June 15, 2026

Preview: MiniArt's 35th-scale Kfz.2/40 German Repair Car 170VK

We look at MiniArt's repair car version of the Kfz.2/40 Mercedes Type 170VK. We look at the art, CADs, features real thing in our preview today...

Preview: MiniArt's 35th-scale Kfz.2/40 German Repair Car 170VK

Kfz.2/40 German Repair Car 170VK
From MiniArt
Kit No. #35495
1/35th scale
Three marking choices included inside
Photo-etch & plastic parts inside
The Subject:  Kfz.2  German Repair Car Type 170VK
The leichte geländegängige Einheits-Personenkraftwagen (le. gl. Einheits-Pkw), configured as the Kfz. 2, was a specialized light military vehicle used by the German Wehrmacht during World War II. Based on the Mercedes-Benz Type 170VK chassis, it was a versatile light vehicle used extensively by the Wehrmacht during World War II. Designed for command and liaison roles, it featured a compact, open-top body with a folding canvas roof, allowing for rapid ingress and egress in field conditions. Its robust 4x2 drivetrain and reliable 1.7-litre engine made it suitable for paved roads and light off-road terrain, though it was not intended for frontline combat zones. The vehicle’s layout prioritised accessibility and visibility, with minimal armour and a utilitarian dashboard tailored for radio operations and map work.
It featured a distinctive angular rear, an asymmetrical body layout with only three doors (including just a single door on the right side), and an internal stowage box at the rear designed to hold the spare wheel. However, crews in the field frequently mounted the spare wheel onto the outside of the rear box to maximise internal space for personal baggage.

The vehicle was produced in three primary variants:
-Nachrichtenkraftwagen (Kfz. 2): A specialized signals motor vehicle.
-Funkkraftwagen (Kfz. 2): A radio motor vehicle equipped with a Tornisterfunkgerät b 1 or f radio and a battery case. This variant featured a distinct antenna base on the left rear side, which was typically protected by a wrapper. 
-Kleine Instandsetzungskraftwagen (Kfz. 2/40): A small maintenance motor vehicle variant.

A wartime photo in good detail of the Mercedes-Benz type 170 VK
Production of the Type 170VK variant began in the late 1930s, with Mercedes-Benz adapting civilian designs to meet military specifications. The Kfz.1’s understated profile and civilian lineage made it less conspicuous than larger command vehicles, a useful trait in contested areas. Post-war, surviving examples were often repurposed or restored, and today they are prized by collectors for their historical significance and elegant engineering. As a symbol of wartime mobility and communications doctrine, the Kfz.1 exemplifies the German emphasis on coordination and speed in operational planning.
Mercedes-Benz 170 VK Luftwaffe, June 1940, France

The Kit: MiniArt's 35th scale Kfz.2  German repair car, Type 170VK
This kit is an adaptation of MiniArt's widely loved Mercedes 170V series in 35th scale. The fine details and smart engineering have been a part of this series people seem to like.
Kit Features:
A highly detailed model of the Kfz. 2 German repair car, Type 170VK
Accurate communication equipment and interior layout
A decal sheet is included for several markings. Photo-etched parts are included to replicate the thinner and finer parts of the kit that would otherwise be harder to handle or inaccurate in plastic.
You can access all parts of the car, including the detailed interior, with this kit.
Oxy bottles, tools, a jerry can & work gear for light repairs are all included in this kit.
The rear compartment can be posed open also.
Passenger doors can be opened or closed on this kit.
The full engine is in place if you want to hinge the bonnet open.
The detailed chassis is included
The parts layout of this kit.
There are three marking choices in this kit:
Arriving next month, you can see more about this kit on the MiniArt website...