LogoTitle Text Search
M
M

M

LW

Set 2026b

US Army Light Trailer

Click for larger image
All figures are supplied unpainted    (Numbers of each pose in brackets)
Stats
Date Released Unknown
Contents 4 trailers and 16 figures
Poses 4 poses
Material Plastic (Medium Consistency)
Colours Green
Average Height 24 mm (= 1.73 m)

Review

The trailer in this set was designed to be towed by a jeep, and was made by several manufacturers in large quantities. The jeep had proved to be a highly useful and successful vehicle, and the trailer added to its utility.

Such trailers were relatively simple pieces of equipment, and the one in this set is pretty faithful to the original. It is simplified of course - there are none of the lights or other smaller details that the original might have had, and nor is there the cover that was often used. Perhaps the largest missing element is the axle, yet from a distance this is a decent little model. Made up of just six parts (body, chassis, two springs and two wheels), it goes together pretty well and everything fits firmly without the need to glue. Our example had a lot of flash at the back, but that would be easy to trim, so this is a basic but quite useful little model.

The four figures on each sprue are something of an odd assortment. Two seem to have one foot resting on something (or perhaps mounting the jeep), though only the man holding his helmet aloft has been given a base. The other two are sitting, and again look like they are sitting in the jeep. This is all very well, but of course there is no jeep in this set! Two wear combat gear and helmets, and the other two wear fatigues and side caps. LW sometimes pirate the products of others as their own, and so it is here. The two figures in fatigues (second and fourth in our photo) are pirated from the Matchbox set of M-19 Tank Transporter, and the third with the machine gun is clearly a conversion from the Esci US Soldiers set. The first pictured figure looks to be a heavily modified conversion of the Esci US Infantry officer, but he has had the most alterations of this group. There is very little kit, but everything here is accurate. The quality of the sculpts, being made by good modelling companies, is pretty good even for being pirated copies, although on our sample the chest of the machine gunner has somewhat caved in. In general however there is little flash.

Perhaps most relevant to the trailer is the collection of accessories which this set provides. We find an array of items including a rifle, submachine gun, a bundle, ammunition crates and jerrycans. All are nicely done and are a very useful source of the sort of detritus that is to be found around any war.

Really this can only be seen as an extension to some other kit of a jeep, which as far as we know LW have never produced. As such it has some merit, but by itself it has very limited potential.

Ratings

Historical Accuracy 9
Pose Quality 5
Pose Number 5
Sculpting 8
Mould 7

M
M
Site content © 2002, 2009. All rights reserved. Manufacturer logos and trademarks acknowledged.