Review | Plastic Soldier Company Universal Carriers 1/100 (15mm) | WWII

Universal Carriers are an integral parts of British and Commonwealth forces in World War II. The Plastic Soldier Company has released a plastic Universal Carrier box set, and we take a look at the kit, build one and look at the staggering array of options in this kit - including 2 different flamethrower variants! We also look at the history of Universal Carriers and the stats for employing them in Flames of War. Carriers have some Special Rules all of their own, and we check these out too.
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Image Resources:
Imperial War Museum - Non-commercial usage authorised.
Australian War Memorial - Public Domain

[@trekanbelluvitsh]

My friend has a british WW2 force and - yes! - he needs a lot of them. I am the one who paints his force. Because BF's plastic Carrier are hard to get in Europe at the moment due to Brexit I send him a link with your video and now he agreed to use PSC's Carrier kits too. Well, that didn't change things because PSC are hard to get too. 😒 But it shows that youare making excellent videos about 15mm stuff if one can make a decision after seeing them. Just keep up the great work. 👍

[@FogofWar]

Thanks. Glad the video was useful. But too bad it didn't help you. But Brits do need a lot of Carriers. I have MMG carriers, but I'm thinking I should try out some Wasp flamethrowers too.

[@KillerAngelM40A3]

I have both the BF and PSC kits, and honestly, I like the BF kit better despite the faceless crew members. Better detail and inclusion of the Boys AT rifle. I'll build the PSC ones to match my Late War British infantry company, but will use BF for anything Africa related. A neat trick I found, is to use the spare bits of the PSC kit to add to the BF kit (such as the 2" mortar) for use in Battlegroup Tobruk games where the 2" mortar is actually used in the rules. Now I just need to figure out how to get a PIAT in there for late war...

[@FogofWar]

One day if the chance comes along and I have the spare cash I'll get a box of the BF ones and compare them. Using the spare parts from a PSC kit to flesh out a BF one is an interesting approach. Thanks for that!

[@hivefleet1]

Are the BF and PSC kits interchangeable or is there a size different in the crew figures?

[@FogofWar]

@@hivefleet1 I think PSC figures are smaller. They are "true" 15mm rather than "heroic" 15mm like Battlefront.

[@warspite6742]

Good review.Great model, in general. It does have a few problems though:The rear stowage (2 parts) are for the Mk I carrier while the front side sand shields are Mk II.Oddly enough there is a stowage box on the sprue (same 'cell' as the right hand hull side) but it is not mentioned in the instructions. It looks like a Mk II rear stowage box, even then it is missing the camo net stowage basket. But it will do.Also the ammo stowage for the 2" mortar version should be used for the 3" mortar version. Typical PSC kit really, basically fine, but with little niggles. It's like a poorly proof read book. (see panther, Pz IV, M4A1, M4A4 and all small turret Sherman copulas)I have still bought 2 boxes though!

[@FogofWar]

Hi Warspite. Thanks for this comment. I did a lot of research trying to find out the defining characteristics of the MkII carrier and I figured they were MkIIs from the fender design and the light configuration, even if they are missing the tow-hook. After seeing your comment I looked around and saw the different rear stowage arrangements. So the parts to use the larger stowage box are there on the sprue - just not correctly shown in the instructions. I'll use those for all the rest of mine when they get built. Thanks again for your very useful comment here.

[@johnkelley9877]

I have the PSC 1/72 Universal Carrier and it is great too. I wish it had as many options as the 15 mm version though. Thanks for the review.

[@Axquirix]

Good review, and thanks for confirming that there are nine in the box! The images on the PSC website still lists six on the front of the box too, so was looking to confirm. Planning on using these in 15mm scale Bolt Action to compliment my five M5 halftracks and get all my infantry speeding around the battlefield, but now I'm tempted to get two boxes for all the variants I could build!

[@FogofWar]

Thay are a nice little kit, but I haven't gotten around to building all of mine yet.

[@HerbertErpaderp]

So many variants! These look really good. I'll have to get a couple of boxes when I can.

[@FogofWar]

It was fun to build. Unfortunately I don't have any BF ones to compare it to. Unlimited funds would be nice, but we review what we can. I know you know this only too well!

[@HerbertErpaderp]

Haha, indeed. Oh the things I would do with unlimited funds. Or even slightly less limited funds!

[@e-4airman124]

very nice kit figures much better than Battlefront

[@theofficerfactory2625]

I have three of the old resin ones and SO WANT THIS to upgrade mine.

[@FogofWar]

I have 12 resin ones that will slowly get replaced by plastic. These are just lovely!

[@TheAcceptableCasualties]

Great review once again. This was a great kit to put together and paint. I might grab another to round out some missing support options for my late war Brits.

[@FogofWar]

Thanks Joe. I must admit I have been eyeing off another box. Once I use four for my MMG carriers, two flamethrowers, an OP carrier for Gerald, three scout carriers I will need another box to get four for my mortar carriers. Guess I'll be building these for a while...

[@marcelobodhi1692]

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[@ledgermaximiliano7558]

@Marcelo Bodhi Instablaster :)

[@marcelobodhi1692]

@Ledger Maximiliano Thanks so much for your reply. I found the site on google and Im trying it out now. Takes quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@marcelobodhi1692]

@Ledger Maximiliano it did the trick and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy! Thanks so much you saved my ass :D

[@MiniWarzone]

Great looking kit.

[@FogofWar]

It is pretty cool, isn't it!

[@BrickFurnace]

Nice review! I’m getting nine of these models to add to my 3 Cromwell tanks. I’ve just started playing the game.

[@FogofWar]

If you end up with infantry and scouts you might need more than 9... Good luck!

[@BrickFurnace]

Fog of War what’s the best variant to build for the carriers? Flamethrower,vickers,generic etc

[@FogofWar]

Depends on your needs. I run a 3 carrier scout patrol, a 4 carrier HMG section, an artillery observer and some general carriers. All the option in the PSC kit make this a very versatile set!

[@BrickFurnace]

Fog of War ok thanks! So far I’ve made one vickers and three generic I think I’m going to make some mortars and maybe a wasp

[@FogofWar]

Never tried a Wasp. I bet it would frighten an opponent seeing it on the table!

[@michaeljdauben]

Great review. I'm torn over whether to get the BF carriers or the PSC kit, for my new Desert Rats force.

[@FogofWar]

Michael, It might depend on what other kits you are using for your force. The PSC kits wouldn't match the BF Grants, Crusaders and Honeys as well because the bolt detail isn't as prominent. The BF ones would match the "style" better. But these are great kits, so if matching the BF style isn't an issue they are great value.

[@bageldrone]

would have liked to see the Boys AT rifle and the piat but i guess it would make the sprue even bigger

[@FogofWar]

Given the number of variants here it was an odd omission, I agree.

[@marklandymore5678]

PSC are by far superior now to bf in value and options. From this kit I built nine carriers and also seven bases of aaa mg infantry...loads of stowage and bits and damn cheap...compare this with bf ...

[@e-4airman124]

i lost my drivers for my fow unicersal carrier kit is there any place you can purchase replacements?

[@FogofWar]

Not sure. You could try contacting Battlefront Customer Support. They might be able to get you some.

[@britishrailways4810]

It's a shame as the 1/72 versions only have a Bren gun.

[@FogofWar]

I hadn't looked at the 1/72 version - it has a lot less options!