Italeri

Kit Number

1/72 Kubelwagen VW Type 82

Reviewed By Howie Belkin, #16

52 grey parts, acetate windshield, waterslide decals build two vehicles.

The Germans chose to build the air cooled, rear engine, rear wheel drive Kubelwagen version of the VW rather than invent a true off the road 4x4, comparable to the U.S.’s jeep. The rest is history, as they say, as this little, underpowered vehicle proved its worth serving in every German WWII theatre, in all climes and all times.  It belongs parked alongside your Luftwaffe models just as it’s at home plowing past Panzers frozen in their tracks in the Tundra.  Yet there aren’t many small scale injection molded Kubelwagen’s to choose from.  A couple of year’s ago Academy released one as part of a “WWII Ground Vehicle Set,” with a Kettenkrad and a Willys Jeep.  This new release by Italeri gives you two complete kits in one package.  Many of the Italeri releases have in fact, been re-releases of older, especially very good, ESCI models.  I don’t remember the source for this, but I doubt if it’s a new state of the art Kubelwagen.  The good news is that there’s two kits here, there are decals for six different vehicles with matching front and rear license plates, division and unit markings (some can be used on other decal deficient models), raised detail under the chassis and choice of top up or down.

For the serious AMS must-always-build-a-contest-winner modelers among us, there’s a few disappointments.  First, the tires are molded in one piece and though they’ve captured the exposed wheel detail very well, they’re hollow and there’s no backsides (which some us will be happy to hide inside the wells, and others will feel better filling them with putty).  Second, there are a few sinkholes that show under the erect top and on the inside of the doors (photos of Academy’s kit show rib detail inside the doors).  And if it bothers you, there’s no floor pedals, stick shift, side view mirrors or “extras” that the detailer will have to get from his “spares box.”

Still, it is recommended for its good value, especially for wargamers and those of us who want a quick build and respite from AMS.  Thanks to Italeri and Testors for the review sample.  You can get yours at better hobby shops or order from at www.testors.com or www.italeri.com.  Italeri and Testors have listed a 1/72 M-8 Greyhound and DUKW in their catalogs, which one would guess would be scaled down from their 1/35 kits.  As I write this I haven’t heard anything further, but I sure hope to see them soon.  If they release them they won’t be able to crank them out fast enough!  If a braillescale Kubelwagon was hard to find, the M-8 and DUKW were virtually invisible (aside from the aged Airfix DUKW).  Big things may be coming to small scale modelers!

Information, images, and all other items placed electronically on this site are the intellectual property of IPMS/USA ®.