Gecko’s Model Land Rover Mk1 with Bantam Trailer, 35th scale.

From Gecko-Model1/35th scaleModelsKit No# 35GM0076

1010 See how the kit looks before paint in our preview…

Early Models

Land Rover Mk1 w/Bantam Trailer in 35th from Gecko

– now in plastic!

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

From Gecko

1/35th scale

Kit No# 35GM0076

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

100% new tooling

The subject – the FV18001 Mk.1 80in 4×4

The British Army utilized Series I Land Rovers in significant numbers. The British Army began testing the Series-I Land Rover 80-inch model in 1948. The Army initially focused more on the development of a military utility 4×4 named the Austin Champ. The Army initially considered the Austin Champ, but it was too heavy, complex, and inefficient to use under combat conditions. As a result, they looked at the Land Rover. In order to achieve this goal, the Ministry of Defence wanted all its vehicles equipped with Rolls-Royce petrol engine, even though many were not built by Rolls-Royce. The Series-I Land Rovers had to be modified in order to fit Rolls-Royce B40 4-cylinder engines. This required a modification of the wheelbase from 81 inches (2.06 meters). The engine, however, was slow and heavy, and this negatively affected performance. It also produced torque which the Rover gearbox couldn’t 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 4×4 1/4ton Cargo truck in service, the Land Rover Series I included 80″, 86″ and 107″ wheelbases. In late 1949, the MOD began ordering Land Rovers by batches. In the beginning, 50 Land Rovers were ordered in batches. By the middle of the 1950s, however, the Army began to purchase Land Rovers by 200 vehicles. Land Rovers served in both the Suez Crisis, and the Korean War. They became the standard for light military vehicles across the Commonwealth. Despite this, not many Land Rovers were deployed in Korea. The kit is:

Gecko’s new British Army Mk.1 8in 4×4 utility vehicle with 10cwt Bantam Trailer model (Early production) in 1/35th size was selected as one used during the Korean War by British forces. The vehicle can be displayed with its front doors open. 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.

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