Built n' Reviewed: Tamiya's new 1/35th scale RSO/01 German Tractor
RSO/01 German Tractor Post-Spring 1943
From Tamiya
Product No. #394
1/35th Scale
Plastic injection-moulded kit.
Three marking choices inside the kit
1 driver figure included.
Length 126 mm, overall width 64 mm.
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The subject: Raupenschlepper OST RSO/01. 1943 Production
The acronym RSO stands for “Raupenschlepper Ost", which translates as “Caterpillar Tractor East". The terrible muddy and icy conditions experienced on the Eastern Front convinced Germany of the need for a highly mobile, tracked vehicle. Steyr proposed the RSO, and it immediately became a popular vehicle thanks to its mobility and reliability.
The cover girl of this boxing is seen here, with the same markings and those heavier tracks in the rails on either side of the tray. All of the period images here contain the marking choices from this boxing.
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In all, about 23,000 RSO vehicles were produced by a range of manufacturers. The original version had a pressed-steel cab and a typical truck-style cargo bed at the rear. It was powered by a Steyr 85-hp V8 engine that offered a top speed of 30 km/h.
You will notice the very wide snow/mud tracks used on this machine.
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Initially designed as a prime mover and artillery supply vehicle, the RSO eventually adapted to a wide range of roles. Upon its arrival on the Eastern Front, combat units repurposed it for general transportation duties, leveraging its reliability, ease of maintenance, and versatility to excel in various terrains. Its unique "slack-track" system, consisting of four road wheels per side in a single line, proved particularly effective in handling the challenging mud season and Russian winter conditions, which often crippled other vehicles. This was due to the absence of return rollers, which eliminated the risk of mud or snow freezing between the wheels of more complex suspension systems found in German half-track vehicles like the SdKfz 7.
Again in heavy mud, this late-model RSO is seen towing a large 21 cm mortar.
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The RSO underwent several design iterations, starting with the RSO/01, which featured a pressed-steel cab with a truck-like configuration. Subsequent models, RSO/02 and RSO/03, adopted a simpler, soft-top, slab-sided metal cab. All versions boasted wooden, drop-side cargo beds typical of light trucks from that era. Initially powered by a Steyr 3.5L V8 petrol engine, the RSO/03 was later upgraded to a Deutz air-cooled diesel engine. Approximately 23,000 RSO units of all versions were produced.
Interestingly, this RSO is seen running without its engine grille cover. This, plus the simple yellow colour, may denote it is from a Southern European theatre.
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The kit:
Rumours were floating around that Tamiya were dropping a new kit at the recent IPMS Nationals in Fort Worth, Indiana, and they didn’t disappoint. Well, at least they didn’t disappoint me because I have a real soft spot for the RSO. It’s a versatile little subject that will slide into just about any display.
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I’ve been lucky enough to snag myself one of these kits through Dave ‘The Podfather’ Goldfinch from the On the Bench podcast from his recent trip to the IPMS Nationals. If you are looking for a way to keep involved in the hobby in an even greater way or possibly just pass the time while driving to work, be sure to tune in and have a listen to the boys. They don’t take themselves too seriously but are doing their best to connect this community in an even greater way. Thanks again, Dave, for thinking of me!
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The kit parts come over five tan-coloured sprues, plus a clear sprue for the glazing. The instruction booklet is in the typical Tamiya style, covering the build in xx steps. This isn’t the first time Tamiya has released the RSO 01, but what makes this one special is it is 100% Tamiya tooling and design, whereas the other versions were all re-boxed kits.
Looking at the sprues, the first thing I am drawn to is the sculpting of the canvas cover for the tray. It is absolutely stunning; with the flow and weight, the fabric has looked extremely natural and realistic.
This follows through onto the figure with the way the uniform has been sculpted. Tamiya really has perfected the way the fabric is translating to injection moulding as well as the way these figures are engineered to join in inconspicuous places. I’ve mentioned it before that whilst the face is very nice, it just lacks a little personality.
How the driver looks put together.
Also included for this figure is a set of decals to dress the uniform with, which is greatly welcomed.
The tracks come in the link and length style, which I personally appreciate and like, especially considering the suspension is fixed, so there is no need for a workable style of track.
The drive sprocket and idler have a unique character on their vehicles, and Tamiya seems to have captured in the moulding...
...and those four running wheels per side are instantly recognisable.
Looking at the mouldings for the tray sections, I get the feeling the grain in the timber is quite exaggerated; however, I’ll reserve judgement here until I have a look at this under paint. I would suggest the modeller may need to carefully select the wash colour to not overstate this grain.
The kit comes with the engine assembly, which is nice but in reality will be all but invisible on the finished model.
There is a lot to like with the simplicity of this kit and the way the parts have been engineered.
The wide dashboard in one pipe looks like it was pressed out of the factory.
The driver & passenger seats have the slight recesses that would be present with heavy use (or thin padding).
The driver's cab has no visible front seal (no separate roof part), which is nice, but it joins to the rest of the cab on the rear window and the front grille shown just above it.
Clear parts for the windows and transparent parts are included, of course.
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Given how prevalent the RSO was, I was a little surprised there were only two schemes offered in the box. It would have taken very little effort to add another set of decal options and possibly a whitewashed suggestion.
The build commences & pre-painting:
In terms of construction, this thing all but fell together as expected with only some minor filling and sanding required. You will have to, however, consider a degree of pre-painting as you move through the assembly. Failing to do so will make it incredibly awkward to paint once it has been assembled.
The build video is shown below the conclusion...
Conclusion
I know I was a little critical with the Chaffee kit a few weeks ago and some of the things I pointed out, like moulded grab handles and overscale parts. Yes, some of those shortcomings are present on this model as well, but it feels less noticeable or less obvious with this kit.
The kit is shown below, primed underneath & painted inside, ready for the next step of the build...
I built this kit on and off over a rainy Sunday here in Australia and enjoyed every minute of the process. For me, I think the subject choice is terrific, and it now offers a simplified build experience but, more importantly, an in-proportion rendition of the RSO (which has been an issue in the past with the RSO) that most anyone in the hobby can enjoy.
Many of you may recall I built the MiniArt around 18 months ago, and comparing the two build experiences is like comparing a stroll to the coffee shop against running a double marathon. Yes, the MiniArt kit is a lot more detailed and thorough, but it is exhausting, and if I were to build another RSO, I know which kit I’d be picking up.
It’s also a shame the masks provided neglected the cover on the rear, and the only other area of concern is possibly the weight of the timber grain on the tray. I do like that the figure has been considered on that decal sheet and the options you get to display the model in terms of cover/no cover/frame work, etc.
Engineering and fit are flawless, and the way the clean parts fit should be the benchmark for other companies moving forward. This is a typical Tamiya build experience and is a kit that will be accessible and enjoyed by modellers of all skill levels.
Check out the video where I’ll take a deep dive into the complete build process, noting some of the important stages through the build.
Clayton Ockerby
You can see more of Tamiya's kits on the Tamiya USA website
See more of Clayton's amazing works on his YouTube channel, his modelling portal "Workbench Hobbies" or his Facebook page
