Forces of Valor (FOV) / Unimax #81003 M16 U.S. Multiple Gun Motor Carriage Normandy 1944 (2003)

OMG, where do I start? The last time I blogged any of my FOV sets was back in 2018 and it's taken me this long to start up again. A couple of months ago I started photographing my loose and boxed 1/32 scale WWII armor and vehicle collection. This was a continuation of an effort started back in November 2024 when I began posting a butt-load of 1/32 scale WWII figures from a variety of companies. While there were also a few vehicles by Britains Deetail and a couple of cannons from 21st Century, there was no concerted effort on my part to photograph the remaining armor and vehicles. 

This time though I began to photograph tanks and half-tracks and armored personnel carriers and such. Much of my collection is still in unopened boxes from when I was hot-&-heavy into these back in the early 2000s. A few, like this M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage, had been removed from its box and the parts scattered throughout The Cave. This was done years before the blog was started and I had no idea at the time that all those bits-&-pieces would be needed again one day and that's when the real adventure begins! Going through drawers, searching out unlabeled plastic bins, and trying to recoup all the pieces turned out to be a nightmare. HOWEVER (comma) I found all but one piece (a spare ammo cannister), and was able to put together a reasonable photo essay and parts break down for fellow collectors.

The vehicle measures 8" (20.32cm) L x 2.5" (6.35cm) W x 3.25" (8.25cm) H overall. Forces of Valor was known for including a many additional detail parts in its tank and vehicle offerings. 

Here's the list of contents as I was able to surmise:

-M16 U.S. Multiple Gun Motor Carriage

-8 ammo cans: four installed on MG's, 4 loose (I'm missing one)

-2 Jerry cans (gas cans)

-2 rolled tarps: 1 large and one small, meant to hang off side of truck

-1 GP bag/satchel

-1 large straight sandbag pile

- 1 small curved sandbag pile (multiple piles can be used to form a circle)

-1 Shovel to install on side of truck

-1 Pick-axe to be installed on side of truck

- 1 Axe to be installed on side of truck

-1 Figure (driver)

Features

-Gun turret swivels

-Guns raise and lower,

-Doors open

- Front wheels turn left and right

I had to carefully place the M16 inside the box to provide the below photograph

Normally I would also take photos of the inside of the boxes showing how all the pieces are packaged as received from the factory. However, as they had all been removed many years prior I opted to forego that.

At $19.99 this was an awesome bargain!

This is a small (a bit smaller than a bubble gum baseball card) info card. FOV included similar cards in, I believe, all of their offerings.

At the lower right there should be four ammo cans but I'm missing one (it's probably still in The Cave somewhere!

While doors open, this vehicle is modeled with the upper hinged half already down and folded against the bottom portion of the door. The front protective armor by the windshield is molded in place and does not open.

The wheels turn left and right

Dashboard detail