1:72 M4 High Speed Tractor

The real subject

The M4 High Speed Tractor was an American fully tracked tractor intended for moving heavy artillery. Wheeled vehicles could not cope with the weight of these weapons or with muddy ground, so a tracked machine was created that could move a gun faster and more reliably. The design also allowed for the fact that the whole crew and a supply of ammunition move with the gun, so the vehicle carried both crew and load. It remained in service into the postwar years. Beware of the designation: the letter M and the number 4 are also carried by the well known medium tank, but that is an entirely different vehicle.

What the kit contains

A kit of the vehicle model in 1:72 scale. It is supplied unassembled; the parts have to be separated, cleaned up, glued and painted. The exact number of parts, the extent of the decals and the marking options offered are given in the manufacturer's instructions enclosed in the package.

Building and painting tips

Build the tracked running gear and let it cure on a flat surface, so that the model finally sits evenly on both tracks. Sand the seams before painting, otherwise the base coat will emphasize them. Apply the paint in thin coats, so that the fine surface detail is not lost. Conviction comes only in the final stage: a dark wash will settle shadow into the recesses, and dust and mud belong above all on the track runs and the underside of the hull.

• 1:72 scale, a kit of the American tracked artillery tractor
• the real subject is a vehicle for moving heavy guns and their crews
• the model is supplied unassembled and unpainted
• the number of parts and the marking options are given in the manufacturer's instructions

Terms of supply

Paints, glue and modeling tools are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.