Let's Chat: Forces of Valor U.S. Willys Jeep

Having had to run errands this morning I'm a bit behind the power curve. As a follow-up to the Forces of Valor / Unimax Jeep Willys the past few days we have this nifty image of a Jeep climbing a small hill somewhere in Normandy. I never liked that FOV called this a 'Jeep Willys" - it's so bloody awkward sounding. For this post I call it the way we would say it: Willys Jeep!

Ed

Forces of Valor (FOV) / Unimax #82003 1/32 Scale Diecast U.S. Jeep Willys - Normandy 1944 (2003) - Pt 3 (Final) Jeep

The Jeep from FOV is probably the very best 1/32 scale ready-made Willys Jeep made. Loaded with details, it is also the only one I know of with the cable catcher at the front. Those were installed after GI's ran into an insidious trap: the Germans were stringing wire or cable across the roads which could decapitate Jeep drivers!!! That bar installed on the front bumper was made to either cut or deflect the wire so that it wouldn't harm the driver. This is also the first diecast Jeep I'm aware of with a proper antenna sticking up at the back end. While the machine gun mount is a great touch, I believe FOV made a mistake by having the lighter 30mm MG mounted to it vs. the heavier 50mm also included with the Jeep (but on a tripod). Now, both may be technically correct, the 50mm would actually look cooler! 

If I have any gripes about this offering, it's that the cable catcher probably won't last that long. It's long and thin and fragile and easily broken - which had already happened to me! Several photos here were taken with the repaired bar.

Ed

Forces of Valor (FOV) / Unimax #82003 1/32 Scale Diecast U.S. Jeep Willys - Normandy 1944 (2003) - Pt 2 Driver

I spent months documenting Forces of Valor / Unimax figure sets and it's worth noting that FOV made different poses for their vehicles than what was offered in the figure sets. By my estimation, they made 16 different U.S. Infantry sculpts for their sets. This driver puts the count at 17. As each vehicle had its own figure(s) and as I don't have every vehicle FOV made I may not end up with an exact count. But there's no harm in trying.

Ed 

Forces of Valor (FOV) / Unimax #82003 1/32 Scale Diecast U.S. Jeep Willys - Normandy 1944 (2003) - Pt 1 Box and Contents

Ya know, I've gotten a lot of stuff ready for the blog so why is it I don't feel like I did? What's goin' on anyway?? Must be the full moon acting up on me. 😆

Here's another one of my Cave finds - a toy that has been sitting out there in The Cave for years before I finally got off me bloody arse and did something. As a fatter-of-mact, I just put the finishing touches on all the photos and scans like, an hour ago.

Ed

Box

-Driver

-Large ruined wall (straight)

-30cal MG on Jeep mount

-50cal MG on tripod

-Antenna

-Field radio

-Spare tire

-4 ammo cans

-2 mines

-2 small tarps

-two large 'X' Jerry cans

-one small 'Square X' Jerry can

Insert

Large Ruined Wall (Straight)

I must have enough of these ruined walls to encircle a 1/32 scale city block!

'Smalls'

I followed the box photos as well as the photo on the insert when taking my snaps but I believe the guys at Unimax may have gotten things a bit mixed up. The heavier 50cal MG should be on the Jeep mount, while the lighter 30cal MG would be on the tripod. Battlefield mods??

Culled from the Internet

50cal MG on tripod

30cal MG on Jeep mount

Ammo cans

Field Radio

Unusual Jerry Cans

The Jerry can to the right is the normal sized can I've gotten in every other set of FOV figures or vehicles. The one on the left is larger and fits exactly into the bracket on the rear of the Jeep

Mines (x2)

Spare Tire

Small Tarps