British 2-Ton 4x2 Ambulance

Tamiya, 1/48 scale

Background

The Austin K2/Y was a British heavy military ambulance that was used by all Commonwealth services during the Second World War.

Built by Austin, it was based on the 1938 Austin K30 30-cwt light truck which as the K2 chassis was built during the war for many uses.

A total of 13,102 Austin K2/Y ambulances were built at the company's Longbridge plant almost continuously from 1940 until the war ended. An estimated 50 or more[1] remain today.*

FirstLook

Tamiya’s latest contribution to 1:48 scale military modelling is an all-new Tamiya Kit No. 32605 - British 2-Ton 4x2 Ambulance.

The kit is supplied on a two dark green sprues with 57 parts and a small clear sprue with another four parts.

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Thumbnail panels:

The model is quite simple, with doors and vents moulded closed and the canvas cab doors rolled up. Interior details are limited to a single seat for the driver, a steering wheel, instrument panel and basic shapes for the benches in the sealed ambulance body.

Decal dials are supplied for the instrument panel.

Leaf springs are four separate parts. The one-piece steering rack is moulded so the front wheels are pointed straight ahead.

Surface detail is by way of mostly raised detail for the hatches, doors, tie-downs and rivets, plus nicely moulded hinges. Ejector pin circles are limited to the inner surfaces of various parts that will be hidden when the model is complete.

The tyres are moulded in two plastic pieces each. Hub and tread texture looks good. There is a faint raised moulding seam along the centreline of each tyre.

These are attached to the axle by simply gluing them in place – no poly caps here.

A seated driver figure is included wearing standard WWII British battle dress. He is nicely sculpted.

Clear parts are included for the windscreen, headlight lenses and the small front window in the ambulance body.

Markings are supplied for two generic vehicles in service with the British Army, 1940-45.

The red cross markings are supplied as decals.

Both vehicles are finished in Dark Green.

This is a simple kit that will be a versatile crossover subject for military and aircraft modellers.

Recommended

* Historical text courtesy of Wikipedia

Tamiya kits are distributed in the UK by The Hobby Company Limited