Zvezda

1/35 Mercedes L4500S 4.5T Heavy Cargo Truck

Kit Number: 3596

Reviewed by  Andrew Birkbeck, IPMS# 27087

MSRP: $41.95 Review Sample from Dragon Models USA:Website: www.dragonmodelsusa.com Injection molded models of WW2 cargo trucks have over the years been few and far between. From memory Italeri produced an Opel Blitz kit way back in the 1970's, which is still available today. Tamiya then did their version of the Opel Blitz last year. Tamiya also did a Steyr 1500 a while back. Other than these three kits, I can't think of any others. So I was very glad to hear that Zvezda was to do a kit of the large (4.5 tonne) (Mercedes) L4500A. Having never built a Zvezda kit, I was keen to see what the quality was like. I am very heartened to say: excellent! The kit comprises seven sprues of injection molded plastic parts, six in tan, one in clear for the windows. There are no photo-etched parts in the kit, and besides the plastic parts, the modeler also receives a small well-printed decal sheet covering two vehicles, one in plain dunkelgelb of the 62nd Infantry Division, Kharkov 1942, the other a later war three color scheme for the 24th Infantry Division, "Western Front" 1944. The tan plastic parts are extremely well molded and flash free, with one exception. The bench seat parts for the rear cargo bed (Section 9 in the instructions, parts F2 x4) had some heavy sink marks in my kit. Other than this, there were no other molding flaws, and no visible ejection pin marks once the kit was assembled. Detail on all the parts is very crisp, the wood sections of the rear cargo bed being particularly well produced. The kit is very well detailed, with a full engine built up from 21 separate parts, with the truck chassis being equally well detailed, with even the exhaust pipe and muffler having a combined 9 parts. Each of the seven wheel/tire units has three parts, though I have never seen tires with such a tread pattern, and I don't have any good reference photos to confirm or deny what Zvezda provides. If you too aren't happy with this feature of the kit, a little judicious application of "mud" should sort things out. Construction is fairly straight forward, and if one follows the well laid out instruction sheets, the builder shouldn't have any major difficulties. Construction starts with the extremely well detailed engine, Sections 1 through 6. This is then followed by the construction of the chassis and rear cargo bed, Sections 7 through 15. Lots of parts, lots of excellent detail, but be careful to make sure everything is aligned correctly so that upon completion the model sits well upon its wheels/tires. Assembly sequence 20 and its sub sections detail the construction of the driver's cab. I would carefully assemble and paint the interior of the two doors, and the front and rear of the cab, sub sections 20d and 20e, MINUS the windows. Once you have test fit the four sections of this cab (assembly section 20), to where you are happy with the fit, glue them together and let them set up thoroughly. Note that one absent item missing from the cab is decals for the instruments, part B4. Once the cab has thoroughly dried, mask off the interior, and then paint the exterior, including the roof, part B12. Then carefully prep and test fit the clear "glass" windows, and glue them into the appropriate spaces with your favorite clear part glue. When set up, attach the roof part, B12, and carefully mask the cab and paint the B12 area. The decal sheet is simple, providing unit markings for the front fenders, license plates, and a vehicle loading stencil for the driver's door. These went on without fault to my model. My model is missing the following: a wing mirror, and the two wipers. Why? Because I taped them to a Popsicle stick and carefully painted them, and then for the life of me I can't remember what happened to them after that. Sorry! To conclude: simply put, this has been the most enjoyable build I have experienced in a good many years. The kit is extremely well detailed, and from what I can work out, very accurate. And the parts fit like a glove. What more can you ask for! My sincere thanks to Dragon Models USA for supplying IPMS/USA with this review kit, and allowing me such a great time. Check out their web site for lots more great kits, books and accessories.