The Modelling News: Preview: A big Sherman & CCKW + 105 from I love Kit in November...

I Love Kit keeps modellers full with popular US WWII subjects in 35th & 16th scales this month. We look at their 16th scale M4A1E8 Sherman & 35th CCKW + 105mm gun in our preview...

Preview: A big Sherman & CCKW + 105 from I love Kit in November...

CCKW-352 Machine Gun Turret Version w/ M2A1 105MM Howitzer

by I Love Kit

Model no #63567

1/35th scale

Price: $55 USD from Hobbylink Japan

The GMC CCKW is a 2.5 ton 6X6 U.S. Army cargo truck that saw service in World War II and the Korean War, often referred to as a "Deuce and a Half" or "Jimmy". The CCKW came in many variants, based on the open or closed cab, and Long Wheel Base (LWB 353) or Short Wheel Base (SWB 352).Initially all versions were of closed cab design (having a metal roof and doors) with all steel cargo beds.

Markings included in this kit

Decals included in this kit

As the war progressed an open cab version was designed that had fixed 'half doors' and a canvas top/sides and the steel bed was replaced by a wooden one to conserve steel. The wood bed proved unsatisfactory and a 'composite' bed with steel sides and framing, but with wooden slats for the bed, was developed. Later on the 'wood/steel' composite bed was replaced by an all steel composite bed.

Model Length: 346.8mm / Width: 66.2mm

brass wire & photo-etch included

Total of 14 sprues , cab and tires

The kit consists of over 460 parts

- Details finely represented by newly tooled parts

-Masks included for transparencies

- Main tires with very good detail

- Photo-etched parts included

- 105mm Howitzer included

The kit made up by in-house model makers from I Love Kit

M4A1E8 Medium Tank

by I Love Kit

Model no #61618

1/16th scale

Price: $176 USD from Hobbylink Japan

This late war version of the Sherman tank was an improved design produced between October 1944 and May 1945. The M4A1E8 featured the 76mm M1A1 gun (71 rounds) and as secondary weapons it had one .50cal (12.7mm) M2HB Browning machine gun and two .30cal (7.62mm) M1919A4 Browning machine guns. The 33.5ton tank was powered by the Continental R974 C4 9cylinder 400-460hp engine.

Markings included in this kit

Decals included in this kit

The tank had a modified one piece cast hull and a heavier fully-cast turret with a hatch for the loader and commander. To reduce the risk of fires inside the tank it had modified “wet stowage” jacketing for the ammunition racks.