1:35 Wasp Mk.IIC Flame Throwing Universal Carrier

The real subject

The Universal Carrier was a small tracked armored carrier of British production, of which tens of thousands of examples were built during the Second World War. It was low, open at the top, fast and cheap and was used for absolutely everything: for carrying machine gun teams, for towing antitank guns, for evacuating the wounded and for carrying ammunition along field tracks. The Wasp version was its flamethrowing conversion. Instead of a machine gun it carried a flame projector and, in the crew space, fuel for the flame mixture. It was used at the end of the war in northwest Europe against fortified positions and trenches, where it had a clear advantage over ordinary fire; the crew paid for it in that the vehicle was very vulnerable and open at the top.

What the set contains

This is a plastic kit in 1:35 scale, that is a model that is glued and painted before completion. The extent of the parts, the execution of the running gear and the enclosed colorings follow from the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

Try the parts dry first and clean up the mating surfaces, and glue only then. The open inside of this vehicle is visible in full, so paint it and bring it up before you close the upper parts. Put the tracks together on a flat base and let the sag settle while the glue is setting. Apply dusty and muddy patina from the bottom upward and let it weaken, otherwise it looks stuck on.

Who it is for

The set is for modelers of military hardware who want a less usual machine for a diorama. Paints, glue and putty are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.