and during the early years. Gecko Models have therefore provided finishing options that sees service at Dunkirk and the initial phases of World War 2, through to North Africa and also in use on the home front.

Gecko Models is one of those companies that goes out of their way to ensure that everything about their releases are just so, and this release is no different. It does, however, mean that the models by this company are best tackled by modellers with a good grasp of the basic skills and comfortable with using photo etch. The chassis of the model is multi part and it has some very fine structural details present, which is one of the areas that you may find a struggle. The wheels and tyres are moulded in 2 halves with the tread of the tyre being moulded as a separate piece. The wheels are intended to be able to rotate, but obviously that is not a major requirement of most modellers. It does, however, make painting that little bit easier on the assembled model. 

A full engine and gearbox is also present, however for the purist out there you will need to find some wires to replicate that aspect of the engine bay. I like that the front wheels can be articulated as the modeller desires, as I feel this makes for a more visually pleasing look to the finished model. Moving to the cab, you will find some very nicely replicated aspects that are often forgotten or neglected. Rifle storage for the crew is provided in the centre rack along with slings for the SMLE rifles. So far as I can access all of the interior parts required in the cab are present and further more this level of detail extends to the engine bay interior where the firewall is concerned, with details such as the fuse box remembered. Many vehicles of this period had windscreens that could be opened outward from the bottom, and in some cases even had windscreen wipers that were operated manually by whoever was in the vehicle. 

The truck-bed is assembled directly to the chassis of the vehicle, followed by the cab of the vehicle. The split hood of the truck can be accurately depicted both open or closed. You will need to add springs to photo etched elements which is the method used to secure the hood, and I can hear the swearing already!!!. Lights and information plates are accurately replicated. The doors are provided separately, and while only shown closed could be shown open if so desired. The sides of the wooden bed of the truck have very nice plank detail, but again there are some very small parts that are added which makes this a  little bit more of a challenge. I was trying to ascertain if the rear tail gate of the bed could be shown open as well as closed, and I believe it can. 

A frame for the canvas roof is provided and is well detailed for those that wish to finish the model in that style. However, you also have the option of a very well designed and moulded canvas to show the bed covered up. On the underside of the truck bed you have a number of storage boxes as well as the battery and fuel tank. With a little bit of work the storage boxes could be shown open and items of the modellers choice stored within. Ancillary items included in this release are some fuel containers, flimsies or jerry cans, a British or Allied driver, and in addition to the SMLE rifles you are provided with a sten gun. There are also some various items of equipment specific to soldiers uniforms such as ammunition pouches and packs, plus other pouches. This provides a nice number of items to make a model your own. 

The 4 finishing options for this release are:

Divisional Postal Section, 50th Infantry Division, Western Dessert, Early July 1941

51st (Devon) Light Anti-aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery, 2nd Anti-aircraft Brigade, (GHQ BEF Headquarters Troops, seen derelict in Dunkirk late May 1940

211th (Sussex) Field Park Company, Royal Engineers, 44th (Home counties) Infantry Division, 8th Army during Operation Lightfoot, October 1941

1st Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 15th Infantry Brigade, 5th Infantry Division, United Kingdom, January 1941

The paints that are indicated for the release are from Mission Models.