Kubelwagen Radio CarReviewed by Cookie Sewell
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Stock Number and Description | cyber-hobby.com (Dragon Models Limited) 1/35 scale kit No. 15 (6337); Kubelwagen Radio Car |
Scale: | 1/35 |
Media and Contents: | 215 parts (163 parts in grey styrene, 49 etched brass, 2 turned aluminum, 1 pre-bent steel wire) |
Price: | price estimated at US $19.95. Will be available online from Mission Models |
Review Type: | First Look |
Advantages: | Another useful variant of the Bego VW kit |
Disadvantages: | You need to know German radios to figure out what it is and what it does |
Recommendation: | Recommended for all German VW fans and dioramists |
FirstLook
Since acquiring the Hasegawa/Bego VW DML has been using it for a
number of functions, and after recent efforts as an ambulance and a
desert model it appears here in the guise of a field communications
center.
The sprues for the Bego VW are here intact, which means it comes
with a crew of two for the vehicle (listed as "not used" in the
directions) as well as other things. The vehicle has a rack made of
etched brass (this is a cyber-hobby.com "boutique" kit, so no
styrene alternative parts) for two radio sets, a power supply, and
antenna mounts. The kit also provides a field switchboard but like
the crew that is condemned to the parts box. I suspect the radios –
as there is now a generic DML "German radio set" sprue - are from
the field command post set, which would explain the switchboard.
Based on my copy of "Communications Equipment of the German Army
1933-1945" by Charles Barger I suspect one is a Torn. Fu. d2. a VHF
AM radio in the 33-38 Mhz range, and the other is a 100 W.S. HF AM
model in the 200-1200 Khz range. That is a pretty good mix for a
command vehicle, but don't quote me on the idents. I also can not
identify a receiver, which since most German equipment was single
function (e.g. not a transceiver) this would be incorrect. The
unused field switchboard looks to be a 10 line box, which would be
for echelons around regiment or higher (if it was used.)
Unfortunately cyber-hobby.com provides not a whit of which radios
are provided nor do they show how to wire them up correctly. This is
kind of a shame, as with such an open mount and antennas the vehicle
most certainly would have visible cabling. Model manufacturers that
make biplanes and those who make sailing ships all provide rigging
diagrams (and often materials as well) so one could expect the
manufacturer – especially of a niche "boutique" kit – to provide
them here as well.
The Bego kit is pretty well known by now, and most modelers either
like it or prefer the Tamiya kit to it based on personal
predilections. It is quite a detailed kit, with separate floor
boards, engine and driveline, as well as a minimum of ejection pin
marks.
A small sheet of decals is included, once again from Cartograf, but
while it claims "unidentified unit" in grey the helmet of "Grossdeutschland"
is on the rear engine hatch. Nobody is credited with either research
or technical assistance on this kit.
Overall this is a bit of a disappointment as for a "boutique" kit
with an expectation that the modeler will use the brass it should
have come with cabling directions. But at least DML will run with
the molds; I wish that Tamiya had done the same with its excellent
CCKW (e.g. short wheel base, dump truck, shop van. etc.)
Recommended
Sprue Breakdown and Source
A 23 VW body parts (Bego)
B 45 VW top parts and seat details (Bego)
C 15 VW details (Bego)
D 4 VW floorboards (Bego)_
E 23 VW wheels and two figures (Bego)_
E 21 German radio sets
G 8 clear styrene (Bego)
L 20 German radio sets and field switchboard
N 12 German "jerry" cans
MA 14 etched brass
MB 30 etched brass radio mounts
MC 5 etched brass "jerry" can details
MD 2 turned aluminum
MD 1 pre-bent steel wire
Thanks to
Freddie Leung for the review sample.