“Clarktor” 6, MILL 33 – the US airfield tractor

Tow tractor “Clarktor” 6 – airfield tractor, designed and manufactured at the “Clark Trucktractor Plant”, founded in 1919 in Battle Creek, Michigan. The plant was a division of the “Clark Equipment Company”, founded in 1916. The first “Clarktor” was produced in 1926 and could tow over one ton of cargo on special trolleys. This debut tractor was the first step towards more advanced machines. The “Clarktor” 6 was designed in 1942 as an aircraft tractor. It was equipped with a flat-head six-cylinder automobile engine. Until World War II, thousands of various machines for transporting cargo were used in various theaters of war. The British RAF received 1,500 “Clarktor” 6s. This version was called the "British Heavy" (BH) and was delivered to the Ministry of War Transport under the Leand-Lease agreement. This small tractor weighed about 2 tons, was equipped with a hitch capable of carrying a load of 2 tons and towing up to 90 tons. These tractors served in the US Army and the British RAF. They towed the British “Lancaster” and “Halifax” bombers without any problems. The US B24 and B17 weighed 16 tons, and when loaded they weighed from 29 to 32 tons, which was also not a problem for these small tugs. The “Clarktor” 6 was also used in the Korean War, where it helped not only in transporting AF aircraft during service and conservation, but also delivered bombs, fuel, supplies, and food to various airfield service units. Army bases and shipyards also used these tugs for similar purposes.

A simple, well-designed and excellently detailed model, that will suit modelers of any experience. However, advanced beginners and modelers with little experience should work under the supervision of a more experienced colleague, don’t rush, work patiently and carefully. The hull, chassis, suspension, all other external details are perfectly detailed, there are two bomb carriages with bombs. The model is designed in a scale of 1:33 and will be perfect as an accessory to bomber models as an element of a diorama. There is a small reserve of colors. The textual instruction in Polish is small, but quite detailed and clearly explains the entire process of assembling the model. It perfectly complements the informative and easy-to-read graphical instruction of medium size, but sufficient for good model assembly.