August 22, 2026

Preview: MiniArt's 1/35th-scale Raupenschlepper OST RSO/01 w/Trailer SD.ANH Ost 1.5t

MiniArt pairs their RSO/01 with the 1.5t SD. ANH trailer in a great-looking kit that will claim its own hearts. We have art, features & CADs in our preview...

Preview: MiniArt's 1/35th-scale Raupenschlepper OST RSO/01 w/Trailer SD.ANH Ost 1.5t

Raupenschlepper OST RSO/01 w/Trailer SD.ANH Ost 1.5t
From MiniArt Models
1/35th scale
Kit No. 53005
Decals for four options in the box.
The kit includes clear parts & photo-etched metal.
The subject: Raupenschlepper OST RSO/01. Late 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 shown here, the same RSO used in the artist's lovely rendition. Notice the spare tracks on the roof & the slightly lower front windscreens (also shown on the box art).
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.

Another choice from this kit, shown in a rural scene with some local children
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.

Another one of the RSO's captured in this boxing. 
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.

An RSO in a rather poor state, door open—I wonder what happened here.

The trailer:
Designed to serve behind the Steyr RSO, special two-axle trailers were developed. Made with a steel chassis and frame with wooden sides and wheels that were made of steel with rubber around the rim. These trailers served many different objectives in late WWII. They had a payload of 1.5 tonnes, and while initially they were used for cargo, these were loaded with anything that would serve on them.

These trailers were steered with the two front wheels being able to be turned and the triangular front frame being the pivot point. On some of these, large shields underneath the axles were used to displace the mud and snow that these trailers were pulled through.

Although this model had large steel wheels, several were made with waggon and truck wheels in place of these.

The trailer was very simply constructed. It was manufactured by several manufacturers. It could be towed by similar slow vehicles, too.


The kit: MiniArt's 1/35th scale Raupenschlepper OST RSO/01 w/Trailer SD.ANH Ost 1.5t
MiniArt's 1/35th-scale Raupenschlepper OST RSO-01 Final-production is the next in their family of Raupenschleppers. This is the more common tractor version, with the all-metal cab with lower windows, a revised canvas frame, and a rear cover over the tray.

Features of this kit:
The RSO/01 OST (late version)—we have here the final and late variants as options for this kit.
The snow shoes add a lot to this kit's look.
The canopy itself is really great; it needs some filler on the joints, but it's very nice when completed.
A one-piece seat and chassis part.
Three of the different alternatives for the cab, doors and front grille/ engine cover.
You can see below both the low- and high-sided trailer and the canopy on and off, along with snow treads on or partially off the RSO
Below the canopy  - lovely moulding here and showing a little wind going through it..
And the canopy off with just the frame here.
Another shot of just the tray and cover on or off.
Some work has been done on the running gear & exhaust on this particular kit.
The front cover for the engine showing the late and final production types...
The link and length tracks make the construction easier, depending on your taste, of course.
The late return and drive wheels are shown on this kit.
For any maintenance scenarios, you can show the front opened up.
MiniArt offers a simplified engine in this kit to make it easier for them to not show it open to the elements...
The trailer: These show the two variations of the rear sides, either extended or lowered; it is up to the modeller's choice here. You can see the higher and lower sides of the tray here in these CADs below.
The large steel-and-rubber-rimmed wheels dominate this trailer. We suspect, like the Germans, this trailer will come out with different wheel choices. You have the option to include or leave off the large shields underneath the axles that were used to displace the mud and snow that these trailers were pulled through. 

The wagon sides can be dropped or left off altogether if you like.

This kit should be available next month from MiniArt's distributors worldwide.
Check out the MiniArt site for more info on all of their kits...