Here’s another unusual subject from our friends at Plus Model. This kit features an M1941 U.S. tent stove and various accessories. The box contains 11 grey resin parts, a small length of fine wire, and a fret of photo etched brass with 3 parts. There is also a simple instruction sheet. I found no pinholes or imperfections on any of the parts.

The M1941 Tent Stove was a light, portable unit that could be fueled with wood or coal, and an accessory kit could be added allowing it to use liquid fuel such as kerosene or diesel. It was used in large tents and bunkers and was very popular with the troops. Even today, these stoves are offered on web sites and at surplus stores to outdoorsmen who use them in cabins.

First order of business is to remove the parts from the resin plugs, then a few swipes from a sanding stick cleans them up. The pieces include the stove unit, four lengths of stove pipe, an axe and chopping block, two 5 gallon fuel cans, a float valve that attaches to the lower part of the stove, and a wooden chest that could be used as a carrying case for the stove and its accessories. The wire serves as a fuel line from one of the gas cans to the float valve. The brass parts are the door to the stove, the latch for the door, and handle for the lid.

The kit can be built in either solid or liquid fuel mode; however, for solid fuels, a spark arrestor should be fixed on the stovepipe, and none is included. The wire was brittle in my sample, and I replaced it with some wire from the spares box. Note that the photo on the box is incorrect and shows the wire connected to the right side of the valve; the instruction sheet show it correctly connected to the left side. The float valve controlled the flow of fuel and also had the on/off switch. The right side was for a vent hose. The ash door would be open when using the liquid fuel unit, but there is no detail inside the stove – the liquid fuel unit would be seen in the stove’s body.

Assembly is simple. I glued 3 of the stovepipes to the stove, the tiny handle to the lid, and the latch to the door using CA glue. Then, I gave the parts a shot of primer. The stove would be a semi-gloss black when new, and gradually turn brownish gray from extended use. The stovepipes are semi-gloss dark gray, and the float valve is unpainted steel. I painted the steel burner inside the stove bare metal also. The fuel cans and box would be olive drab. Since everything is dark, they don’t photograph well, but really build up nicely.

A useful little item that could find its way into many dioramas. Thanks to Plus Model and IPMS/USA for my review sample.