If I was opening a car museum, what would I put in it? That’s pretty much what I have in mind when deciding on collecting models. Every collector, consciously or not, has a theme in mind. Some are Muscle Car completists and will scour the world, pay huge amounts and sometimes perform DIY modifications to replicate that elusive Plum Crazy Charger. Others simply have to own every Porsche or Lamborghini.
Myself, I collect models both of things that I think are awesome, and cars that I think were important. It was this that caused me to buy this Willys Jeep from eBay, on near impulse.

How could I not add a Willys to the collection? I have a later Wrangler Rubicon stashed away somewhere, so it’s only fair that its progenitor should have a look in. Besides, it makes a good historical companion to the Land Rover I showed a few weeks back.

Actually, when we were discussing that model we spoke of absolute detail not necessarily being the be-all and end-all that defines the success of a model. Rightness is paramount, and rightness, I think these photos show amply, is one thing that this model very definitely has in its favour.

It was made by GATE probably fifteen or so years ago, and is in my favourite 1/18 scale. Being a Willys there is only one opening part; the bonnet, and it opens to reveal the legendary run-it-on-any-old-crap four-cylinder engine that saw early Jeeps ploughing on, uncomplainingly, when conditions were dire.

It carries its full suite of accessories, from a spade and axe for removal of osbtacles to a jerry can hanging on the back. In fact, I moan about detail but, really, when you’re talking about a Willys, what detail really is there? The essentials-only instrumentation is there and looks accurately marked, the folding windscreen is correctly included and the seats look like you could just hop in and clank bravely into the distance.

The biggest flaw to this model is the wheels, which are made of such a plastic that allows the transmission of light, so they can glow in sunlight in a somewhat surreal fashion and rather give the game away that all isn’t real. Plus I think there is only one grade of black plastic used in the whole model, and it’s everywhere.

There’s another version of this model out there, one in olive drab carrying military markings. But that’s like the default version. Every restored Willys out there is Mil-spec, so it’s nice to have something a little different. Overall I think this model deserves a spot in any collection, whether you’re a Jeep completist or you just love awesome stuff like I do.
(All images copyright Chris Haining / Hooniverse 2015)