1:35 Ward LaFrance M1000 Series 3 - US Heavy Military Recovery Truck

The real subject

Ward LaFrance built heavy recovery vehicles for the American army that were among the most conspicuous machines behind the fighting units. This was not a combat vehicle but a mobile workshop and crane in one: with it a crew pulled out stuck and damaged vehicles, lifted engines and towed wrecks out of the way. The vehicle stands on an off-road chassis with all axles driven and carries a slewing crane with a boom and a winch. The designation M1000 belongs to the factory range of these vehicles, and the individual series differed from each other in details of their form.

What the kit contains

It is a plastic model kit in 1:35 scale, that is, in the most widespread scale for military hardware. It is supplied unassembled and unpainted. How many parts it contains, what can be moved on the finished model and which color finishes are in the instructions is given in the instruction sheet enclosed by the manufacturer.

• 1:35 scale
• a plastic kit, supplied unassembled and unpainted
• the real subject is the American heavy recovery vehicle Ward LaFrance
• the Series 3 form, according to the name
• the scope of the set and the color finishes are given in the manufacturer's instructions

Building and painting tips

With a vehicle whose frame and body are as intricate as this, it pays to build in sections and to keep dry-fitting to see whether the chassis stands level on all its wheels. Wash and degrease the model before painting. Lay the base coat down in thin layers so that the engraving of the rivets and the plating stays legible. Recovery vehicles were working machines, so the model will carry more than just clean paint: worn spots on the running boards, dust on the chassis and traces of oil around the winch will give it credibility.

Who it is for

The kit is for modelers who enjoy rear-area and engineer hardware and for builders of dioramas, where a vehicle like this creates the action on its own. The package contains the kit; paints, glue and tools are not included, unless stated otherwise.