Bob Semple Tank
New Zealand 1941

1941 found New Zealand in a bind. They had no tanks, and Britain couldn’t supply any as they were fully engaged in North Africa. With Japan’s military rampaging through the Pacific, New Zealand was on its own. Bob Semple, the Minister of Works, came up with a solution. Public Works had 91 Caterpillar D8 tractors and welding shops. A tank body that could be bolted on top of the D8’s was quickly sketched out and built in the shop. It was far from ideal, but no one had a better idea. In the end only three were built and fortunately never needed.

This is another of Vargas Scale Models excellent 3D printed kits of an obscure subject. Each of the new Vargas kits is better than the last. This one is excellent - very cleanly printed and nicely detailed.