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

The Ford GPA 'Seep' (from Seagoing Jeep), had been an amphibious version of the WWII Ford GPW Jeep. Unlike the jeep, the seep wasn't a successful design being too slow and hefty on land and lacking sufficient seagoing abilities in available water. Similar design features had been found in the bigger and more effective DUKW amphibious vehicle.

History and development

After having commissioned Willys, Ford and Bantam to build initial 4,500 jeeps (1500 each) in March 1941, the US engine Transport Board setup a project beneath the way of the nationwide Defense Research Committee (NDRC) become designated "QMC-4 1/4 Ton Truck Light Amphibian".
The War ended up being on at full tilt, along with bridges over European countries's streams being taken out one after another, it seemed practical in the event that jeep could swim in addition to drive. So it found Roderick Stephens Jr. of Sparkman & Stephens Inc. yacht developers, to develop a shape for a 2700 lb (1,200 kg) amphibious jeep, in identical vein as their design for the DUKW six-wheel-drive amphibious vehicle. And in addition Stephens' hull design appeared as if a miniature version of that of DUKW, and just enjoy it, the 'Seep' was going to have a screw propellor, driven by an electrical take-off, running in a separate tunnel faired into the tail bodywork, and a suitable rudder.
The construction of the car was developed in competition by Marmon-Herrington and Ford Engine Company. Marmon-Herrington specialised in all-wheel drive automobiles. The Marmon-Herrington prototype's hull created an integral unibody structure, created by cutting forms away from metal dish and welding those together, much such as the hull or framework of an armoured automobile. The Ford entry nevertheless used a sturdy chassis and interior framework, that more or less regular vehicle type sheet-steel ended up being welded. This construction made the GPA some 400 lb (180 kg) lighter than its competitor. Also The GPA's design ended up being in line with the Willys MB and Ford GPW standard Jeeps whenever you can. When designing and building the GPA, Ford used lots of the same parts your Ford GPW did. The GPA had an inside like that the MB/GPW jeeps, even though the driver's compartment had almost doubly numerous control levers: 2WD/4WD, hi-range/lo-range, capstan winch (regarding the bows), propeller implementation and rudder control. After a direct comparison regarding the two company's prototypes, Ford received a contract for production starting in 1942.