Soft-Skins and Support Vehicles in Detail

Jeeps and light utility vehicles

• 1944 Willys Jeep: 66 photos of a jeep restored to factory condition, photographed in New Zealand. It covers the interior, the dashboard, the jerrycan holder, the suspension, the wheels, the frame and the parts underneath.
• 1940 Kübelwagen: 35 photos of the Volkswagen Typ 82, the German equivalent built on the Beetle chassis.
• Land Rover Gun Buggy: 65 photos of a 1960s anti-tank conversion of the Land Rover.

Staff cars and motorcycles

Small vehicles make good one-evening builds, and they add life to a larger scene:

• 1938 Opel Super 6 Wehrmacht Staff Car: 36 photos of a 2-door cabriolet. The Wehrmacht requisitioned many of these civilian cars. Their glossy paint and chrome were often covered with matte colors, and they were fitted with blackout headlights.
• 1941 BMW R75 with Trailer: 42 photos of the sidecar combination with its driven sidecar wheel, plus a single-axle trailer.
• Zündapp KS 750: 54 photos of the other famous German WWII sidecar motorcycle. Put it next to the R75 pack to compare the two designs.

Engineer and support vehicles

• D7 E Bulldozer: 57 photos of a 40-tonne bulldozer used for military construction by the US Army in the Vietnam War, photographed in Ho Chi Minh City.
• M577 Command Post Carrier: 53 photos of the mobile command vehicle designed by the US Army in the 1960s. The contributor used a selfie stick to reach the roof.
• Australian LP2 Carrier: 63 photos of a light armored tracked carrier with an open driver's position, used from WWII onward.

Soft-skin detail that kits miss

Soft-skin kits are often simplified. Canvas tops become solid plastic, and the chassis becomes one flat part. Real vehicles show:

• How a canvas hood folds and sags when stowed
• Exposed springs, shock absorbers and brake lines under the body
• Wear on seats, steps and floor plates where boots rub the paint away
• Tool clamps, jerrycan racks and tie-down points

These are the details that make a small model look right. Remember that restored vehicles like the Willys Jeep are often cleaner than they were in service, so add the dirt yourself.

Frequently asked questions

What counts as a soft-skin vehicle?

A military vehicle without armor, or with very light armor: cars, jeeps, trucks, motorcycles and many support vehicles. Modelers use the term to separate them from tanks and armored carriers.

Which packs fit a German WWII scene?

The Kübelwagen, the Opel staff car and the BMW R75 and Zündapp motorcycles. For a heavier German column, add the Sd.Kfz. 7 half-track and the Flak 88 from the German WW2 armor page.

Where are the American WWII trucks and ambulances?

The Dodge WC-54 ambulance, the M3A1 half-track and other US vehicles are on the US WW2 vehicles page. Modern US Army trucks and Humvees are on the modern military vehicles page.

What resolution are these photos?

Most were shot at 6000 × 4000 or 6240 × 4160. Each product page lists the resolution, the camera and the file size.