Two new kits transform older mouldings into something very different for Takom this October...

Takom are doing the smart thing and building on their kits with some new parts to make whole new vehicle combination types. They have two new 35th scale kits coming, the M31 US Tank Recovery Vehicle based on the M3 Lee that has just come out. Also, the new version of the V2 Transporter, with the Vidalwagen Road Transporter, here towed by the Hanomag SS-100 Schwerer Radschlepper/Heavy Tractor multi-purpose vehicle included with the V-2 rocket. See what we know about what's incoming in our preview...

Two new kits from takom to wreck the joint up...

M31 US Tank Recovery Vehicle

1/35th scale

From Takom

Kit No# 2088

Expected release October

This new model of the US M31 US Tank Recovery Vehicle from takom in 35th scale promises a few features...

All hatches can be opened or closed

Link & Length tracks are included

clear parts included

Four types of markings from the AMMO team

Photo Etch parts included

The Vehicle, Tank Recovery T-2 was an armoured tank retriever made by modification of the M-3 Lee Medium Tank chassis. The designation T-2 was later changed to M-31. It had a dummy turret and dummy 75mm gun. but was able to protect itself - at a pinch - with two.30 cal. M1919 machine guns.

Th tank was powered by a Continental R-975-C1 9 cylinder radial gasoline engine, but the main feature of this tank over the original Lee you might know was the dummy turret of the with a Gar Wood power boom crane with a 30,000 lb. capacity depending on how supports are deployed. There is also a 30-ton winch mounted inside the hull which can operate with its 60,000 lb (27,000 kg) capacity cable over the boom crane or hooked directly to a load.

Just over 800 of the Tank Recovery Vehicle T-2 (M31) were produced in all variants, in service through 1945. The T2 (M31) was slowly replaced by the M32 Tank Recovery Vehicle, based on the M4 Sherman tank, starting in 1944.

The British converted M3 Lee tanks (called Grant in the UK, with minor modifications) to armoured recovery vehicles, known as the Grant ARV I. This is similar to the T-2 (M31) but of simpler design. When M31 vehicles were obtained by Britain under Lend-Lease, they were referred to as Grant ARV II. About 125 T-2 (M31) vehicles were sent to the Soviet Union during WW II. Other Allies also received units or converted their own M3 tanks. The M33 Prime Mover (for towing artillery) was based on the Vehicle, Tank Recovery, T2 (or M31) minus the crane, turret and recovery equipment. As the M31 TRV was being replaced by the M32 Tank Recovery Vehicle, over 100 of the M31 TRVs were converted to the M33 Prime Mover in 1943-1944 to be used as an alternative to scarce high-speed tractors.

Vehicle, Tank Recovery T-2 (M31) Characteristics

Length (hull) 18ft 6in

Width 8ft 11in

Height (crane lowered) 10ft 0in

Weight 34 tons

Max speed 25 mph

Range (average conditions) 100mi

Crew 6

Manufacturer Baldwin Locomotive Works

WWII German V-2 Rocket Transporter.

From Takom

1/35th scale

Kit No# 2110

This new model of the WWII German V-2 Rocket Transporter from takom in 35th scale promises a few features...

Steerable front wheels

doors on the  can be opened or closed

rotating wheels

clear parts included

two types of markings from the AMMO team

Photo Etch parts included

This kit contains the Vidalwagen Road Transporter, here towed by the Hanomag SS-100 Schwerer Radschlepper/Heavy Tractor multi-purpose vehicle included with the V-2 rocket also. Previously Takom released the Meillerwagen (Erector/ transport tower trailer) with the same tractor & rocket.

We know what the more familiar Meillerwagen was - what the hell was a  Vidalwagen?

The Vidalwagen road transport trailer was used to move the V2 from the railhead to the field stores and then again to the firing troop transfer point. Once there, the missile would be hoisted onto the Meillerwagen. It was light weight, but very strong. The 46-foot long A-frame tubular design could easily support the 4,485 lbs (2040 kg) weight of the empty V2. The Vidalwagen was designed by Otto Daus, at that time chief constructor in the Tempo-works at Vidal & Sohn Co.

There were five platoons in the V-2 mobile launch group, one of these was the Technical Group. these men Unloaded rockets, minus warheads, from the rail cars that carried them to the operational areas. They moved the rockets to the field stores. Tested and prepared them for the launching platoon. The technical troop would use about three Vidalwagen trailers for each Meillerwagen launching unit - so, a V2 battery technical troop would have approximately 27 Vidalwagens.

Both of these kits will be arriving to wreak havoc on your modelling bench in the next two months, Till then check out TMN to see them maybe built up in a review in the future...