How does the new I Love Kit DUKW stack up against the Italeri release? A side-by-side photo review.
This is partial text from the full article (usually with photos) at https://armorama.com/news/dukw-italeri-vs--i-love-kit
This is partial text from the full article (usually with photos) at https://armorama.com/news/dukw-italeri-vs--i-love-kit
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I sprung for this I wanted a DUKW but waited as this had been announced. I’ve only fondled the plastic and have no idea how it builds. It looks very nice though. Apart from the noted issues my only gripe was they had moulded the skirts integral with the hull and hadnt given them as optional parts. I’m looking forward to building it once I get some of my other projects out the way. By which time some nice aftermarket may be available for this beastie.
Comon DEF you know you wanna.
Keith
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Appreciate the review Matt. Not all super hero’s wear capes. 
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Thanks Ryan. I appreciate that.
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Nice review Matt… Not a kit I had considered but a post WW2 in different colours might be fun …
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In the very first iteration of this post I included this vehicle:
which IS NOT an original DUKW. It is called Seahorse and seems to be a modern design.
The alert viewer will notice the differences immediately but it took me a couple of minutes to realise the f-up … sigh …
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There used to be one down here at St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall near Penzance, that ferried people to the island when the tide was in or for transporting cargo, but cant find many images of it …
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I can’t say that the depiction of the cargo bed decking as smooth by Italeri is wrong or that the inclusion of wood grain by ILK is right. The wood grain on painted marine plywood is about as rough as cardboard in full size and would appear smooth in 1/35.
KL
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And Italeri have re-released 6392 with new boxart.
One positive is it’s half the price of ILK, so maybe use it in a dio where it’s on-water to hide the wheel-set issues 
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Nice work, Matt, this is what has made Armorama a great place all these many years: honest assessments by modelers of models. Now, I’m expecting an MT build of a DUKW for next year’s Armorcon.
Bill
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I’m still keen (not that I’ve done much about it at all) to acquire a decent DUKW to depict a Brit one post war such as these:
I understand the OOP Italeri one comes with (almost) suitable decals but is quite hard to find - that said, I haven’t looked too much of late.
Anyway, always good to have a choice - re I Love Kit.
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Thank you for taking the time to create this side by side review.
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May have to look into one of these,never built any version before.
All of those civilian DUKW’s being operated,remember that disater 5 years ago in Missouri
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Or these …
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I have built the Italeri model a few years ago (being then the only offering). Quite challenging fit (especially windscreen frame and the front spring axis connection) and wheels have rather weak detail for my taste… Can turn into a decent looking model with serious elbow grease. Would definitely go with the ILK version (albeit quite pricey).
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Thanks for the comparisation.
I’ve been waiting for this kit hoping to get the “ultimate” DUKW kit together with the Duckling trailer.
Unfortunately this is not the case in my eyes. Judging from what i have seen this kit will need comparable effords to the Italeri one. And 60 bucks or so to get the duckling?
As mentioned before the aprons are no separate parts.
The tire inflation system is missing (valves in the driver’s seat, pipes to the wheels and the special wheel hubs)
The windsreen is one part and can not be build without efford in the folded position. The secure hooks for the folded position are not present as well as the secure nuts for the erected windscreen.
Are there Wiper motors?
No “glove” pocket at the Co-driver side of the dash board, no bag at the rear of the driver seat, no storage supports for the drain plugs, no instruction plates, no rifle carriers. No wood structure in the driver compartment. Horn support right? Are the flapps for the heating system replicated?
The bows and the rear surfboard look way too high. That let the build kit look strange.
No winch cable, chain and hook. No anchor support.
With the etch set from eduard the Italeri DUKW turned out to a nice model and the build was fun.
It will held with the I 
Kit too.
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