AK INTERACTIVE: 1/35; IDF Power Wagon WM300 with winch

Description

Since the early days of the IDF the WW2 Dodge WC series had been widely used, with surplus trucks obtained from many places to fight in the 1948 and 1956 wars. In the 1960s these old warriors started to wear out and still more trucks were needed in this class, so the replacement was yet another Dodge product, the Power Wagon. Some civilian, closed cab Power Wagon WM300 had been in use for a while, mainly captured from Egypt, but the Power Wagon now supplied was the WM300 in soft-top type. That was a cheap, simple, export
type model, similar to the M601 offered to friendly countries under the Military Defense Assistance Program. Starting in 1966, the trucks arrived in Israel as CKD (Completely Knocked Down) units, to be assembled and completed with Israeli-made parts at the new AIL (Automotive Industries Ltd.) factory in Nazareth. The very early cargo body followed closely the old WC51 design from WW2, but was quickly replaced with a new Israeli design, far more practical, cheaper and easier to build, also to be used in its succesor, the Nun Nun M325.
The first combat use for the IDF’s new Power Wagon (or Command Car as it was nicknamed) came in the 1967 Six-Day War, but it was the 1973 Yom Kippur War when it became widely seen. There were also a few foreign users such as Uganda, Kenya and the South Lebanese Army. These tough and reliable trucks became quite popular among troops for a myriad of uses, even if it was a most spartan and uncomfortable vehicle to ride in.
Our new model represents the standard cargo truck variant fitted with winch.
The main features of the kit:
- Over 160 plastic parts
- Photo-etched fret
- Optional canvas top
- Highly detailed interior and chassis
- Decals for 5 painting/marking options printed by Cart