I guess this wasn't as popular as I thought. 

Looks pretty cool to me Eric, seeing new Commonwealth hardware is always a reason to rejoice. Funny, I've never built an Universal Carrier but after the one Stikpusher built I've got a bit of a hankering to...

It'll be very popular amongst more die hard tank modelers.  I think the general audience here on FSM are still focused on more basics (Panther, Tiger, Sherman) rather than the more esoteric.

And yeah though no doubt a very important AFV it'd be sexier and I more likely to rush out and buy it if it had a giant gun mounted on it...

And frankly I don't really want to know what Sigmund Freud would make of that... 

Here is a look at it:

I have an old Tamiya carrier, and I will absolutely pick this one up.  And it has Canadian markings.  What more could I want?

I have wanted to do a UC as one of the UC's used by the US Army in the Philippines in 1941-42, alongside the Chevrolet CMP trucks used which were offloaded from a British freighter.

Gamera

And yeah though no doubt a very important AFV it'd be sexier and I more likely to rush out and buy it if it had a giant gun mounted on it...

And frankly I don't really want to know what Sigmund Freud would make of that... 

I've seen a model and maybe a picture of one with a German 37mm in it. Don't know if that was 100% accurate, but a it seems plausible. 

I agree with Roy. For those out there that have to have one, they've known about it for a while. To the masses, it's not a very sexy vehicle.

I too built one years ago and got a second one when Tamiya reissued it with updated figures.

tigerman

Gamera

And yeah though no doubt a very important AFV it'd be sexier and I more likely to rush out and buy it if it had a giant gun mounted on it...

And frankly I don't really want to know what Sigmund Freud would make of that... 

I've seen a model and maybe a picture of one with a German 37mm in it. Don't know if that was 100% accurate, but a it seems plausible. 

I was thinking more along the lines of a 17pd gun, maybe I have size issues... 

Anyway, thanks for the head's up Eric, all joking aside it was one of the more important Commonwealth vehicles so I do need one in my collection. 

I agree it's not a sexy vehicle at all! And unfortunately for the manufacturer I guess it would appeal to quite a small niche market. It's always of great interest though to see these machines that don't make the covers of books and magazines like the Tigers and Panthers and Sdkfz 251's.

Well it's gotta be an improvement on the old Tamiya kit. Especially the tracks. Might be cool if the Wasp flamethrower version comes along for those who want 'fire'power ;-). Maybe I will keep the new figures off the two Tamiya re issues that I have, sell of those kits, and grab one of these.

Those tracks might make a Pz I's look big. LOL

The 17 pdr was a big gun on a Sherman tank, I doubt a pair of UC's could even pull a towed 17 pdr. Might need about eight of them hooked up like Santa's sleigh!

Here's a couple of photos i found. One with a German 37mm and the other with a Bofors 40mm.

Agreed, not a sexy looking vehicle.  The fact that it is not a German design is another big reason for it's unpopularity.   British and other  Commonwealth citizen's though, I'm sure will be interested in this one, as will I as a Canadian.

It really was an important vehicle.  It continued to be produced until 1960, and final numbers vary:  113,000 - to one entry stating an estimate of over 200,000.   It is considered to be the most produced afv of all time.   Canada produced just under 29,000 and the States another 5,000.

It was never intended to be an attack vehicle, nor was it initially intended for towing.  The mark II was officially equipped with a towing hitch (and later the Stacey towing bar was introduced).  The 6-pdr was it's limit.  

Some of the more common uses was recce, and as a support weapons carrier.  

regards,

Jack

Rob Gronovius

The 17 pdr was a big gun on a Sherman tank, I doubt a pair of UC's could even pull a towed 17 pdr. Might need about eight of them hooked up like Santa's sleigh!

IIRC, British 1st Airborne took a few 17 pdrs to Arnhem on Hamilcar Gliders. I do know that they also had some 6 pdrs and Universal carriers there. What did they use to tow the 17 pdrs?

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-universal-carriers-of-british.html

I don't know, I wasn't there. Your article mentions repositioning 6 pdr with UCs but doesn't address the UCs in regard to the 17 pdrs. How do armies currently reposition large towed artillery after it is airdropped?

Jack, I said it wasn't a sexy vehicle, not that it wasn't an important vehicle. It was very important in the developing mechanized armies of the day. In fact, where the US and Germany went with half tracks as the primary source of transportation, the UK developed the fully tracked UC instead.

Today, we see fully tracked personnel carriers everywhere and half tracks only in museums. I guess we know who made the right choice from the get go.

I'm a fan of early armor, before countries knew what the tank was supposed to look like. Today, they all basically look the same (large cannon on a fully rotation turret on a fully tracked hull). I loved Tamiya's little UE Universal Carrier.

I did a bit of web searching and apparently they used some modified trucks delivered by glider to move the 17 pdr guns. The Brits were the only ones in WWII to deliver tracked armored vehicles into combat with their Airborne forces. UCs in Normandy, Arnhem, and Wesel for the 6 pdr AT guns, Tetrach tanks into Normandy, and M22 Locust tanks into Wesel. Very innovative in their adding more firepower to their Airborne forces.

Rob, no worries there - my comment about the universal carrier being important was aimed at those not interested in the subject.  

regards,

Jack  

I understand, but just because it is an important vehicle still might not make it interesting. For example, there were many very important WW2 German and Soviet designs that I am not the least interested in.

I've always been interested in the "Golden Age of Armor", the pre-war years when the various nations were toying with the emerging technology. Great Britain was cutting edge, but their tanks coming into WW2 were abysmal.

Not to mention they sure seemed to be a LOT slower on the learning/improvement curve on their tank design throughout most of the war. But in any case, it is nice to see a replacement for the venerable Tamiya kit appear. And slowly the gaps in 1/35 British WWII AFV kits are being closed

stikpusher

Not to mention they sure seemed to be a LOT slower on the learning/improvement curve on their tank design throughout most of the war. But in any case, it is nice to see a replacement for the venerable Tamiya kit appear. And slowly the gaps in 1/35 British WWII AFV kits are being closed

I was jazzed to see the Cruisers that Bronco did and the tankette/light tank that Vulcan kits came out with recently. And all those Churchills that AFV is doing! And at least the Italeri Crusaders, while aged, are still decent kits. I was pleasantly surprised when they molded the AA versions.

That is the reason why we have a lot of cats in the market. These small softskins are a joy to build. I heard that this Universal Carrier is very detailed. Now I can put my Tamiya version to sleep.

constructor

That is the reason why we have a lot of cats in the market. These small softskins are a joy to build. I heard that this Universal Carrier is very detailed. Now I can put my Tamiya version to sleep.

I built the old one and remember all the pin marks on it. The treads too were very lacking. This should be a much needed upgrade.

It's pretty amazing in terms of the level of detail this one's sporting if the CAD drawings are any indication.

militarymodels.co.nz/.../all-news

I don't know why, but I'm really digging the suspension and tracks on this UC!  Maybe because I'm getting very interested in pre-WWII armor.  Plus you gotta luv how cute this little guy is!