Tamiya 35336 - 1:35 Ford GPA Amphibian 1/4 ton 4x4 Truck

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the U.S. Ford GPA amphibian 1/4-ton 4x4

Tamiya 35336 reproduces the Ford GPA – a U.S. four-wheel-drive amphibious vehicle, which the Ford company was commissioned to produce in April 1942. In addition to the proven GPW jeep engine, the vehicle received a brand-new boat-hull-shaped body, and in the water it was driven by a rear-mounted propeller.

The model faithfully captures the characteristic hull shape. The engine is reproduced from multiple parts and can be admired under the opening hood. The vehicle works perfectly as part of landing dioramas and waterside scenes.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with the boat-hull-shaped body
• GPW engine reproduced from multiple parts
• Opening hood revealing the engine bay
• Propeller at the rear of the vehicle
• Decal sheet
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35336
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: 135 mm, width: 50 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (reproduced engine, opening hood)

Note: This kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

Thanks to the excellent part fit typical of Tamiya, the model is approachable even for less experienced builders. The reproduced engine is best painted before the bay is closed up – thanks to the opening hood, the detail remains visible on the finished model.

For painting, the typical U.S. Olive Drab is recommended, matching the chosen marking option. Military vehicles are usually finished with a matt varnish, and the detail and recesses benefit from a wash and dry-brushing.

Tools you'll need:

• Modelling side cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for cleaning up sprue-gate marks
• Polystyrene cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Brushes of various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to emphasise detail and recesses
• Optionally: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle – Ford GPA:

The Ford GPA is a U.S. amphibious vehicle developed at the military's request in 1942. It used the proven GPW jeep engine, combined with a brand-new boat-hull-shaped body. In the water the vehicle was driven by a rear-mounted propeller, allowing it to cross water obstacles, although in practice its seaworthiness was sometimes limited.

The Ford GPA took part in, among other operations, the invasion of North Africa in November 1942 and the Normandy landings in June 1944. Production ended as early as June 1943, with around 12,800 examples built in total. The vehicle is often called the “Seep” (from “seagoing jeep”).

Original specifications (Ford GPA):

• Construction: boat-hull-shaped body
• Land drive: GPW petrol engine, four-wheel drive
• Water drive: rear-mounted propeller
• Payload: 1/4 ton
• Capability: amphibious
• Production: 1942–1943, approx. 12,800 examples
• Combat use: North Africa (1942), Normandy (1944)

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, regarded as the heart of the Japanese model industry. The company initially traded in timber, but from the late 1940s it produced wooden models, and in 1960 it launched its first plastic assembly kit. Two years later it introduced its iconic 1:35 scale tank, which set the worldwide standard scale for military modelling. The brand is renowned for exceptionally precise injection moulds and excellent part fit, which is why its kits are favoured by beginners and experienced modellers alike. The Military Miniature Series, to which this model belongs, comprises hundreds of items and is considered one of the most comprehensive 1:35 catalogues of military vehicles in the world. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling supplies: paints, glues, tools and brushes.