Thursday, January 4

Preview: MiniArt's 1/35th scale C-518 US 1 ton Cargo Trailer Ben Hur w/Canvas coming soon..

More material from MiniArt with its third trailer in this 1/35th scale series of the G-518 U.S. 1t Cargo Trailer "Ben Hur". This comes with a canvas tarpaulin to suit those loads that need to be covered! We look at the trailer & the kit's features in our preview...

Preview: MiniArt's 1/35th scale C-518 US 1 ton Cargo Trailer Ben Hur w/Canvas coming soon...

C-518 US 1 ton Cargo Trailer Ben Hur w/Canvas
From MiniArt Models
1/35th scale
Kit No #35443
Decals for six options in the box
Photo-etch included
The Subject:
The ‘Ben Hur’ 1-ton WWII U.S. Army trailer was produced by many manufacturers during the WWII. It was produced with a wood body from mid-1942, but later was changed back to steel construction. This trailer was towed by most trucks in the range of 1 1/2 ton or larger but often by armored personal carriers and halftracks as well. Its primary purpose was to transport general cargo, but the Signal Corps modified it to carry several different types of generators.
The Ben Hur trailer was nicknamed after its major manufacturer, the Ben Hur Mfg. Co., although there were many other companies that produced it between 1941 and 1945.
The G518 One-Ton cargo trailer known as the "Ben Hur" trailer was made to tow behind 2.5 ton trucks but during the war could be found being towed behind 1 ton to 7.5 ton trucks and even some Armored Vehicles.
The trailer consisted of a 8 foot long x 4 foot wide steel or wood box mounted on a single axle trailer. Usually the trailer was covered with a frame and tarpaulin.
Variations of the trailer were used to haul fire pumps, mobile kitchens, generators, and other goods. These trailers were built from 1941 to 1945.
G518 Trailers were made by the following companies: American Bantam, Ben Hur, Century Boat Works, Checker, Dorsey, Gertenslager, Henney, Hercules Body, Highland Body & Trailer, Hobbs, Hyde, Mifflinburg Body, Naburs, Nash Kelvinator, Omaha Standard Body, Pke, Queen City, Redman, Steel Products, Strick, Transportation Equipment Corp, Truck Engineering Corporation, Willys Overland, Winter Weiss, Baker, Covered Wagon Co., Keystone, And Streich. These trailers were built from 1941 to 1945. Payload and gross weight vary with caliber of ammunition carried.

The kit from MiniArt:
This kit from MiniArt is called "C-518 US 1 ton Cargo Trailer Ben Hur w/Canvas" and it features a 1/35th scale kit, of the famous trailer used for decades by the US & her allies. The trailer has several options for the modeller to consider. This particular kit is similar to the other two releases. The main difference being in the six (6!) marking choices and the canvas cover that can or can not be used with your kit.

The kit's CAD drawings showing the look of the kit (this is without the canvas sides)...
The front dolly wheel on the trailer can be used in two ways, and there are two versions of that wheel in the kit.
Stiffening ribs, side walls or without - You can also put the rear door on or not according to your needs.
Those who want to configure the trailer will have several options...
The sprues / parts that come to complete the kit.
The canvas sides to this trailer are on this sprue.
Photo-etched parts are offered for correct scale thickness and a scope for damage or removal if so desired. The decal sheet for this kit's markings
The six choices of colour schemes offered in this kit.

This kit should be available next month from MiniArt's distributors worldwide. You can see more about this kit on the MiniArt Website...