'Mule' deck tractors in 1/72 scale
'Mule' deck tractors history and reference photos
'Mule' deck tractors in 1/72 scale
Verlinden 1/72 MD-3 'Mule' deck tractors build report
Verlinden
The Verlinden 1/72 resin scale model of the MD-3 'Mule' US Navy deck tractor is shown in my oldest Verlinden catalog, 'Catalog No.4' that's probably from around 1987. The box has catalog number 240 printed on the photo label, but 'Catalog No 4' also lists a secondary number, ACDA 72003. Later, probably after the move to the USA, the kit was listed as catalog number 2560. It was produced until at least 1994, since it was still listed in Verlinden catalog #13 from 1994-1995. Catalog #19 from 2003 does not list it. It does contain the 1/48 version though, catalog number 0268.
The model's dimensions deviate quite a lot from the numbers listed earlier: On my built example, I measured 51.7 (without hitches) x 24.8 x 14.0 (front) / 14.9 mm (rear) mm instead of 57.2 x 22.9 x 12.7 mm.
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| Shown here are all resin parts. At the front there's the 'short' tractor in one piece. The second row shows three rear side attachments, plus five detail parts (two hitches, parking brake handle, steering wheel, hitch extension). The third row shows the front and rear wheels. Also included in the kit are dry transfers, that probably stopped working years ago. Not included is the flexible hose for the APU.
I found a couple of errors in the kit. The 'short' rear side attachment is too thin, and its lower extension does not exist in reality. The cockpit opening is too wide, it should be around two millimeters narrower. The single rear wheels should be double rear wheels. The details on the top side of the APU attachment are not correct. The US Navy manual sketch as shown here shows there should be three hatches. The model has only one hatch, and it's placed too far to the right. This hatch is most likely opened when the APU runs, revealing two rectangular air inlets. The hatch to the left is represented by raised fasteners (as seen in 'Super Carriers' page 97), but its outline is missing. The US Navy manual sketch shows a different execution of the same hatch, with two flush handles and two hinges. The slightly raised panel on the right side of the APU attachment should be flush.
Casting quality is near perfect, with only three air bubbles on the 'long' rear extension, in positions where a raised fastener should be present. I restored them with a piece of stretched black sprue. On the casting block with small details, the steering wheel had a gap.
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| The kit comes with a dry transfer, shown here. For years I wondered about the 'DO NOT SIT' decals, that none of my reference photos showed. But at last I found photographic proof, in Osprey's 'Super carriers - Naval air power today', page 72, taken on board of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.
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| The Verlinden 1/72 MD-3 'Mule' is also available as the 'US Navy carrier fire tractor', catalog number 267 (the catalog also lists ACDA 72004). It has the SB/TAU-2 firefighting unit as briefly described above, as the single option to build the kit. All other parts are identical to the earlier kit.
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| Here's the box art for the later version, issued by Verlinden after the move to the USA (catalog number 2591). I'm not sure it contained instructions and/or decals.
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| The SB/TAU-2 firefighting unit is not correct unfortunately. The model basically has of a large cilindrical tank taking up the full width, a small cilindrical tank with a hollow end cap, and a rearward-facing bench for two firefighters (or hose storage). The large cilindrical tank has one spherical end cap (left), and one flatter, semi-spherical end cap (right), and that's an indicator of what's wrong. In reality there's a spherical tank on the left side, and a shorter large cilindrical tank on the right side. The spherical tank is placed slightly more aft than the cilindrical tank. Verlinden morphed them into one.
The kit comes with very flexible thin rubber cord, to make the fire fighting hoses. But no suggestion how to model the hoses is included in the small instruction sheet. Worse is that nozzles are not supplied either.
On my kit, an upper corner of the bench was broken off, but the sliver was still in the ziplock bag, so I was able to restore it. Two other small parts were broken off too, but no trace of them.
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I found a short kit review in Fine Scale Modeler, December 1987 issue. It is very favourable, but has no comments on accuracy. It reports that a photo of the depicted Mule can be found in 'Super Carriers'. I found the photo in 'Supercarriers - Naval air power in action' on page 26-27.
Verlinden Modeling Magazine Volume 3, No 2 and No 3 contain articles on the real Mules.
Starting 2021 I gathered some 100 snapshots from various YouTube videos, shown on a separate page. The photos show both the 'short' version, and the 'long' version. The 'long' version had three types of APUs attached. The Verlinden APU attachment makes it an MD-3A. For the 'short' version, a ballast plate is missing, but funnily if you would cut off the 'bumper' and rotate it 90 degrees, you're 90% done. Also, a simpler tow coupling is missing: a simple C-bracket with a pin through it.
Fujimi
The Fujimi 'Deck crew set' (catalog number 35001) turned out to be quite a surprise. With regards to details, this injection moulded MD-3 was a near 100% copy of the Verlinden model! Of course Fujimi had to break up Verlinden's single-piece main casting into several smaller parts, but otherwise the differences were very, very small. The hood has a fold on the centerline (that I have seen in only one photo of the real thing, the rest had slightly bulged hoods), but otherwise it is identical, down to the tiniest details. The Fujimi model also has the incorrect 'rear bumper' for the short version like Verlinden, and the fire-fighting attachment has the same incorrect large tank, which further reinforces the impression that the kit is a copy.
Alternatively, both Verlinden and Fujimi could have used the same set of drawings to create their models. I've been told that Modell Fan once had Mule drawings. On the other hand, I was quite amazed that it was possible for Fujimi to achieve the same detail level with injection moulding. Another lesson learned!
The Fujimi Mule can be built in three versions, the short version, the version with a 'Huffer' extension similar to Verlinden, and the fire-fighting SB/TAU-2 attachment as described above. The first and second are also found in Verlinden #240, the last is similar to Verlinden #267. On the latter, Fujimi copied the wrong tank layout of the Verlinden model.
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| The oldest proof of existence that I found of the Fujimi set is a 1990 catalog, but I don't have catalogs of 1987, 1988 and 1989 (it's not shown in the 1986 catalog). The MD-3 is also listed in my 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2001 Fujimi catalogs. In 2008 or 2009, the Mule tractor was included in a reissue of on Fujimi's VF-96 F-4J.
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Testors
The Fujimi set was also issued by Testors in the USA, with catalog number 850, with photo box-art. Possibly it was also sold bagged, with a black and white header card based on the Fujimi box art.
Maquettes Dauzie
In 2007 I bought a Maquettes Dauzie resin 1/72 scale US Navy tow tractor (catalog number 72 006) at the IPMS-NL Nationals. The oldest reference I found so far is an August 1986 advertisement in Scale Aircraft Modeling. Compared to the Verlinden/Fujimi MD-3, it has a different unit attached to the rear side. Also included are parts to make the air starter's hose, in the shape of a piece of hose, and metal wire to wrap around it. Judging from the exhaust location on the right side, the APU is like Type 1 in the reference photo section below. However the details on the left side are of Type 2 if I am not mistaken. The same tractor was also available without the APU unit at the rear (catalog number 72 007).
The length and width of the complete vehicle are around 15% less than the Verlinden/Fujimi Mule, which makes you wonder who used the correct (or best) data. I obtained some more MD models, and the dimensional errors in them are so obvious that my trust in MD's master builder has disappeared largely. Therefore I believe the Verlinden/Fujimi Mules are more accurate.
DreamModel
In 2008, DreamModel from China issued four resin Mule kits, with photo-etch details and decals. The versions are old & new short style, and old & new long style tractors. The new style tractors have increased rear track, and slightly widened fenders to match.
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| 0201 (old & long)
| 0202 (new & long)
| 0203 (new & short)
| 0204 (old & short)
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PhantomModels
In 2013 PhantomModels from Moscow issued a resin Mule kit, with photo-etch details and decals (catalog number 7002). It represents the updated version with increased rear track, and slightly widened fenders to match.
Hobby Master die-cast
Hobby Master released a diecast Mule in a blister packaging. It comes in two versions: the 'US Navy Tow Tractor' (catalog number HD2002) featuring an MD-3A with two figures, and the 'US Navy Fire Tractor' (catalog number HD2003) featuring an MD-3 with the fire fighting attachment, in white and red, with two figures. It appears that the same sets were sold in cardboard boxes with a 'B' extension to the catalog number. The two versions are also sold together as 'Modern aircraft carrier diorama' (catalog number HD1002).
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| HD2002
| HD2003
| HD2002B & HD2003B
| HD1002
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Paveway Models
In 2024, Chilean company Paveway Models issued a 3D printed Mule in 1/72 and 1/48 scales. It's the MD-3A with GTCP-100 APU, unfortunately just like the Verlinden model.
Remj Models
In 2022, British company Remj started offering STL-files for home 3D printing, and a number of MD-3 deck tractors are offered. They are made for printing in 1/48 and 1/32 scales. When asked about 1/72 scale, Remj replied: "The tractors wouldn't print properly in 1/72 scale. All of the pieces would be too fragile. I would need to reduce the level of detail to make them more accessible." Remj offers the basic pre-2000 tractor, and separately four attachments. Clockwise, starting upper left: MD-3B with GTC-85 APU, MD-3A with GTCP-100 APU, the MD-3the with SB/TAU-2 fire fighting unit, and lastly an attachment I don't recognise. Remj replied that "This is an early version from the 1960s, as described in NAVAIR documents from that era."
Reskit
In 2025, Ukranian company Reskit issued twelve Mule models in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 scales. The models are 3D printed, and represent the pre-1990 yellow versions. Here's the list of the 1/72 models:
Reskit also produces figures for their Mule kits.
Kit comparison
I only have the Verlinden and Fujimi kits, and built the Verlinden kit. Of these two the Fujimi kit seems to hold the edge - some advantages:
the Fujimi kit allows the construction of all versions of the Verlinden kits
the Fujimi tires are nicer
a towbar and wheel chocks are included
an air hose is included, whereas Verlinden only gives instructions how to make the hose from scratch
Colors
Somewhere during the early nineties, the color of US Navy deck vehicles switched from yellow to white. Alex Suvorov's excellent webpage U.S. Navy Flight Deck Tractor Models claims the colors were FS 33538 Orange Yellow and FS 17875 Insignia White. Humbrol 197 and Revell 310 (both RAL 1028 matches) come quite close to the former.
1/72 model links
1/48 model links
1/32 model links
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