Vickers Universal Carrier
Resicast 1:35 Set No.35.130
Review by Peter Brown
The set provides updates the basic kit with new white metal tracks which Resicast inform me are now standard in their Carrier conversions. Tracks are the weakest area of the Tamiya kit, being very little like those on the original. The replacements are cast in several lengths and will bend easily around sprockets and idlers as well as providing the characteristic sag of the top run. To go with these are new sprockets. Other resin parts include a new hull front plate and the bulkhead between front and rear compartments with better detail, plus many interior items like fire extinguishers, driver's controls and seats. Also included is a new rear plate and a set of vehicle tools (but see later). Finer details are in etched brass, including tool brackets, this generic set is also a revised item. There are several "not required" parts such as the flat-backed style headlights seen on Canadian-built Carriers.
Instructions come as a duplicated booklet, this lists all the various parts and then shows which Tamiya parts are to be used and which left off, then there is a series of photos of the model during construction. This is good enough and includes the part numbers as appropriate for the basic vehicle.
For the Vickers conversion itself, there is the gun itself in typical WW2 form with bulbous flash hider and laced-on canvas barrel jacket. This has separate handles and optical sight (which is not mentioned in the instructions) and comes complete with ammunition box on its mounting frame. It is intended to be depicted in the "ready" position mounted on the engine compartment housing, this used the top part of the standard Mk IV tripod on a short tubular support. This has to be cut from the thickest of the three lengths of plastic rod provided but the length is not stated. Also the rear support which was used to elevate the gun has to be made from the thinnest rod, again no length is stated and the various part numbers are not shown on the construction photos.
Extra ammunition boxes come cast together with rolled blankets, these are well depicted and the boxes are not in a rigid line which is good. There is also a complete ground tripod, a photo of the real thing is provided with identifying letters which are hard to make out on the instructions though it should still be easy to put this together. To help locate the various parts, copies of the original vehicle Stowage Diagrams are included. These line drawings have copied well, though the photo of a real vehicle is not as clear it is also a useful guide.
Some items appear to have been missed, such as the extra tools the Carrier MMG had on its front though kit tools can be used, and the frame to carry the gun in the rear compartment is also not provided. Against this are two very neatly produced Jerrycans cast together complete with handles and retaining strap, and a pair of 3" Mortar bomb boxes which were widely used as extra stowage and two Bren magazine boxes.
Summing up, this has well-cast parts but the instructions can be hard to follow in places. If the same style was used but the printing quality improved with all parts identified on the construction sequence they would be a lot better. These small drawbacks apart, this is a nice set.
No colour details are provided, the basic vehicle colours would follow the usual style depending on where it was serving and there is a colour plate plus a photo of a Canadian vehicle in the recent Osprey New Vanguard 110.
Highly recommened.
 |
Universal Carrier 1936-48 Good overall coverage of the Universal Carrier. |
 |
Universal Carrier Mk.I/II Includes many images from the technical and workshop manuals to privide excellent external and interior details. |
 |
Ground Power Magazine No.90 11/2001 GALILEO Publishing Co.,Ltd |
 |
Ground
Power Magazine |
Page created 7 July 2005