Jeep "Willys" Model MB - US light all-terain car

Jeep "Willys" MB - US Army off-road vehicle, used in World War II. Serial production was started in 1941 at the factories of "Willys - Overland Motors" and "Ford" (as "Ford GPW"). In May 1940 the US Army formulated requirements for a light command and reconnaissance all-terrain vehicle (ATV). These requirements were so strict due to the time of the construction and the start of production, that only "Willys - Overland Motors" and "American Bantam", who submitted their first cars prototypes in September, dared to participate in the competition. The cars exceeded the weight requirements, as a result of which "Willys" stated , that these requirements were impossible to meet or that there was not enough time for this, and asked his slightly heavier car to "bring to mind" another 75 days. "Willys" had full information about the competitor's car and copied the external appearance of the "Bantam" ATV. A few years later it was juridical recorded, but by that time the "American Bantam" had gone bankrupt. "Ford" entered the competition late with its all-terrain vehicle "Pigmy", which won the initial stage of the competition. At the beginning of 1941 a commission, headed by President Roosevelt, formulated the final requirements and decided on each company to order 1500 test series cars each. "Willys MA" production began in June 1941, the US entry into World War II forced the US military leadership to order an urgent expansion of mass production of the new cars. Despite the hopes of the "Ford" company, on July 1, 1941 the modernized "Willys MB" was chosen for mass production, the production of which at the "Willys" factory in Tolido, Ohio, began late in 1941, the "Ford" factories began to produce them only in early 1942. A total of 659,031 (including "Ford" GPW) "Willy's" were produced. It was also supplied to the Allies, where it gained great popularity. The Red Army began to receive them under the Lend-Lease agreement in the summer of 1942. They immediately began to be used as commanders' all-terrain vehicles and towing vehicles for 45 mm anti-tank guns. By the end of the war, the USSR received about 52 thousand these cars

A simple, small, well designed and fairly richly detailed model with no engine compartment detailing. From the chassis, only the frame is detailed, stylized - bridges, suspension, transmission. The model is perfect for advanced beginners and less experienced modelers, working under the supervision of a more experienced modeler. The model recreates the off-road vehicle, used by the US Army during the Normandy operation. The graphic instructions is small, but detailed, color stock is not available.