Early Model Land Rover Mk1 w/Bantam Trailer in 35th from Gecko Models - now in plastic!

We have added the photos of Gecko Models built up test Early Model Land Rover Mk1 w/Bantam Trailer in 35th scale. See how the kit looks before paint in our preview...

Early Model Land Rover Mk1 w/Bantam Trailer in 35th from Gecko Models - now in plastic!

Korean War British FV18001 Mk.1 80in 4x4 Utility Vehicle (early Production) w/10-cwt Bantam trailer.

From Gecko Models

1/35th scale

Kit No# 35GM0076

Plastic, photo-etch & decals included in this kit.

100% new tooling

The subject - the FV18001 Mk.1 80in 4x4

The British Army utilized Series I Land Rovers in significant numbers. As early as 1948, the British Army tested the 80-inch (2.03 m) Series-I Land Rover. Originally, the Army was more focused on developing a specially designed military utility 4x4 called the Austin Champ. However, the Champ proved to be too complex, heavy, and unreliable in combat conditions, which led the Army to consider the Land Rover as an alternative.

 A restored Mk,I with trailer 

In the late 1940s, the Ministry of Defence was keen on standardizing its vehicles and equipment. As part of this plan, they aimed to install Rolls-Royce petrol engines in all their vehicles, even though most were not actually built by Rolls-Royce. A batch of Series-I Land Rovers were fitted with Rolls-Royce B40 four-cylinder engines, which required modification to an 81-inch (2.06 m) wheelbase. However, the engine was too heavy and slow-revving, which negatively impacted performance and produced torque that the Rover gearbox could barely handle. Rover managed to convince the MOD that the standard 1.6-liter engine would be sufficient, considering the large quantities of Land Rovers they were considering ordering.

Called the FV18001 4x4 1/4ton Cargo truck in service, the Land Rover Series I included 80", 86" and 107" wheelbases. The MOD started ordering Land Rovers in batches from late 1949. The initial batches were for 50 vehicles, but by the mid-1950s, the Army was purchasing Land Rovers in batches of 200. The Land Rovers were deployed during the Suez Crisis and in the Korean War, where they became standard light military vehicles throughout the Commonwealth. Not that many were used in Korea however. But several still exist as restored vehicles today.

The kit:

Gecko's new British Army FV18001 Mk.1 80in 4x4 Utility Vehicle with 10-cwt Bantam trailer model (Early Production) in 1/35th scale is selected as one of those used in the Korean War in British service. 

We have seen earlier with the CAD images of the kit...

The photos of the assembled test kit show us a little more of the completed plastic and photo etch that make the package. You can display the vehicle with the front doors open if you wish,

The bonnet (or hood) opens to display the whole engine & engine bay, all you need would be some wiring & ignition harness.

There is some photo etch on the kit, mostly for the thinner parts that are harder to replicate (or fragile) in plastic.

The metal grille looks very thin and fine in this scale, very nice.

The rear cargo door can be posed open or closed.

The Bantam trailer is seen with a Tourneau cover if you choose to show it full and sealed.

Extra weapons and stowage is also provided for the kit that you can show in both (or either) the vehicle or the trailer.

Even an water cooled Vickers heavy MG is included in this kit (still in use in some places in the Korean conflict)

We will let you know when we know more.

You can find out more about Gecko Models kits on their website