WW2 Belgian Armour in 15mm: various Artillery Tractors
/My final sets of 3D printed, 15mm Belgian WW2 models from bayonetsandbrushes.co.uk are some of the artillery tractors and the glorious trike troop-transporters!
First up, the Ford V8-97Y Marmon-Herrington Mle.1928 Light Artillery Tractor.
From their website:
The Ford V8-97Y Marmon-Herrington was an American-designed 4×4 artillery tractor, featuring a robust V8 petrol engine delivering approximately 85 horsepower. With a top speed near 65 km/h on roads and solid off-road capability thanks to its four-wheel drive and reinforced suspension, it was well suited for towing light artillery pieces and hauling supplies over Belgium’s mixed terrain. Its relatively compact size allowed it to manoeuvre easily in narrow lanes and rough country tracks.
Belgium acquired the Ford V8-97Y primarily to replace older, less capable artillery tractors. They were distributed to artillery regiments and mechanised units, valued for their speed and towing capacity. During the 1940 campaign, they performed admirably in moving guns and supplies, frequently operating under fire and over difficult terrain. Crews appreciated the tractor’s reliability, which rarely let them down despite the rigours of retreat.
Next up is the Vickers Carden-Lloyd Utility Tractor - Type B (Infantry).
This insanely small and top-heavy-looking tractor was a British-designed, licence-built tracked vehicle produced under contract in Belgium. Powered by a modest petrol engine, it was a simple, slow, but tough little tractor designed primarily for towing artillery pieces, supply trailers, and carrying infantry equipment across difficult terrain. It was lightly armoured, mostly against small arms and shrapnel, with a maximum speed of around 30 km/h.
If you want to see just how small this is, then watch the following episode of Does The Chieftain Fit Into...:
Finally we have the excellent Tricycle FN Tricar T3 Light Troop Transports, my favourite piece of 3D printing ever: the intricacy and detail captured is superb, even if the veicle itself is Heath Robinson in te extreme!
Again from the bayonetsandbrushes.co.uk website:
The FN Tricar T3 was a three-wheeled motorcycle truck built by Fabrique Nationale, designed for reconnaissance, liaison, and light transport duties. Powered by a modest single-cylinder engine producing around 7 horsepower, it was not built for speed—maxing out around 45 km/h—but its light weight and nimble three-wheel layout gave it excellent off-road agility and the ability to dart down narrow paths and rough fields.
The T3 featured a small cargo bed behind the driver’s seat capable of carrying a few hundred kilograms of supplies or equipment. Its frame was simple and lightweight, with a utilitarian open cockpit and minimal weather protection. The three-wheel design allowed it to negotiate tight turns and uneven terrain better than many four-wheeled vehicles, though it was prone to tipping if handled too aggressively (Ed’s note: you think?!)
Belgium deployed the Tricar T3 widely for courier and reconnaissance missions, particularly where speed and stealth were more important than firepower. The vehicle excelled in liaison roles, delivering messages, transporting small loads, or scouting ahead of main formations. Its small size made it popular with reconnaissance platoons and rear-area units needing quick and reliable transport.
So that’s it with the 15mm Belgian WW2 kit from bayonetsandbrushes.co.uk: superb stuff, very highly recommended!
