Sunday, September 4, 2022

Cheap(ish) Trucks

So one of the things you need for WW2 gaming in almost any theatre is TRUCKS. This is especially the case for the Western Desert. Open any book of photos of the 8th Army or the Afrika Korps, and you'll see lots of pictures of vehicle laagers packed with trucks of all descriptions - including captured trucks - laden with water and fuel containers, supplies of all kinds, and even carrying troops.  

However, it has to be said that trucks aren't exactly super-sexy wargames vehicles. Given the choice, pretty much everyone will opt to spend their money and hobby time on tanks and other armoured vehicles rather than trucks.    

That's where these models come in handy. They're one piece, so no assembly required at all, and they look generic enough that they could reasonably pass for anything from an Opel Blitz to a stake-bed Chevrolet.

Detail on the models is "OK" and will be suitable for the wargames table.

Scale is suitable for my Perry Miniatures Afrika Korps and 8th Army forces. Painting was simplicity itself - Zandri Dust washed with Agrax Earthshade, windows painted a blue-grey and gloss-finished, and tires painted Vallejo Dark Rubber. Done! 

When I said these models were simple, I wasn't kidding. They're literally hollow one-piece injection-molded plastic. 

I do really like these models as they're so generic and easy to paint. These ones will serve both the DAK and 8th Army I'm sure, and even make good scatter terrain as wrecks. Just don't turn 'em on their sides!

As noted earlier, these were sourced off eBay. I'm not going to say who they're from or how much I paid, but if you're interested in them you can search "Painted Truck 28mm WW2" and you'll see that the seller has literally a dozen auctions for these trucks painted in all sorts of styles. I inquired about getting some unpainted trucks from him and he kindly offered some at a steep discount from his painted price. Still not super-cheap for what they are - honestly they seem like something you might pay a buck for at the dollar store - but fractions of what a real model kit might cost, never mind the time savings in assembly.

Anyway... keep on truckin'!

4 comments:

Codsticker said...

Very interesting; perfectly suitable for table dressing.. I will have to have a sniff around...

Greg B said...

Great work on these Dallas. As you say, gamers will almost always want to spend time on tanks rather than trucks (goodness knows that is how my collection is shaped - plenty of armour, not so many trucks). These look really sharp, and will help "make" the table for WW2 desert games.

Chris Meyer said...

I had always assumed these were 3d printed, and had no idea they weren't until your review. They seem to be very elusive and difficult to find, they pop up and disappear from sites like Amazon fairly frequently. Right now I was able to order them from Wal-Mart's website in the US, and they arrived today. Not bad for less than $1.50US each. Here is the current link for anyone who wants to jump on this deal before they disappear: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Set-10pcs-Vehicle-Model-Trucks-Soldiers-DIY-Parts/895228645

Dallas said...

Thanks for that Chris, well spotted!