Kit: No. 32531
Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: Tamiya, from Tamiya America, 800-826-4922
Price: $15
Comments: Injection-molded, 45 parts, decals
Pros: Excellent fit, great clear parts, can be built as civilian or military vehicle with provided optional parts, three-piece driver figure
Cons: Numerous small parts and tiny decals may frustrate beginners
Tamiya has added a familiar face to its growing 1/48 scale armor line with the Volkswagen Type 82E staff car.
The small box includes parts molded in light-tan plastic, a tree of delicately molded clear parts, an instruction sheet, and a small sheet of decals. The model can be built as a civilian car or its dark-yellow, no-hubcap military cousin.
Despite its small size, the model is nicely detailed and beautifully engineered to assemble easily. For example, the model's tires are the size of shirt buttons, and I'm sure it would have been easy for Tamiya to mold each wheel and tire as a single piece. However, the kit's wheels and tires are provided as separate pieces, making painting a snap. The parts fit together beautifully, too. Two sets of wheels are included; one with hubcaps, one without.
The model has a platform chassis with simple suspension and engine details that add on. The interior has separate front seats and a delicately molded steering wheel and column. A nicely sculpted three-piece driver figure is included, too.
The body shell is particularly nice. Lots of separate parts add detail, including the fender-mounted Notek light, slim bumpers, an external horn, and license plates. Two headlight styles are included: the civilian model includes separate clear lenses, while the military version has blackout lenses. All the clear parts fit perfectly. The windshield installs from the outside and has molded-in windshield wipers; side and rear windows are a one-piece "bucket" that drops into the body shell from the inside.
Parked among the fighters in my 1/48 scale aircraft collection, Tamiya's VW is a perfect scale reference. Not everyone has seen an He 162 or XP-55, but thanks to its long, long lifespan, almost everyone knows exactly how big a VW Beetle is and can instantly make size comparisons.
I spent a weekend building my VW and had a great time with it. Modelers who are used to handling a few small parts should have no problems adding it to their collection.
- Matthew Usher