DUKW amphibious truck WW2 (Italeri 1/35 scale model full build)

[@ianhutchinson9330]

Thanks for posting this, it's helping me with my build. I like the colour variation you've achieved with the OD finish - nice work.

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate - I'm glad it was helpful. Enjoy your build!

[@nikbear]

A simple model, beautifully brought to life, excellent 👌 can't wait to see it with the other additions 👍🦆

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate. I add figures to it in another video ("DUKW for lunch") on my channel :)

[@nikbear]

@@ModelNerd Just watching it 👍

[@robbo1068]

Nothing beats getting the mojo going again with a little distraction from the tasks that need to be done. Really lovely job, MN....the future of this build will be something to look forward to.

[@ModelNerd]

Cheers Robbo!

[@DavidRLentz-b7i]

David R Lentz, Columbus, Ohio, USA (Tuesday, 6 August, 2024) Overall, a creditable build. You give us a satisfying application of wear and time, of summery sun and wintry wind, without the excess so many seem to esteem. Had you been able to find the Italeri series of Amphibious Vehicles, Tracked (LVT) that were contemporaneous with the DUKW? If I recall correctly, they had made five different variants, all told. They together would make a truly remarkable beachhead diorama awhirl in the cacophonous chaos of combat early in a campaign. They had become operational for (if memory serves) the first Guadalcanal campaign (c. August 1942?) in the sweltering tropics of the South Pacific, in the Pacific Theatre of Operation (PTO). Another presentation would dramatise the Allies’ invasion into Sicily, then southern Italy, in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operation (MTO) for their entry into Southern Europe-if historical accuracy concurs, of course. A third would take place upon a rugged atoll of volcanic ash that untold millennia past had leapt from the depths. Another would illustrate in three dimensions a modest swathe of “Operation: Overlord”, the mighty, multi-national invasion into Normandy France, where awaiting them was the Siegfried Line. (I incidentally must wonder if that self-titled “leader”, that boastful mastermind of der Reichstag, that hubris-maddened, screed-screeching pretender “Aryan” who was not even German, himself had failed to take to heart the lessons in the utter failure of André Maginot’s ersatz marvel [whose homeland as a consequence had succumbed to the inexorable Blitzkrieg of a cunning, nimble Wehrmacht], that “der Führer” and his Nazi High Command but a few years prior had engineered . . . .) I some years past had built and detailed a kit of the DUKW, incorporating into it the three Verlinden sets: GMC CCKW-353 Truck cargo, CCKW-353 Truck Engine, and DUKW crew figures. I also had found one each of Italeri’s LVT kits (five”), and a Ford GPA ¼-ton, 4×4 amphibious light utility truck (a water-wading Jeep the soldiers derisively had called the “Seep” for its propensity whilst wading to leak). I had found another tracked amphibious assault vehicle-a bigger, later cargo variant, as I recall-from another kit maker, though it was rather crude in comparison to the Italeri kits; I planned to use another of a suitable Italeri kit to serve as a basis, using the parts of the former vehicle that differed-much of the upper surface-retaining the tracks, the lower hull, and all the two had in common. I also had been accumulating as many Army and Marine figurines as I could find to avoid redundancy (this was before 3D printing). I unfortunately had been unable to complete assembly of any of the LVT models, however (that is a long story! :( SMH)

[@ModelNerd]

I've built an LVT in 1/56 scale, and would like to build a GPA again (I built one ages ago, before my YT channel).

[@jonr6680]

1:05 A P38 Lightning on a barge made of 2 DUKWs... Mindblown.

[@ModelNerd]

Cool eh? Would be a nice diorama :)

[@MikeMurawa]

Nice to see you building the DUKW , myself I love it . Some years ago a built a large one for Radio controll. I,ve still got it even after being offer then a £1000 . Looking forward to your next video. Mike of Bristol

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Mike. An RC DUKW...now that would be cool. I definitely would like to look into doing some RC at some point in the future.

[@kenjara]

Nice work! I cant believe how long these things are, longer that any tank I have built. I finished my a few weeks back and went for the British scheme. So dark green and I used mud coloured enamels to give mine a bit of variation. Was tempted by the drop in resin upgrades but they cost more than the kit itself so planning to pick up a box of oil drums and things to fill mine up a bit.

[@ModelNerd]

Sounds good! I do tend to do British schemes when I can, but my choice of figures dictated this one :) I've got some spares, some 3D printed parts, and some scratch parts for the cargo in a future video.

[@kenjara]

@@ModelNerd Will look forward to seeing it. Not much choice when it comes to British crew. I was really tempted by the pacific scheme. I might have to pick up a second one for that at some point.

[@ModelNerd]

@@kenjara US Pacific schemes look great!

[@NereoSal]

Nice!I built the 1:72 Italeri version of this kit, which is amazing!

[@ModelNerd]

Nice! Enjoy!

[@DutchDaveModels]

Iconic amphibious vehicle. Nice build 💥👍💥

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks 👍

[@the-creech4790]

Beautiful!

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate

[@paulcorrigan649]

I like this. Its there unsung heroes that did a lot of heavy lifting.

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you. "Unsung hero" is a great description - quite a few vehicles like this.

[@paulcorrigan649]

@ModelNerd it's not a Sherman Tank or a Lancaster Bomber though so it's overlooked. But there's so many of these sorts of vehicles that did a lot of heavy lifting in ending the war and starting the peace.

[@scaleffect]

Outstanding build of a very funky vehicle. Thanks for sharing your hard work with all of us so we can learn and benefit.

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you for your kind words - much appreciated!

[@MarcGray1990]

Stunning build there mate! Love your channel! Might have to get me one!

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you! Yes, it's a great little build (well, not so little!)

[@MarcGray1990]

@@ModelNerd yes surprising seeing on screen how big it actually is. I’ve recently got back into scale models and set myself up with an airbrush and compressor. The detail I’m getting now has really pushed my model building a step forward. Now realising it’s not a cheap hobby and I’m looking round for spare shelving space haha!

[@keithscott447]

Outstanding work. Definitely on the wishlist. Keep 'em coming and stay safe my Friend.

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate!

[@paulsmodels]

Nice work! Seen one of these in person at a war museum. They are pretty big.

[@ModelNerd]

They sure are. In a future video I'll be putting 5 or 6 figures in the back and they'll be plenty of room for other stuff too!

[@johnquinnell]

Love your videos and as others have already stated, your builds are very inspirational to other builders. Did you end up fitting the headlight lenses to the model featured in the video?

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you. Yes, I did - I remembered after making the video! (Doh)

[@StevenPotts-ij9ue]

Looks great and plenty of scope for weathering and loads of stowage, might have to get one, if I have the room, lol.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks mate. Yes, it's not a small model!

[@rOEN911]

thats nice , i bought two of them to make them as Duck Tours Vehicles

[@ModelNerd]

Nice!

[@PaulAW1410]

Apologies if this is a daft question, but why does the colourful 3rd option only have one side view? Looking at the overhead illustration, it’s clear both sides differ in their camouflage markings. Are you supposed to ‘make up’ the bits you cannot see?

[@ModelNerd]

It's annoying but not uncommon unfortunately. And yes - you're completely correct.

[@danwild1946]

Thank you for building something a bit different it looks great! Personally I'm fed up of seeing builds of F-4's

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks!

[@KGmodels]

Unusual vehicle you don’t see everyday as a subject for modelling! Looks great and I hope you will be able to make your stash just a bit more smaller next time;) Great work Stu!

[@ModelNerd]

Hehe, thank you :) I'm working on it at both ends (reducing it and increasing it! :D )

[@KGmodels]

Hehe,I am only working to increase mine ;)

[@AScalePlasticModels]

Nice work and wonderful video!

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks

[@dainiusltu5945]

Nice build greetings from 🇱🇹

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate

[@MikeUSA67]

Great job, MN. And you gave me some good pointers for my own build - I bought the original boxing and an Eduard PE kit just last summer. So, thank you 🙂BTW, have you seen what Ian did with this kit a few years ago? Now I'm really looking forward to what you come up with (no pressure). According to the markings you've put on, it's going to be a military police scene - which I have never seen done before, so it's going to be really interesting (again, no pressure)!

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks. No, I don't know of Ian's build. Can I ask what makes you say it is an MP version? Is that the white stripes on the side? The instructions mention nothing!

[@MikeUSA67]

@@ModelNerd It says so in the color scheme "210th MP Company"!

[@ModelNerd]

@@MikeUSA67 Doh! Must be my old age! Thanks :)

[@MikeUSA67]

@@ModelNerd What do you mean "old age"? I'm 56, blind as a bat, and I still caught it. What's your excuse? 😁😎

[@MikeUSA67]

@@ModelNerd What kind of figures did/were you planning to use?

[@guidor.4161]

Looks very nice! I have the "gun portee" version in my stash. I think it really needs some real screen on the cooling air exhaust grilles (or are they intake grilles?)

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks. I agree, the molded on grilles are poor. I think those are air exhausts.

[@davidcole8268]

Not a fan of this kind of scale, however unusual subject so you have convinced me to get hold of the Airfix 1/76 kit.

[@ModelNerd]

:D

[@goforitpainting]

Looks cool 👍

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks 👍

[@ljscalemodels526]

Great build - I like unusual nature 😂

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks! Me too :)

[@markfergerson2145]

Yeah, you can only watch so many Panzer builds, right? I appreciate the less well represented vehicles same as you do. This is why I find 3D printing so exciting, you can now find online models of things the commercial plastic kit makers would never put money into making and marketing. That’s aside from figures and accessories that you either couldn’t find or had to scratchbuild back in the Bad Old Days. For that matter if you have a printer and the right software, and a little artistic talent, you can make your own stuff. Seriously, modelers these days often don’t realize how good they have it.

[@ModelNerd]

Yes, 3D printing really is a great avenue to explore. The Peugeot Char 1918 I did a video on recently is a perfect example - no plastic kit of that exists.

[@Santino81]

Great work ! Which colour and brand did you use for tires ?

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you. It was Tamiya XF-85 Rubber black.

[@kevinjohnson8220]

I know that some modelers like to take the piss out of Italeri but back in 2002 they really knocked it out of the park with this one. The only minor problems are: The kit depicts a post war vehicle appropriate for the Korean war not WW2. To backdate it you need to fill the drainage holes on the sides of the hull and build wheel well covers out of white plastic, a relatively easy fix. The tires are a bit narrow, to remedy this there are resin replacements, however as the wells were covered in WW2 it's not a major problem The hemp ropes and bumpers are a bit poor and should be replaced and altered. Replace the ropes with twine and as the bumpers are flat at the tops these need to be rounded. These could be improved by careful addition of white glue or milliput. There used to be PE sets, a Verlinden set, and a set of hand woven bumpers, but these could be very difficult to find today.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks, that's good to know. I knew about the missing wheel covers (although I forgot to mention it in the video). I think there are some WW2 images with them missing though. Strange how Italeri didn't include them. And I agree - their kits take a lot of bashing online, but the ones I've built I've always been happy with.

[@kevinjohnson8220]

@@ModelNerd That's true about the covers. Many were removed after D-day

[@rutgaurxi7314]

Hi, great final result, very unusual vehicle. I think I have only ever seen it on TV once, probably on Band of Brothers. I think. It was a long time ago. Have you tried salt weathering? I'm thinking about giving it a go myself, with some vehicles I have been meaning to do.

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you. I think there might be a scene near the end of Bands of Brothers where they're in the back of a DUKW, driving down the highway with German POWs going in the opposite direction. But then it might just be a regular truck - I can't remember. I tried salt weathering when I lived in Asia but it was too humid there and didn't work properly. I haven't tried it since coming back to the UK.

[@MikeUSA67]

@@ModelNerd That was definitely a deuce-and-a-half, not a DUKW! But in the opening shot of that scene you can spot a couple of DUKWs rolling down the Autobahn 🙂

[@ModelNerd]

@@MikeUSA67 Ah ok, thanks. I guess I misremembered :)

[@ChristianSchroter-ok4sk]

Hello mr. Nerd. I think it is called phonetic... "Duck-Double,-you"

[@johnhughes2653]

I think tide marks are allowed on an amphibian.

[@ModelNerd]

Haha, very good point!

[@andrewluchsinger]

Wisconsin Dells uses a lot of them.

[@ModelNerd]

A few years ago one of our school trips we sent to the US went on one. I was definitely jealous!

[@andrewluchsinger]

@@ModelNerdHopefully you enjoyed the trip.

[@BrushQuill]

A great build mate. Arnt these now trying to drown tourists in the Thames?? 😂

[@ModelNerd]

Haha, I don't know about the Thames but they are quite common in the US apparently.

[@kenjara]

Its Liverpool that had the major issues. The Thames ones have not killed anyone yet and are currently not running due to their ramp being commandeered.

[@BrushQuill]

@kenjara i was referring to the 2013 incident where one caught fire and people had to jump overboard. I said "trying". If there had been any deaths I would not have joked about it. *sigh*

[@kenjara]

@@BrushQuill I was just continuing the conversation. Not having a dig or anything. I know the London ones have had a few issues as well. Still I hope to go on the London tour when its up and running again.

[@BrushQuill]

@kenjara right oh. Issues with text, no tone. My apologies Yeah the Liverpool ones are more recent but I think 2013 was more high profile as outside Houses of Parliament. I assume the veichle is the same or similar to DUKW, interesting conversion if it is lol.

[@davegiles2344]

👍

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Dave

[@ChristianSchroter-ok4sk]

Hello mr. Nerd!it is Not called "the duck" i think.i think it is called phonetic "The duck-double-you".with sticky greetings. Your modellmate.christian

[@IgorSevcov]

🤝👍

[@organicpaul]

Nice one .....I loaded mine with jerry cans and oil drums!

[@ModelNerd]

Classic! Mine will have a lot of those two :)

[@donnuttall269]

Another great build. I want a real one.

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate. They'd be a pretty handy vehicle to have around.

[@stevenruffell601]

@donnuttall269 Think of the shopping you could get in it😅...or the amount of model kits 😀.

[@ModelNerd]

Haha, that would be a cool diorama. A modeller coming back from the shop with the back full of kits :D

[@ChristianSchroter-ok4sk]

Hello mr. Nerd!it is Not called "the duck" i think.i think it is called phonetic "The duck-double-you".with sticky greetings. Your modellmate.christian

[@ModelNerd]

A lot of sources refer to it as both the D-U-K-W (phonetic) and the "duck" :)