ICM 1:35 Monty's Office Caravan

[Fran]

1:35

Monty's Office Caravan

 

 

 

 

ICM

 

Catalogue number 35603

Price: around 63,70€

 

 

ICM keeps launching new kits every month, or new variants of their pre-existing kits but this one is a very special ones, and demands a lot of extra work from ICM.

The kit is a new tool for 2025, featuring freshly designed parts to replicate the Leyland Retriever chassis and the unique caravan structure. It includes a highly detailed interior, assembly options for an extended canopy and additional steps, and multiple color schemes reflecting the vehicle’s paint variations throughout the war.

So, I consider this release an almost a brand new one, and not a true rebox.

The mythical and unique Monty`s caravan!

The caravan was originally an Italian mobile office captured from General Annibale Bergonzoli, mounted on a Lancia 3RO truck. After capture by the 7th British Armoured Division, it was transferred to a British Leyland Retriever 6x4 chassis. The vehicle served as Montgomery’s mobile field office, featuring a detailed interior with a bathroom and a main room equipped with a desk, sofa, wardrobes, and picture frames. The other two vehicles in the “Monty’s Caravan” trio included a mobile bedroom and a map/meeting room, though this kit focuses solely on the office caravan.

 

So, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery had, during the war, three field caravans (Bed caravan, Office caravan and Map caravan), and ICM made the second one, the Office Caravan. Will we have all three caravan made by ICM?

 So, as it said in the box, a full interior is given, unlike the other releases.

The package is the usual from ICM, with flip top cardboard with a separate card lid showing the artwork, a lovely artworks as usual.

I don’t know who makes the ICM box arts but I do like them.

Not my favorite but I do like them.

 

So this model has 436 parts, so it is not a weekend project

This box is full with plastic. So full, that after taking the pictures for this review I have had a hard time to put all the plastic inside the box

 

This model is based on the British Leyland Retriever truck chassis, modified to serve as a mobile office for Montgomery.

I will leave the office for the end.

 

As for the Leyland Retriever, you can have a full chassis detail straight from the box.

 

 

 

Also the engine is well detailed, out of the box. If you desire to show it up, a few wires could add a more realistic aspect.

There`s a lot of parts in chassis, suspension and engine.

So please do check all the alignment to see if the truck sits properly or will might have a surprise at the end and it can be too late. To see the complexity of all this structure (chassis, wheels and engine) the constructions goes in the instruction until step 51 (in 181).

 

The truck cabin is next and is very detailed from the box.

 

 

 

The parts comes with pin alignment making the construction more straightforward that you can imagine. The markings pins are hidden in strategy places that you can see… so kudos to ICM for thinking about it.

 

The wheels are in black vinyl. It`s not the first I said this, but I don’t like vinyl Wheels. The details in not as good as some aftermarkets ones and  painting and weathering are much harder to do, but it`s me.

 

 

 

Now, the new part: the full office.

 The office walls come in separate panels, so that is a clever way for ICM to have no worries about pin injections marks in full side caravan walls.

 

 

 

The interior is meticulously recreated, featuring a writing desk with lamps, a sofa, shelves, storage cabinets, and picture frames. The bathroom area is also faithfully represented, adding to the authenticity of the build.

The interior will be very busy. ICM also give a carpet. It’s a paper printer rectangular. You can easy find better option in the aftermarkets boys but still it’s a great add up from ICM

 

 

 

 

 Decals are included for the interior are also given, depicting portraits of German military commanders that adorned the walls of Montgomery's actual mobile office.

Based on available information, the kit's decal sheet specifically features portraits of three German generals: Erwin Rommel, Heinz Guderian, and Ewald von Kleist.

 

Those were the German General that Montgomery won in battle being the most famous one Erwin Rommel, that Montgomery won in the second battle for Al Alamein in October 1942.

 

External features are also good, note here the ropes for tarpauline walls. Separate doors should come handy for showing what is inside.

 As all the ICM kits, that constructions parts have guiding elements for the proper alignment of the things.

Roof is a single part so no worries about gapping or filling. The roof panel looks great and deserves a nice weathering work.

 

PE sheet!! Yes, it`s the first time I review an ICM model kit that has some PE inside. Yes, its`a quite small one still give us a front grille and two badges (naming: “Leyland” and “Retriever”).

 

 

The clear parts.

 

As usual with ICM, these are real clear with not distortion.

 

 

 

The decals sheets has a very good definition and color registration. Beside the portraits, it give several markings options for all three schemes given.

 

So you can make three version:

-      Monty`s Office Caravan, North Africa, Autumn, 1942;

 

-      Monty`s Office Caravan, Tripoli, Summer 1943;

 

 

-      Monty`s Office Caravan, Germany, Spring, 1945

 

 

The instructions booklet with 36 pages, is typical ICM instructions, very clear.

 

 

 

Only ICM colour chart, but these paints are coming more available and I already try with a brush and airbrush and I was surprised with the pigmentation.

 

Conclusion:

Well, another great model kit from ICM!!

The ICM Monty’s Office Caravan (35603) is a superbly detailed 1:35 scale kit that brings a unique WWII vehicle to life.

For those ready to invest time and skill, this kit delivers a satisfying build and a striking centerpiece for any collection. To 8/10 for quality and detail, with minor deductions for complexity and cost.

It`s a superb kit! Probably the best kit in 1:35 that I saw from ICM.

Highly recommend 

It`s 9,8 out of 10.

 

My sincere thanks to ICM for making this fantastic model kit.