Originally commissioned in 1966 as an off-road, amphibious vehicle, the M561 Gama Goat was a 6-wheel drive truck consisting of a 4-wheel tractor and a 2-wheel carrier module. What really set it apart from other vehicles of its type, however, was its employment of an articulation joint between the two modules that allowed them to move independently of one another: a most useful skill when traversing rough terrain. The 14,000 Gama Goats produced up to 1973 were used in a variety of roles by both the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, and were deployed in the fighting in Grenada in 1983, although by the start of the 1990s the Gama Goat had been largely phased out. The former half of its unusual nickname came from Roger Gamaunt, designer of the key articulation joint, and the latter half from its tenacious goat-like climbing ability.
The M561 Gama Goat was seven years in development until production of the vehicle began in 1968. Its unique name was derived from the creator of its articulated joint, Roger Gamaunt, and its mountain goat-like climbing ability. It was unlike most other military off-road vehicles in that power could go to all 6 wheels of the vehicle, and its aforementioned articulated joint allowed 80° pitch and 60° roll ranges of the carrier module at the rear. Its excellent rough-terrain mobility was tempered somewhat by problems with tricky handling and maintenance, as well as it being rather noisy, but the Gama Goat continued in service until it was effectively replaced by the HMMWV in the late 1980s.
Tamiya's 1/35 scale model faithfully reproduces this vehicle in every detail possible. Extensive research of the full size vehicle was conducted to give modelers the best kit possible.
Glue and paints are required to assemble.