A new tooled kit from Tamiya. It is the British 2-Ton 4X2 Ambulance (Austin K2/Y). A very nice detailed kit, simple to build, and will make a wonderful addition to any 1/48th scale WWII military collection or diorama.

In the Box

This kit has two (2) olive drab colored sprues labeled A & B with 57 parts. Plus, a clear sprue with 4 parts. A driver figure is included within one of the olive drab sprues. The molded detail is exceptional for this scale.

Instructions are 13 steps and printed on a foldout sheet with typical good illustrations from Tamiya.

This is considered a “curbside” build since there is no motor or any interior detail inside the cab. Doors for the cab are molded shut.

Construction

When reading the instructions, especially for the colors, everything is to be painted Olive Green, XF-58, unless otherwise noted.

The chassis is the first item to be assembled and can be completed independently from the cab. This includes the frame, fuel tanks, exhaust pipe, leaf springs, steering track rod and tires. Very simple and easy to paint.

Next, everything above the chassis can be assembled. The instructions are logical and straight forward with great illustrations for each step. I do recommend adding the cab decals during this stage versus waiting for the final assembly.

Decals are not the usual “thick” known from Tamiya, but relatively average for kit decals. Thus, applying decals with Tamiya Mark Fit Strong had a good result. Everything settled down nicely onto the surface but I did have to use Solvaset for the back doors due to the complexity of the surface with the door handle and edge trim.

Once both the assemblies are completed, it is glued together, and finished.

I was amazed at how easy this build was. I spent about 14 hours on this kit. The precision and fit of the parts were spot on and almost “clicked” together. In one picture placed the ambulance next to a 1/48th scale Spitfire to show the size relative to a WWII airplane.

Conclusions

What a wonderful kit! This WWII ambulance was easy to build, logical in assembly and a pure joy to complete. Another high-quality kit from Tamiya. Plus, the cost of this kit makes it a wonderful value for the quality you purchase.

I want to thank Tamiya for providing this kit and IPMS/USA for allowing me the opportunity to review.

Highly Recommend to EVERYONE!