In-box Review of TAKOM's M-29 Weasel

     Standing in his M29 Weasel, Major Herschel E. Linn strains to look over the bow of the LCT (Landing Craft Tank) as they approach Utah Beach.  Commanding both the 237th Combat Engineer Battalion (CEB), and the composite Beach Obstacle Clearing Force known as Task Force U, Major Linn’s mission is to clear the “Uncle Red” and “Tare Green” sectors of Utah beach within 5 minutes of the initial infantry landings.  Major Linn’s command includes two companies of his own battalion along with elements from the 299th CEB, the 612th Light Equipment Company, dozer tanks from the C Company, 70th Tank Battalion, and twelve Naval Combat Demolition Units.    

     The LCT lowers its large ramp, allowing the waters of the English Channel to flood the interior, disgorging vehicles of the fourth assault wave towards the shore.  Following days of nasty weather, the water’s condition this morning is rougher than experienced during the training off England’s coastline forcing the LCTs to offload vehicles further offshore than expected.  The rough sea conditions cause Major Linn’s M-29 Weasel to pitch and sway violently.  Major Linn glances to his right trying to catch a glimpse of his Executive Officer Captain R. P. Tabb, to see if he is faring any better in his Weasel.  Both Weasels are rising and falling with the waves as they struggle in the relentless pounding of the Channel sea.   As the Weasels approach shore, the frequency and magnitude of the waves increase, pouring water over the Weasel’s walls.  As the water level rises, the Weasel becomes less responsive and begins to flounder until  it finally loses buoyancy and succumbs, sinking into the English Channel a few dozen yards from shore.  Major Linn and his driver abandon the Weasel, shedding their personal gear to avoid drowning, while struggling to move towards the shore.   

     Exhausted, soaking wet, and coughing from seawater ingested in their survival swim, Major Linn, and his driver both seek temporary shelter against the beach obstacles.  Ashore and alive, but lacking any personal equipment and radios needed to communicate with his units and superiors, Major Linn struggles to get his bearings and to continue the mission. Through his perseverance and that of his men:   an hour later, Utah beach was cleared of obstacles.   

This dramatized narrative is historically factual.  Major Linn and Captain Tabb both lost their M29’s on the approach to the beach but would soon find replacement Weasel’s that would carry them from the landings at Normandy, across France, into the Hurtgen Forest, the Ardennes and into Germany through the war’s end.     

About the Vehicle.  The M29 Weasel was designed and produced by the Studebaker Company in South Bend, Indiana from 1942 through 1945.  It was initially conceived by British inventor Geoffrey Pyke to support proposed Allied attacks on Axis forces and industrial installations in Norway.  A combination of low vehicle weight and comparatively wide track pads gave the Weasel low ground pressure providing superior cross country movement in snow, sand, and muddy conditions.  This allowed the Weasel to travel in terrain and weather conditions that most other vehicles couldn’t.  Some sources claim that Weasels were able to safely cross live minefields due to its low ground pressure.  This characteristic made the Weasel a favored vehicle during it’s service in Italy, Northwest Europe and throughout the Pacific islands.   

The M29 Weasel is small for a fully tracked vehicle, measuring only 10 feet 6 inches long, 4 feet 3 inches wide, and 5 feet tall, weighing only 1.8 tons.  The combination size and light weight makes the Weasel highly transportable, while retaining sturdy and reliable performance. Powered by a Model 6-170 Champion, a 6-cylinder 169.6 cu in (2,779 cc) cubic inch 4-stroke engine running on 72 octane gasoline delivering 70 bhp at 3,600 rpm the M29 Wesel could travel at 36 mph on improved road surfaces.  It’s 35 gallon fuel tank could range 165 mi (266 km).   The M29 Weasel is operated by a single driver and can carry 3 additional passengers.    

Comparing the M29 to similar contemporary vehicles finds the Weasel as a middling vehicle in size, weight, capacity, and production next to the British Universal (AKA Bren) Gun Carrier and the German Kettenkraftrad.    

Like its contemporary vehicles, the Weasel was adopted for numerous roles beyond basic transport.  The Weasel commonly served as a command and control vehicle, medical evacuation vehicle, communication wire dispenser (with a large wire spool attached to the rear), and messenger / courier.  How it was used was limited only to the imagination of the GI’s in the field.   

The standard M29 Weasel began production in 1943 with 523 produced, followed by another 2,951 produced in 1944.  Later in 1944, an improved version of the Weasel (the M29C) was developed with taller side boards, and additional floatation sections added to the front and rear to improve its amphibious performance.  4,201 M29C’s were produced in 1944 and another 6,446 produced in 1945.  Sources vary on the exact number produced for the M29 and the improved M29C.   

I would wager that Major Linn and his executive officer would have preferred to have gone ashore with the M29C (and its increased buoyancy) on June 6th, 1944.      

The TAKOM kit.  The kit comes in the familiar lift top box measuring only 2 x 8 x 12 inches; much smaller than most 1/35 scale model boxes.  

What’s in the Box. Lifting the lid on this box reveals 7 sets of injection molded sprues, one small fret of photo etched parts, a small sheet of water-slide decals, and the instructions booklet.  

All of the sprue trees and parts are exceptionally well molded with crisp, clean details without visible flash or injection mold marks.   

Sprue A  includes the running gear and tracks.  The tracks were molded in lengths for the bottom and top sections of the Weasel, with individual links only around the drive sprocket and return wheel.  This is fantastic for a quick and simple build but are also limiting if you intend to pose the Weasel over uneven terrain.  Future after market producers will probably release individual track link options for the more adventurous modelers.    

The kit tracks scale out at 20 inches wide which are the later (wider) tracks common to Weasels produced from late 1943 onward.  The detail on the track is fantastic.  The mold crisply depicts the rivets on the rubber band track, the nut and bolts on the track shoes, the guide horns and external grousers.       

Sprue C includes the upper hull walls and numerous fine details parts for the Weasel interior.  Of note is the detail within the driver’s station control panels with the gauges, knobs and switches crisply depicted and in scale.  Plus, TAKOM provided numerous waterslide decals add another level of realistic detail to the driver’s station.   

Sprue D includes the Weasel driver.  The body of the driver is well proportioned and depicts him wearing the M41 Combat Jacket and the 1943 Double Buckle Combat Shoe.  The pose and folds of the figure uniform is well done, as is the M1 Steel pot that has the liner strap wrapped over the front and the chin strap clasped on the back of the helmet.  Another fine detail is the drivers right hand is molded with the gear shift lever already in place.  Exceptional detail.    

Unfortunately, the driver’s head doesn’t have that same level of detail and appears rather soft and expressionless.  I may replace that head with an aftermarket upgrade.   

Sprue E includes many of the Weasel internal parts including the seats, frames, pioneer tools, grill guard and headlamps. Of note here is the detail on the seats with each seat back containing the canvas storage pouch for maps, technical manuals, and other items commonly stashed inside the vehicle.    Sprue E also includes a radio that appears to be an SCR-510 (a tactical FM voice radio found at Battalion and company levels vehicles including tanks, armored cars, jeeps and the M29).  The kit includes the radio  installation / vehicle mounting kit, connecting cable, component handles, and the mount for the M48 telescoping antenna.  TAKOM also included decals for the radio panel for information placards and the frequency dial.  A fantastic level of detail.   

Sprue F includes the clear parts for the windscreen and headlamps lenses.  The clear windscreen includes the metal frame around the glass, and a set of decals for the information placards placed in the lower left corner.