Revell are on the wagon! Well on the truck anyway – the Henschel Type 33 D I truck I mean – this large transport truck – although not as well-known as the Mercedes “blitz” trucks was just as important and looks to be quite an interesting model kit – let’s have a look..
Revell Kit : 03098 Henschel Type 33 D 1 in 1/35th scale
Scale: 1/35
Scale: 1/35
Sprues: 6 in tan, 1
transparent sprue
No. of parts: 324
Length: 207 mm
Decal versions for 3
vehicles.
Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model
retailers. For further information visit
www.revell.eu
The German Henschel Typ(e) 33 D 1 kit from Revell is an adaption of the ICM boxed kit with heaps of potential to make it into either a radio, tanker, troop transport or just as a straight cargo transport and now Revell have adapted this kit it may be in a little bit more supply considering their worldwide reach. (no matter how small the model/toy shop they still seem to have Revell kits) so we thought we would investigate it for you.
Supplied on six sprues of tan and one sheet of clear for the
transparencies this kit is a rather large model for a German truck in 1/35th
scale - This was the German version of
the Blitz or Studebaker trucks used by the allies and served the same purposes
as a transport and all round heavy hauler for the Germans. Well like there are
several of the vehicles left of the 22,000 built before and during the war
still in existence. This is a large truck (just over 20cm in 1/35th
scale), it is six wheeled and has three tonnes carrying capacity so we think
this interesting looking truck will look great in a potential German diorama.
First of all let’s look at the plastic on hand. It is in
pretty good shape actually! There is evidence of the kit’s origins in the “ICM”
on several of the sprues, Revell has boxed them with just the one plastic bag
but in this case pretty tightly wrapped so there isn’t so much scratching going
on in transit. I am glad mine arrived unscarred though so if it works…This is a
thing they have been needing to pay more attention to so I am glad for that.
The coloured sprues in the box
This is a bit of a recurring theme on this kit actually; all of the ejector pins, while they are there seem to be hidden so well done to the injection moulding engineers for working this out. There is no flash on the kit to speak of and there isn’t a seam on every single piece as of these is with some companies products. You won’t have to go through shaving each part before you fit and then glue it together.
The clear transparencies on this kit are thin enough and
packaged in their own wrap of plastic to shield them against any damage. They are
thin and clear – what else can you ask for? Maybe the only thing I would want
to see here is some type of texture on the inside of the headlamp. That is the
plastic – let’s look at the build.
The instructions:
Investigating them they are of the usual comic book style which must do damage
to some people’s attention span, but these are a little more refrained than the
last instruction set I read for the Revell Routemaster bus which was all over
the place like a mad woman’s breakfast. These are pretty easy to follow so
maybe someone was listening or just maybe the build is just a lot more straight
forward.
Instruction examples.
This engine, (the
reason for the D model’s elongated bonnet) is a full item but will need some
detailing up because as you can see from the finished model from Revel’s site
it will look rather plain otherwise - It really is just a tall block and looks
unfinished even though everything is there – I would be tempted to add anything
I see in a picture of the engine to it.
The radiator is excellently reproduced and will come up very
nicely after some careful painting and weathering.
The running boards and the floor of the cab are rendered in
treaded steel which look pretty good. A shovel and a pick are included in the
kit as well to hang on the side of the cab. Included is a large tool box for
the right running board which ideally could have had some added padlock detail and
an interesting looking triangle diesel tank of the left rear running gear.
The cabin has the large steering wheel with small pedals and gearshift included. The seat/ bench has no detail at all - as does the interior of the doors which are bare. Whilst we are on the interior the steering wheel has the large company emblem in the centre but the small square dash board has very limited detail – lucky we have the decals to place on it. It will be pretty exposed in an open cab though.
While on the canopy there is a plastic /fabric rendition
which is pretty god though many would be tempted to expose the insides or build
their own cover. Likewise many people will build their own rear tarpaulin over
an injected moulded one so I suppose it is better left off. You get better
representation in a handmade version anyway.
There are however handles on the outside of the doors as
well as many small handles and details around the vehicle these are welcome
inclusions.
The 12 tyres supplied with this vehicle are regularly
injection moulded and although they carry an easily removed seam down the
centre this is the easiest place of which to remove this and they are not
rubber or the overcomplicated sandwich design. People have had a bit about the
debate of tread but really – a late war German truck would have worn anything
they could have thrown at it – so I am very happy with these. The simplex rims
are well rendered here as well.
This vehicle has many rails and attachment points not only
on the front of the vehicle in the large “bull-bar” but also large steel
members that are attached to the rear tray of the vehicle.
The small details of this vehicle that attach to the main
kit like the starting handle and many of the handles, rigging and such are
cheap and cheerful and work pretty well.
The front bonnet cover can be left open and could do only
with the cooling vents being just that – open instead of closed. Either some
cutting or painting will have to suffice here.
Decal Choices:
Decals for four vehicles are included – they are all on one
sheet and include general vehicle information that is printed on the truck as
well as the vehicles respective number plates and unit markings.
The decals are thin and matt and have very little carrier
film on them which bodes well for application, the printing is within register
and all lettering is clear and legible even though in pictures it is hard to
make out the white lettering.
Vehicles from the late war are depicted:
This vehicle is coloured in the early war style German Grey
with some white lettering on the rear. This vehicle is one straight colour.
3 Inf. Komp, 15 PD
Deutsches, Afrika Korps
this desert yellow
coloured vehicle has the lettering stencil decals in the alternate dark colours
and again is a plain vehicle with no camouflage.
This vehicle was either used in two different units or they
are not sure where it is from! Three coloured camo in the standard post 1943
colour scheme this will be a popular choice with modellers.
You may think that I am a little
let down with this kit - but the answer
is no – I am actually quite happy with the detail and the moulding skill on show here. No it isn’t a
400+ piece kit with PE and resin tyres but it is selling for £20 as well and looks
to go together in a day as well – which is pretty good going for a kit nowdays
in a time when the “best” seems to be the more complicated
Cheap and cheerful and an interesting subject – this large
truck will find it’s way onto a lot of competition tables (albeit detailed up)
in the near future.
A great base to start from - i expect to see some of these on modelling tables very soon.
Adam Norenberg
Revell model kits are
available from all good toy and model retailers. For further information visit www.revell.eu
Below are some pictures from their site of the truck completed - I think an average builder could get even more out of this kit quite easily.
