The word 'Humvee' is on the way to become a generic name, rather like its predecessor, the WW2 Jeep. Both words are adapted from abbreviations - GP (General Purpose) for the Jeep, and much less catchy HMMWV (High Mobility Wheeled Vehicle) for the Humvee. The civilian version sold by AM General is called Hummer, perhaps a little easier to pronounce! The Humvee entered service with the US Army in 1985, and has seen extensive use in action around the globe since then, including both Gulf Wars and the Balkans - true tests of the vehicle's abilities. Many versions have been manufactured, from basic troop/cargo carriers to specialist adaptations such as the anti-tank M966 TOW launcher and Avenger antiaircraft system. Tamiya have offered a Humvee in the Military Miniatures Series, the M242 with Bushmaster cannon, but this was basically the Italeri kit with modifications, and was showing its age a little. Now we have a completely new kit of the Humvee, and a different version in the form of the M1025 armament carrier. The model is broken down into the main structural components rather like the real thing, with individual ladder chassis, suspension, body tub, hood and roof. No engine is included, so in the style of Tamiya's 1:24 cars we have sump and gearbox detail visible from below, plus a radiator that can be seen from above, but nothing in between. This undoubtedly keeps the kit price down, but it would have been nice to have a powerplant in the style of the Jeep and GMC truck. I am sure that aftermarket producers will follow up with a resin engine fairly soon.
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