Eduard 1/16 scale Schwimmwagen Type 166

Kit: No. 6106
Scale: 1/16
Manufacturer: Eduard, 43521 Obrnice 170, Czech Republic, www.eduard.cz
Price: $99.95
Comments: Injection-molded, 182 parts (10 rubber, 29 photoetched), decals, die-cut masks
Pros: Scale, great instructions with separate color painting guide, photoetched parts
Cons: No engine, few alignment pins, some soft details

Looking for something new to park in your 1/16 scale armor collection? Eduard has released an all-new Schwimmwagen with plenty of detail for big-scale fans.

Inside the large box, you'll find a small photoetched-metal fret, decals for two vehicles, rubber tires, crisp clear parts, and a big pile of sprues molded in soft tan styrene. A clearly illustrated 11-step, two-color instruction book is included, too.

A lot of detail is provided. Each two-piece wheel wears a rubber tire (with a separate solid rubber inner tube) and attaches to the brake-drum's studs with five tiny nuts. Despite the kit's jumbo scale, you'll still need good tweezers and plenty of patience.

Assembly is straightforward but time-consuming. Many of the parts had prominent mold-separation lines that required careful cleanup. I was also disappointed that some subassemblies didn't have clear alignment guides. Installing the rear suspension (and keeping all four wheels on the ground) took a lot of work and gapfilling super glue. The twin fuel tanks in the footwell were difficult to install, too.

The photoetched fret includes fine engine screens and a variety of smaller clamps and fittings. Admittedly, I left off a few of the tiniest parts to ease assembly.

The instructions include a chart with codes for Tamiya, Humbrol, Revell, and Testor paints. I painted my model Tamiya German gray (XF-63) using an airbrush.

The model is a good representation of the stubby Schwimmwagen, and it went together over the course of about a week. It'll look great next to my Tamiya Kübelwagen. Eduard's Schwimmwagen is a complex kit that will reward careful builders, but it will require a little extra effort in the finishing department.

- Matthew Usher