Kit: No. 35291
Scale: 1/35
Manufacturer: Tamiya, from Tamiya America, 800-826-4922, www.tamiyausa.com
Price: $35
Comments: Injection-molded, 245 parts, decals
Pros: Good detail; cargo; easy assembly
Cons: Ejector-pin marks in bed; no engine; no instrument detail; early markings but late suspension
Issue Published: September 2008
Used by Germans on all fronts in World War II, the Opel Blitz 3-ton truck was the backbone of the Wehrmacht. Even though 110,000 were produced, there were never enough to go around.
Tamiya’s truck is a low-bed, six-bolt-wheel rendition featuring a detailed cab, suspension, and fuel-drum set. Positionable front wheels, separate cab doors, and hood pieces are included, as well as painting masks for the windows. A four-color decal sheet provides markings for four vehicles.
Building the frame and suspension was no problem. The rear suspension is the later, beefed-up type. Purists will want to remove the top part of the leaf springs and add a plate and four nuts (make them from plastic card). I painted the frame Tamiya XF-24 dark gray instead of the XF-63 German gray called for.
No engine is provided, just the oil pan. I painted the exhaust pipe Testors Metalizer magnesium with an overspray of Floquil rust. The wheels are Floquil weathered black with dark gray (Tamiya XF-24) hubs.
The cab comprises many parts, so the first thing I did was paint the bench seat red brown (Tamiya XF-64) and the entire interior dark gray. No instrument detail or decals were provided. Painting masks for the windows needed only a little trimming to fit. Separate doors, cab roof, and hood pieces open possibilities for easy modifications.
The cargo bed showed light ejector-pin marks that are difficult to erase because of the molded wood grain. Archer Transfers offers wood-grain decals that can be cut and applied before painting to fix this problem. The bed went together without problems. I loaded it with kit-supplied fuel drums painted Tamiya XF-65 field gray.
I sprayed the truck dark gray overall and used Tamiya pastels for weathering. Lightly overspraying the windshield with Floquil dust rounded out the weathering. I chose markings from the Sixth Company, 86th Infantry Regiment, 10th Panzer Division, in Poland in September 1939. The decals conformed to irregular surfaces with Mr. Hobby’s Mr. Mark Softer. I sealed them with clear flat.
I referred to German Military Vehicles, by David Doyle, and took 20 hours to build this truck. With its versatile features and ease of assembly, Tamiya’s kit adds a lot to your modeling possibilities for dioramas and conversions.
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