Israeli Army M-38A1C Recoiless Rifle Jeep in 1/35th scale: AFV Club

   The Israeli Army received the M-38A1C in the early 1960s and employed these light, 2 ton vehicles in their armored reconnaissance brigades for forward recon missions.  These vehicles were able to cross terrain that other types could not and the value of their fast strike capability far exceeded the size of the vehicle. Information obtained from forays deep into enemy controlled areas gave armored force commanders the ability to outmaneuver the enemy.  During the 1967 Six Day War, these vehicles saw service on all three fronts: Sinai, Golan Heights, and the West Bank.  They were replaced by other, modern types (M-151, M-113 and Humvee) in the 1970s.  Those units were then equipped with the US made TOW missile.

THE MODEL

This is the old Skybow kit resurrected under the AFV club brand.  It is an easy kit to build and takes higher detailing very well.  The conversion to an Israeli vehicle involved removal of the forward windshield, placing a screen over the front engine grill, a large tarpaulin (used for camouflage by these units in the field) draped over the hood, extra water cans and back seats on either side for the gun crew..  The driver figure was from the "Masterbox" British 1/4 ton truck set and converted to appear as an Israeli Paratrooper from the 67 war.  Israeli vehicles are always fun to load up with extra stowage and this one may still get some extras....As for the paint, I use Testors Modelmaster "Afrika Dunkelgrau" for my Six Day War vehicles.  A good match for that time period.  The White with Black  outlines, air recognition stripes are standard for IDF vehicles from that conflict.  Some vehicles still carried these markings in the 1973 Yom Kippur war.

 COMMISSIONS

Yes, I will build commissioned scale models for select clients.  I can be reached by email: seahors1@gate.net