Blast Models
BK35033K

Period photos of jeeps commonly show them in their "convertable" mode. On the relatively rare occasion I see one with the rag top on, I'm always struck by how signifcantly the silhouette of the vehicle changes.

Italeri has issued its jeep with an optional roof; perhaps the casting, with its is not sufficiently realistic enough to entice modelers to use it, since it is so rarely included with finished kits. Tamiya's jeep, on the other hand, just has the roof supports collapsed and stowed.

Blast Models provides an better quality alternative from sculptor Fréderick Astier. His cover includes four separate braces for the roof molded in delicate resin. The underside of the cover's roof is detailed with the visible supports secured by overlapping and snapped lengths of canvas. The exterior of the back side gives some loose ripples to the canvas, though the interior side is flat. A few light passes with the motor tool or sanding file could add dimension here.

The leading edge of the real canvas cover was secured to the jeep with snaps, and these are rendered on the Blast version. If you are a stickler for accuracy, you'll want to compensate for top part of the windshield that is covered by the canvas fabric by reducing the jeep's windshield top edge by an appropriate amount.

The back wall of the canvas also accommodates a flange jutting up slitghtly from the rear wall of the jeep behind the jerry can. Four straps to secure the canvas to the rear wall are molded onto the back of the piece, however only one remained intact on my product, which was packed in an unprotective plastic bag. A clamshell or cardboard box is really called for with this particular offering.

Otherwise the casting was well done, with just a couple knobs remaining of the pour plugs at the corner support and a bit of flash in the rear window, all easily removed.

Trax also makes a canvas cover, but their's doesn't provide the supports, so you'll need to cadge them from the Italeri kit or make them out of plastic rod for the Tamiya jeep.

-tss