1:35 ICM WWII US Army Kitchen Truck

[rverissimo]

ICM 1:35 WWII US Army Kitchen Truck

Ref: 35587

 

Introduction

ICM is a well-known player in our modelling world, and over the years has consistently delivered increasingly detailed and intricate models. In this case, we have a small model with a big history, recognized by almost the entire modelling community.

This review focus on another iconic military hardware from WW2 – the GMC CCKW (short bed and closed cab and with one rear axle) adapted to act as a field kitchen.

Some famous kitchen related items came to my mind when I write this review, as the famous Tamiya’s German field kitchen Gulaschkanone or even ICM German Field kitchen with cooks (Ref: 35618) already reviewed in this forum (link) or the Gulaschkanone, also from ICM  (review also available in this forum ) .

There’re also some options regarding the GMC CCKW, one’s come in mind the classic Italeri releases, but this new release from ICM, delivers a more detailed and cutting-edge moulds from this iconic WW2 Vehicle.

When investigating on this subject, I came across some interesting statistics about this service:

Meal Standards per Truck:

• A single mobile kitchen truck could prepare between 150 to 250 hot meals at a time, depending on the available resources and the complexity of the meals.
• On a typical day, each kitchen unit could prepare up to 500 to 700 meals, accounting for three daily meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

Kitchen Setup:

• Equipped with large stoves, boilers, and utensils for mass cooking, the trucks were designed to maximise output in a short amount of time.
• Mobile kitchens often relied on basic ingredients available in military rations, such as canned meat, dehydrated vegetables, and flour for bread or soups.

Efficiency in Field Operations:

• In major operations, such as D-Day (the Normandy invasion) or during the Italian Campaign, mobile kitchens played a vital role, feeding entire battalions (typically 500 to 1,000 soldiers per battalion) at regular intervals.
• To meet the needs of larger troop deployments, multiple mobile kitchens were used together, allowing them to serve up to 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers per feeding unit, depending on the scale of the operation.

Frequency and Logistics:

• During intense combat missions, mobile kitchens operated almost continuously to keep troops fed.
• Typically, the kitchen team included 4 to 6 specialised soldiers, who coordinated meal preparation based on received supplies and the unit’s position

What’s in the box:

The rather compact box allows you to identify and understand its contents, and you can consult the decoration options via the side of the box.

Inside the cardboard box we can find:

·         11 sprues

o   5 separate B1 parts – extended arches for canvas covers specified for this version

o   1 clear part sprue for windshield and door windows

Total of 290 parts for the Truck model and 266 parts for the kitchen hardware.

•          A decal sheet
•          An instruction booklet
•          Colour catalogue from ICM

 

Sprue A1

This set includes three plastic sprues to assemble and equip the truck's cargo bed (typically, three ovens were mounted to prepare meals). The kit provides three M-1937 ovens along with their accessories: pots and pans, knives, serving ladles, jerrycans, and three kitchen counters.
Since only one counter was used, the other two are redundant and can be repurposed for other modelling projects.

Noteworthy details include the serving ladle, which is made up of two separate pieces, and the chef's knife, which features rivet imprints used to attach the handle to the knife’s structure. The pot handles are reasonably detailed, despite being moulded in place, and the lid clamps are supplied as separate parts.

The M-1937 ovens are essentially a kit on their own, allowing the assembly of the heating system (fuelled by liquid fuel), which, although not visible in the finished model, is included. The oven also allows for the door to be displayed either open or closed.

 

Sprue A

The various panels that make up the driver’s cabin / engine block are included (which can be displayed visibly, although the instructions do not suggest this; note that opening the hood requires some modification of the hinges). When consulting photos of restored or vintage vehicles, there are two bars in the engine compartment that fasten to the firewall of the cabin and the radiator housing, which are not present in the model. The parts feature fine and scale-appropriate detail, with some injection pins located in less visible areas, and only on the larger parts.

Sprue B
This sprue provides parts for assembling the GMC chassis, suspension components, and the short cargo bed.

Transmission and exhaust components are also included.

Sprues B1
These sprues (5x) provide the raised arches for the cargo bed, typical of the represented version.

 

Sprue C
This sprue (two included) focuses on the parts that make up the wheels (moulded in halves). Due to the tyre pattern, assembly and gluing will not pose difficulties, as the removal of the glue mark can be done without damaging or erasing the tyre pattern (a common issue in aircraft models). It is also worth noting the presence of the door handles on the cabin, which are to scale and finely detailed.

 

Sprue D
A small sprue containing various mechanical components, from engine parts (complete) to transmission, steering, and structural pieces. The detail on the moulded parts is exquisite on all parts representation (screws, seals, structural reinforcements).

 

Sprue E
This transparent plastic sprue provides 4 pieces to simulate the front windscreen, rear window, door windows, and the lenses of the front headlights. The thickness is appropriate for the scale, with visible transparency.

Sprue F
This sprue contains the highest number of unused parts (the tarpaulins to replicate the covered cargo bed). The model was designed and intended to depict the open cargo bed (although the real trucks had tarpaulins to cover the cargo area). This version had taller support arches for the tarpaulin, allowing the kitchen crew to work with the tarpaulin in place.

Decals
The decal sheet, small but well printed with appropriate detail, provides the American identification stars and the serial and tactical numbers. Decals for a US Navy vehicle are also included, though the painting instructions mention this option.
The instrument panel gauges are provided as decals, as well as the reflectors on the sides of the cargo bed and the rear of the vehicle.

Instructions

Maintaining the level of quality we’ve come to expect, the instructions are consistent with the rest of the model:
Satin paper with coloured painting and decoration profiles.
With 32 pages, the construction process is divided into 179 steps (!) The number of steps reflects the relative complexity of the build, due to the detailed components included in the model, which cover complete mechanical parts (engine, transmission, suspension, cabin, cargo bed), as well as the components for its intended purpose (cooking accessories).

For example, each oven is detailed to the extent that every part required for assembly is included, such as the heating module mounted at the base of the oven (not visible in the final build, but present).
The colour guide (arranged in a properly identified table, showing the corresponding colour) provides equivalencies only for the ICM range of paints (however, equivalencies can be easily found).

 

Conclusion:

It’s a original and appealing subject this set.

The Truck is complete into the last bolt of the chassis. It gives the satisfaction of knowing that, any small detail is present (even not showing it) !

But we know, that the detail is there 😊
the kitchen hardware is another set on his own, again with the same level of detail and complexity of the truck.

The modeller will have a great and fun time assembling all this sets, and some care and organization will be needed to prepare and paint the model, to obtain a very nice and detail set, as standalone or in a diorama.

A very recommended model with the plus for a very original subject !

Thanks for ICM for the review sample!

Ricardo Veríssimo