ya314 2

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MODEL:       DAF YA 314 , Koninklijke Landmacht  (Royal Netherlands Army)  
BRAND:       released and made by Robert-Jan van Raamsdonk      
MATERIAL:  resin
SCALE:  1/35
NUMBER OF PARTS:  49 including 2x etched frets, window set and 1 sticker sheet
PRICE:  "sold out" , see remark 
 

The Daf YA 314 and the YA 324 (follow-up series) are medium-heavy, military trucks produced for the Dutch armed forces. In the fifties of the 20th century, the Royal Netherlands Army felt the need to replace the rolling stock. The vehicles used until then had been obtained second-hand by the Army after the Second World War via the MDAP from the Allies' vehicle dumps, but because these vehicles were a mix of British and American vehicles, the maintenance and supply of spare parts proved to be a logistical problem and standardization was therefore necessary. On 24 May 1955, DAF received a government order for the construction and delivery of, initially, 1000 four-wheel drive vehicles of the type YA 314 to the Royal Netherlands Army. Finally, 4406 units of the type 314 & 324 were delivered.
The truck had no power steering and no heating. The cab, with fold-down side windows, could only be heated by leaving the bulkheads of the bonnet between the seats ajar, allowing engine heat and noise and oil fumes to flow into the cabin.

The type designations: (YA, YK, YF-314/324), are composed in the following way:
Y = military vehicle
A = algemeen, (K = Kipper, F = Fuel/Tankauto)
3 = load capacity in tonnes,
1 resp. 2= de serie,
4= the number of wheels.

The first series YA-314
Built from 1955 to 1960 and had an open body with or without a hood.
Executed as:
General Service with hood
Toolset (mobile workshop) with raised hood
The second series YA-324
built from 1961 to 1965, as a follow-up series
modified with a slightly reinforced chassis
weighted rear springs (more spring blades)
swingarm YA324 from DAF instead of Timken brand (at YA314)
other shock absorbers front and rear axle
dashboard lighting YA314 single lamp, YA324 lighting in the gauges
equipped with a hood or a metal closed body
Yes, unfortunately, sold out! So why a description? Simply because Robert-Jan still releases Dutch military models and these models are an enrichment for us as modelers and a description shows what the quality of his models is. Where everyone can decide for themselves to purchase them. In all cases he offers completely built casting resin models but also construction kits such as this one.

The Model

The model comes in a neat sturdy cardboard box. The sometimes quite fragile vulture resin parts are excellently packaged in zip Bags, ordinary plastic bags supplemented with a large amount of bubble foil. The large photoetch plate is also wrapped in plastic, it is quite large and here careful action is the motto to prevent everything from bending where it should not be.
The four main components are the cabin, formed of one piece, including canvas hood and closed doors, the body with chassis and the hood. All these components are absolutely without flash and of a very nice casting. Almost all small parts are cast, but that is often with entirely cast resin building models. However, the detailing is of high quality. Also, the detail parts such as the running gear at the bottom the fuel tanks, exhaust spare jerry cans, branch screen, headlights, bumper and interior and everything else, are of the same good quality and without flash. Extremely small parts are still attached to their trunk, and that prevents loss. With 49 parts, the construction is reasonable for a complete casting resin model.

The photoetch takes care of the rebates of the windows, the tear plate in the cabin, the wheel boxes of the body with accessories, the grill, windscreen wipers and, for example, the DAF logo, but also the tailgate locking chains. That is all very flat and I wonder if those windshield wipers and, for example, the chains are too flat. Also, the mounting cords of the canopy on the body are made of photoetch and I am sure that they are too flat and therefore do not look like cords. The same phenomenon occurs with the model of the Fat DAF YA328. That is unfortunate but certainly fixable. I have the feeling that the completely built models are both made of plastic. On the photoetch set there are also small circles that I assume must be placed in the headlights to achieve the headlight effect. More realistic, as far as I am concerned, is carefully drilling open, licking silver paint in it and filling it up or with clear lacquer or UV resin.

The tires are made of rubber/plastic. Personally, I think it is a bit of a shame because you do not know the quality and both plastic and rubber decay over time. I do not have hope for aftermarket products, but who knows, someone with a 3D printer??? Perhaps it is worth not gluing the wheels too tightly. There are metal shafts to join the wheels.

The model comes with a closed hood. That is undoubtedly the most used version, but the trusses over which the hood is applied are not included, not even molded on the inside of the hood. If you use the hood, it is not noticeable on the outside, but if you look into it from behind you do not see them and that is certainly unnatural. Without 3D printing it will not be easy to solve this. You could possibly decide to attach a back flap to it so that you cannot look inside. Without a hood, with trusses, as you encountered them with the Unifil versions, is certainly a challenge.

The description provided is brief. In color, it shows schematically how to assembly the model. No setup for beginners, but as far as I am concerned, that is never with full resin. The decal sheet is neat and comprehensive. With the set you probably will be able to assemble your own vehicle from your service I suspect, with exceptions. In terms of license plates (and probably other designations) I miss LM (Royal Netherlands Air Force) and KM (Marine Corps) but, if necessary, we as modelers can do magic is not it.
A point of attention is certainly, if you can still find a model, the packaging in a plastic bag. You need to remove the decal sheet from the plastic bag as soon as possible. The used plastic bags adhere to the decal side of the sheet, with me they are already a bit stuck. If you leave them on for too long, things really go wrong!

During the unpacking of the parts for photographing, it turned out that the parts were still quite with liquid, which was really noticeable, so clean well for the fun of the assembly.

Conclusion
A good model for a full resin version. I have seen worse. The parts do not have flash. The parts look and feel "crisp". What I was able to try to fit fitted properly, with the smaller parts that remains to be seen.
Not a model for a beginner, not even for full resin. Experience with full resin models is definitely recommended. The model clearly has the potential to be transformed into a beautiful model and an addition to any collection. Conversion offers nice options.

The model was both as a ready-made model (also full resin) as well as in the form of this kit. Do you ever run into it and at a reasonable price and in your area of interest definitely worth the purchase.
NOTE: Working with casting resin is harmful to health. When handling it, always wear a mask, sand, and file wet!

I would definitely keep an eye on Robert-Jan van Raamsdonk's announcements on social media for new models. There is a DAF YP408 on the roll for example! Our IPMS NL Facebook page [external link] tries to keep track of this for you as best as possible.

 
  

Reviewer:  Fred Bachofner

 

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This article was published October 2023