Kit: No. 164
Scale: 1/35
Manufacturer: Plus Model, available
from VLS Mail Order, 636-356-4888,
www.modelmecca.com
Price: $149.95
Comments: Resin, 134 parts
(27 photoetched)
Pros: Needed and unusual subject,
excellent surface detail, few molding
flaws
Cons: Clear parts thick and cloudy, suspension
nearly impossible to align,
many small parts difficult to remove from
pour stubs and clean up

First produced in 1933, the Mercedes
G4 (military designation SdKfz 21)
had a six-wheel configuration designed
to improve cross-country performance.
High-ranking Nazi party officials and
military officers, including Adolf Hitler,
chose it more for its uniqueness than its
performance. The G4 became a common
sight in propaganda films and newsreels.
However, fewer than 100 vehicles were
built, and only three still exist: two in
Europe, and one in the U.S. It was frequently
seen on the 1960s television series
“Hogan’s Heroes.”

Plus Model’s parts have excellent surface
detail and only a few minor molding
flaws here and there. Most of the pour
stubs are easy to remove, though the small
parts are difficult to remove from the resin
blocks and clean up. There’s a small sheet
of photoetched metal parts and decals for
license plates and fender flags for four different
vehicles.

The simple instructions contain basic
exploded assembly diagrams, but the locations
of some parts are a bit vague. Basic
painting instructions are included, and the
photo of a finished model on the box top
answers some part-location and painting
questions.

I began by assembling the devilishly
tricky suspension and drive train. I built
them as a single unit on a sheet of glass
to keep them aligned before installing the
unit on the frame. The rear suspension is
a difficult fit because several pieces have
to be aligned simultaneously, and super
glue (normally used to assemble resin kits)
doesn’t allow much time to position them
before setting. I left the wheels off until
final assembly and painted the underside
of the frame with Tamiya RLM gray.

I painted the body shell and trunk
gloss white, while the interior components
were painted first with flat
black, then dry-brushed with Polly
Scale grimy black to make them
look like leather. I applied Alclad
chrome to the resin parts. When
the body was dry, I masked off
the hood strap and sprayed it flat
black. Bare-Metal Foil was applied
to the chrome trim on the body
and fenders.

As I installed the interior side
panels, I noticed that the right panel
interfered with the fit of the body to
the fenders. I trimmed the panel to
correct the fit. Don’t forget to add the
instrument panel before installing the side
panels, or you’ll have a heck of a time getting
it in place.

A small sheet of clear plastic is provided
for the windshield; the plastic is thin
and doesn’t leave much room for error.
Plus Model doesn’t provide a template on
the instruction sheet, so I made one from
sheet styrene and, after plenty of test-fitting,
used it to cut out the windshield.

The clear-resin lenses were cloudy,
too thick, and didn’t fit well; I should
have replaced them with clear sheet disks.
Installing the wheels was a challenge: The
fit is not precise, and the joints are weak.
The photoetched metal wiper blades and
Mercedes logo are a nice touch.

This is clearly a kit for experienced
modelers. I spent over
28 hours building my G4, longer than
normal due to the fit problems, gloss
paint scheme, and the chrome work. The
finished model matches perfectly the
dimensions in Hogg and Weeks’ Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Military Vehicles. Despite
the construction difficulties, the model
looks good and was a nice a change of
pace from regular military vehicles.

– John Plzak