Friday, May 24

A jeep with a flamethrower? Meng's 35th scale new "Wasp" sure would sting!

Meng has one-upped the opposition with a new tooled 35th scale Willys Jeep - nothing much new there - but this one is mounting a flamethrower! The "Wasp" jeep is recreated in this new kit in our quick preview...
Meng's new "Wasp"

"Wasp" Flamethrower Jeep
From Meng Models
1/35th scale
Kit No# VS12
Plastic injection moulded kit with vinyl & Photo Etch provided in the kit.
Meng has hit us up with some information on the one and only prototype Willys Jeep flamethrower of "Popski's Private Army" fame in British hands in WWII - we have some info on the real thing and some basic facts about the kit in our preview...

The P.P.A. WASP 'flame thrower' Jeep and it's
driver Hubbard 'Nick'
The Willys MB 1/4 ton 4x4 truck, commonly known as Jeep, is such a famous and important vehicle that you must have a large collection of it. But is your collection interesting enough? The British were especially good at special warfare during WWII. There was a British unit called Popski's Private Army. Their flexible and bold operations gained many victories. They modified their main vehicle Willys MB and carried out operations behind the German lines. Those modified Willy MBs were like weapon shops with various guns. The soldiers even tried to fit the Wasp flamethrower which was used in an armoured vehicle on the Willys MB to kill the enemy with blazing flames.

 Apparently only one prototype was built by "Popski's Private Army" during their service in Italy, using either a converted Willys MB or Ford Motor Company patrol/reconnaissance Jeep. The results of the testing did not warrant further production or use in action

A current day mock-up of the jeep from a recreation team.
"Wasp" Specifics:
Country of Origin/Used by: Great Britain
First Produced/Service Dates: 1943?
Manufactured by: Willy-Overland Motors or Ford Motor Co. with unit modification
Crew: 2
Armament: Wasp II Flamethrower
Engine: 4 Cylinder

This new kit from Meng:
This latest MENG VS-012 Wasp Flamethrower Jeep vehicle model kit is a replica of this fierce Willys MB. The finished model is 98.7mm long and 51.1mm wide. This kit includes engine interior, clear lights and windshield and soft vinyl pipe for the flamethrower fuel tank. This small but complete product will surely be an impressive one.
More about this kit as information comes to light. You can see all of Meng's kits on their website.