Tamiya 1/35 U.S. Jeep 1/4 ton 4x4 Truck Willys MB - Kit Review

Reviewing Tamiya's, 1/35 scale, 1972 release, of the U.S. Willys Jeep, and Trailer, kit, No. 35015. Also released, in 1972, under Kit No. MM 115 (Scalemates), and again, during the mid 1970's, under Kit No. MM 115A, with 4 additional Tamiya figures ("U.S. Army Infantry", Kit No. MM 113).
This older style Tamiya kit, comes with 4 x U.S. Army figures in various poses, the Willys Jeep, and it's accompanying trailer, and a variety of accessories; Bazooka, Mortar, "Jerry" Cans, Various Ammo Containers, Wire Reels, Tarpaulins, and a nicely detailed Radio, optional Jeep mounted .50 cal. Machine Gun, or raised Canvas Hood, Clear Parts, Classic Style Tamiya Instructions, with comprehensive history of the Jeep, and Markings for 4 Individual U.S. Army Units.

[@kwokleung4529]

I bought it when I was a school boy, today I am 64,I want buy it again!

[@PetesKits]

Can't blame you! I just love the old Tamiya kits for the same reason. They bring back some great memories! Cheers mate!

[@ChuckD496]

Another excellent video Pete!

[@PetesKits]

Thanks mate, glad you liked it. Cheers!

[@chrishorne5855]

This is one kit I could never get my hands on , even now i still can’t get it fora good price , enjoy mate 🇦🇺👍🏻

[@PetesKits]

They pop up every now and then on Ebay, but usually for some ridiculous price. I've always got my eye out for the old Tamiya kits, but I seriously hesitate when I see the asking price. Cheers mate!

[@michaeldean1289]

Hi Pete Great nostalgic review on a real blast from the past. Still looks better than Italeri’s old burnt offering 😂 I reckon it could still be built up to a reasonable looking model though with a bit of TLC. Thanks for sharing your video presentation once again ❤😊

[@PetesKits]

Hi mate, I do love my classic kits. Lots of memories with them. And old kits like this one, still hold up really well. Except maybe for the figures, which really do show their "Age", but otherwise she's still a good kit. Glad you liked the review! Cheers!

[@hanschristophercharles6981]

I built this waaaaaaay back in '72!! Lol!! Overall, this was a pretty good kit. It can still hold it's own today, particularly in the hands of an experienced modeler. The figures though, leave a lot to be desired by to-days standards.( Stiff, somewhat oversized and soft on detail, etc.) However they still can be improved if you know how to modify them. Thanks for another great review!! Cheers!! 😎👍

[@PetesKits]

Yeah, it's why I love these oldies. They bring back some good memories, and they can still hold their own. Fully agree about the figures though, but then, the technology behind plastic moulding has changed so much. Way back then the moulds were all hand machined,, where as today they're computer machined, and that's what gives us all those fine details we love about todays kits. Glad you liked the review! Cheers mate!

[@johnjozifek7910]

I love these old Tamiya kits , built a lot of them when I was a kid ... I have a bunch in my stash now , hope to build them eventually ... one of the things I liked/hated about these kits way-back-when was/is the box art , the thing that attracted me to the model kit ... the thing I hated was the figures that came in the kit did not match the figure poses portrayed on the box art , small gripe ... my favorite old Tamiya kit is the 1/25 scale Tiger ... I've got 4 in my stash ! Got the original for Christmas when I was kid in the early 70's ... love your reviews of these classic old Tamiya kits , I have found a lot of the originals on ebay for reasonable prices ... difficult to stomach some of the hefty prices for new model kits these days !

[@hanschristophercharles6981]

Yeah, the figures not matching the box art always put a bit of a damper on building Tamiya kits. Took me years of experimenting with cutting and modifying the figures, to get the old figure sets near to where I wanted them to be.

[@PetesKits]

Yeah, I know, That was always the thing. The figure poses didn't always match the artwork. Think that one can be put down to lack of communication between the art department and the engineering section at Tamiya. And yeah, you do see some of the old kits at goods prices, and then, at some ridiculous ones too. Saw the original old Tamiya BMW R75 kit the other day with a starting auction price of $65 Australian on Ebay. That was a definite "No Way". Glad you like this old Tamiya reviews. These kits certainly bring back some good memories for us "old timers" Cheers Mate!

[@user-nj8tz5en7k]

Nice timing for presenting this classic kit. I just pulled out of my stash, the SAS modified desert Jeep,with the two figures with Arabic head coverings. the sprue for the frame,and chase are basically the same in both kits. Its making a very enjoyable weekend build.I don't think I am going to make a complicated diorama, Just put it on a simple pedestal base. The Jeep and the figures are a timeless classic,and present well just on their own.

[@PetesKits]

Now there's a coincidence. I just picked up the SAS jeep (unfortunately not the original issue) 3 days ago for $10, and was thinking of doing something similar but including my Tamiya LRDG truck as well. Still got my eye out for an original one though. Just to add to my "classics" stash. Cheers!

[@user-nj8tz5en7k]

@@PetesKits I have a Pink Panther, and Master Box figures to go with it.That one,will make a nice diorama.

[@PetesKits]

@@user-nj8tz5en7k Nice. Always liked the old Pink Panther, remember building it back in the late '70's. Don't have one in my stash (at the moment) but, won't hurt to fix that oversight. Cheers mate!

[@MisterWG]

Yeah, this was definitely a great kit. Sure the new kit is better detailed, etc, but the new kit doesn't have the trailer, or the canvas roof and that is a little disappointing. I also really like the old style instruction booklets. Lots of info apart from the actual build instructions, I remember spending a lot of time thinking about all the variants and what I would finally build. Also, I think it only cost me about $5 😀

[@PetesKits]

Agreed. I also found it strange, that with all the new detail, they didn't include a canvas roof in the new jeep kit. That was very odd. And I think that the instructions in the old Tamiya kits are the best, with a great look at the history of the kit vehicle, and at least with the German ones, details like the Divisional/Battalion vehicle make up, which I always found very informative. Finding the old classics is my new passion, (as long as the price is right). Cheers mate!

[@MisterWG]

@@PetesKits Looks like the oldest classic kits in my stash are the 1972 Stug III Ausf G (complete with Fallschirmjager), along with the Scout Car Daimler. Whilst perusing my stash, I also noticed that there are a lot marked as 'Tamiya America' with Made in Philippines on them. That I didn't know before just now! I'd actually built both of these way back in the mid 70's (along with a load of others). Great memories, many hours building, painting and trying my young hands at dioramas, based on either Verlinden, or the great Shep Paine (I also liked the Monogram kits!).

[@PetesKits]

@@MisterWG Nice! I do love the old Tamiya's. Lots of nostalgia there. The Stug with the Para's was probably about the only one I never got. had 2 of the Scout Car, and just about all of the figure kits. Back in the '70's I was building mostly Tamiya 1/35, Airfix 1/72 scale aircraft, and Historex Napoleonic figures, of which I still have a few, although mostly in pieces. Now there's a blast from the past. Good times! Cheers mate!