German Cargo Truck
(Early and Late)
Academy, 1/72 scale
S
u m m a r y
|
Stock Number
and Description |
Academy 1/72 Scale Kit No. 13404;
1/72 WWII Ground Vehicle Set 5, German Cargo Truck (Early and Late) |
Media and Contents: |
94 parts (81 in tan styrene, 13 in
clear styrene) |
Price: |
MSRP USD$19.00 |
Scale: |
1/35 |
Review Type: |
First Look |
Advantages: |
Kit provides both cab options for
standard production or "Einheits" standardized production |
Disadvantages: |
Still only provides 4 x 2 truck
variant; lack of "kit" somewhat disappointing for the price |
Recommendation: |
Recommended for all German WWII
ground AND air "small scalers" |
Reviewed by
Cookie Sewell
Academy's
1/72 scale German Cargo Truck is available online from Squadron.com
Building on its German Opel fuel tanker, Academy now adds a 4 x 2 cargo variant
to its nice selection of 1/72 WWII Ground Vehicles, primarily designed to
complement aircraft models, but which can also be used with 1/72 armor.
This kit continues with the 3 ton cargo variant of the Opel Blitz, but
surprisingly limits it pretty much to rear area use as the truck is the 4 x 2
variant; no parts for a 4 x 4 are included in the kit. The fuel tanker has been
replaced by an open cargo body with transverse seats for personnel (two broad
ones and one narrow one, so it can carry five rows of seated troops or about
20-25 personnel).
The same Blitz standard chassis sprue of 39 parts is provided. But as before,
the kit provides a nice engine block and transmission with a separate fan and
generator assembly, but then as with the GMC provide no way to see it once
assembled. The panels on the sides of the hood will have to be cut off before
assembly if the modeler wants to provide a "field service" type of vehicle,
especially in a North African setting.
The kit also provides the late war "Einheits" cab for standard military
production; this one was used on all three-ton class vehicles regardless of
purpose, driveline, or manufacturer to speed up production and also save on
steel by using wood for the cab structure itself. Academy has added totally new
parts for nearly all of the cab, including new windows and headlights. But
again, none of the panels separate, so there is the same glitch with the use of
displaying the engine.
Both cabs comes with all basic details and a full set of offset (e.g. flush
exterior when installed) clear windows. With some care the doors may be cut out
and repositioned in the open position, but the kit does not give a great deal of
provision for that other than the separation line for the door from the body on
the inside of the parts. Headlight lenses are also separate clear parts, and to
their credit, for the fumble-fingered among us they provide three with the kit.
(It also immediately permits the installation of MV Lenses of suitable size
without drilling, a benefit in this scale.)
The same decal sheet from the tanker is provided, e.g. markings are only for
Luftwaffe vehicles, alas, so the modeler is on his own to come up with other
branches of service markings.
However, for the money all the modeler gets is a choice of one of two variants
of the same vehicle and no "kit" – internal stowage, gas cans, ammo crates, or
tool kits – are included with it. This is sort of a shame, as the modeler will
have to either purchase separate items or scratchbuild them to get it to have
that "lived in" look.
Overall, the vehicle is well done and appealing, so kudos to Academy.
Recommended.
Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample.
Review Copyright © 2005 by Cookie
Sewell
Page Created 14 August, 2005
Last updated 14 August, 2005
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