The Toyoda G1 (Toyota G1) was the first truck built by the company that became Toyota. It was 6 m (20 ft) long, could carry 1.5 tons, and was loosely based on similar class Ford and GM trucks. The G1 was succeeded by a line of similar Toyota trucks as technology progressed. The entire series was replaced by the BM truck in 1947.

A later variant of the G1 was the KC, which was an update to the KB in response to official government specifications for a wartime truck. Nicknamed the "Toyota To-Ki", the KC used about thirty percent less steel, which was in short supply in Japan during the war, than preceding trucks. Former Toyota trucks had a torque tube driveshaft mount, but this required steel components that were difficult to obtain under wartime conditions, so the KC switched to a Hotchkiss drive. The engine cover was still metal but other body panels were made from plywood. The body design was extremely boxy, with only simple curves used on the engine cover and a flat radiator with no grill. As the war dragged on and material shortages grew worse, more of the body was built from wood, the headlamps were reduced to one, and only rear brakes were used. However, once the war ended in August 1945, Toyota continued production of the KC without these former material restrictions.

One special use for the KC truck was to start aircraft engines on Japanese military airfields. A power take-off was taken from after the gearbox. It rose behind the cabin and then projected forward. This was mated to the spinner on an aircraft's propeller to start the aircraft engine. Because this version of the KC wasn't used for heavy cargo, its cargo bed was narrow and the rear wheels were singles instead of the normal doubles. Also, the cabin was very basic, having plywood sides, no doors and a canvas roof. The starter truck was unique in having running boards, due to its narrow cargo bed.

THE KIT

It is pretty obvious looking at the kit that it is not the variant stated, but the later KC version. The kit is part of a rather extensive series of 1/72 military vehicles that Hasegawa produced in the early 1970s. Unlike some other Japanese model makers, Hasegawa did not go with 1/76, which was a good move as 1/76 proved to be a bit of a dead end.

Molded in tan the kit is actually well detailed. The kit starts with a floor pan that includes the fenders. To this is attached the chassis and suspension bits. Flipping it over, the interior pieces and the parts for the hood are attached. Then comes the side panels for the bed and the canvas roof, which also includes the back of the cab.

One then moves to the front to add the grille, screens and headlights. Then we get to installing the starter equipment. Oddly, the last items to be installed is the windscreen, which according to the instructions, fits from the front. Also included with the kit are a pair of bombs, a bomb trolley and three figures; two standing and a driver.

Instructions are well done and provide basic color information. There is a small decal sheet (not shown) that provides serials and such.  

CONCLUSIONS

In all, this looks like a kit that could be built over a fairly short period of time. Though the frame and running gear are black, the rest is a khaki shade so one could pretty well build most of the kit in two parts and join them at the end of the build.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_G1#GB

October 2024

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