Tamiya 35043 - 1/35 Ford GPA Jeep  [35043]

The Ford GPA 'Seep' (from Seagoing Jeep), ended up being an amphibious form of the WWII Ford GPW Jeep. Unlike the jeep, the seep was not an effective design being too slow and hefty on land and lacking enough seagoing abilities in open water. Comparable design features happen situated in the more high priced and more effective DUKW amphibious vehicle.

History and development

After having commissioned Willys, Ford and Bantam create the very first 4,500 jeeps (1500 each) in March 1941, america engine Transport Board put up a job within the method through the nationwide Defense analysis Committee (NDRC) become designated "QMC-4 1/4 Ton Truck Light Amphibian".
The War wound up being on at complete tilt, sufficient reason behind bridges over countries in europe's rivers being sent applications for one after another, it seemed practical if the jeep could swim and drive. So that it stumbled on Roderick Stephens Jr. of Sparkman & Stephens Inc. yacht developers, to generate a shape for a 2700 lb (1,200 kg) amphibious jeep, in the same vein as their design the DUKW six-wheel-drive amphibious automobile. Along with Stephens' hull design appeared as if a miniature sort of that linked to DUKW, and just are interested, the 'Seep' would definitely have a screw propellor, driven by an electric powered take-off, running in a separate tunnel faired inside buttocks bodywork, as well as an appropriate rudder.
The construction about the car originated in competition by Marmon-Herrington and Ford engine Business. Marmon-Herrington specialised in all-wheel drive cars. The Marmon-Herrington prototype's hull formed an integrated unibody framework, created by cutting kinds away from steel dinner and welding those together, a huge quantity for example the hull or framework of an armoured automobile. The Ford entry nonetheless used a sturdy framework and interior framework, to which literally regular automobile kind sheet-steel finished up being welded. This construction made the GPA some 400 lb (180 kg) lighter than its competitor. And also the GPA's design had been indeed good Willys MB and Ford GPW standard Jeeps whenever possible. When coming up with and building the GPA, Ford used lots of the same elements your Ford GPW did. The GPA had an internal similar to set alongside the MB/GPW jeeps, although the driver's compartment had almost doubly numerous control levers: 2WD/4WD, hi-range/lo-range, capstan winch (in bows), propeller execution and rudder control. After a primary contrast with this two company's prototypes, Ford received a contract for manufacturing starting in 1942.