UPDATE : JANUARY 2012 – With all the new kits out in the past year this is now due for a big update so I’ll be trying over the next couple of months to update this, the truck list, and the motorcycle list with the couple of dozen new additions that need to now be added.
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This section called “FOCUS ON … :” takes a look at a particular subject and what is available in the way of kits and what you can expect to get etc. Today the focus is on 1/35 scale plastic kitsets of Staff Cars and Radio Cars in WWII.
As I lamented in the Focus on Light Utility Vehicles ( see HERE ) wheeled vehicles without a gun seemed to have drawn no interest from manufacturers until this past year when we have seen a sudden outpouring. So let’s take a look at what is out there, the old, the new, and the still to come.
Italeri Kfz. 15 Horch :
This is one of Italeri’s better offerings. This representation of the Kfz. 15 Field Staff Car makes up into quite a nice kit. As with most Italeri kits there are some missing details but what you do get are clean and nicely moulded.
Included is an officer, a driver and a map table ( to go with the map case no doubt ) and both are well moulded with good sharp detail.
All in all a nice little kit that won’t disappoint.
Tamiya Citroen Traction 11CV :
There’s not really a lot to this kit, basically one sprue of dark green plastic, a smaller one of clear parts, the upper body and the lower pan with bumpers already moulded in place. The rear doors are moulded as part of the body so cannot be opened while the front ones are seperate doord. The wheels are single piece moulded plastic with a delicate tread pattern. The driver whilst well moulded does seem to be a little small and expressionless. The bonnet is also moulded as part of the body so cannot be opened and there is no motor.
All that amounts to a quick and simple build that can be knocked out in under an hour with the finished model being a nice wee car but I can’t help feeling it needs more detailing, especially on the inside. I expect before long we’ll see PE sets that give you the engine, open bonnet, open grille, doorhandles and wipers that it needs.
Tamiya Kfz. 15 Horch :
A reboxing of the Italeri kit with Tamiya’s German Fuel Drums set added. A nice kit but not really worth the premium you pay for the Tamiya name added to the box.
Tamiya Horch 4 Type 1a :
One of Tamiya’s older offerings so a little light on detail but still makes up into quite a good model and there are photo-etch sets and AM parts like resin wheels available to detail it up if so desired and when done it presents very well.
The soft top roof can be modelled either up or down, the wheels are one piece plastic with the tread detail a little lacking but passable, there is no engine, and the single driver figure lacks any real animation but does the job adequately. Overall still worth the effort and it does do up nicely if you want to go down the PE detail set road.
Tamiya Steyr 1500A /01 :
Very nicely produced kit that can be built as either an early or a late model. It’s the typical Tamiya quality with minimal cleanup required, clear and simple instructions and making up into a very nice model. Includes mesh for the grille ( not completely accurate but better than nothing ). Also comes with two figures, a driver and a standing officer, both dressed in Heer uniforms. Several aftermarket kits are available including a number of resin kits to make a multitude of variants on the Steyr platform.
Read a full REVIEW on this kit HERE
Tamiya Steyr 1500A /01 Afrikakorp :
The same base kit as above but with two new sprues added. One contains six fuel drums and eight jerrycans, the other contains four new figures giving six figures in total, the original two plus four new ones dressed in DAK shorts, ankle boots and shirts with rolled up sleeves.
Also included are some new items of stowage and two pith helmets. All this makes for a very nice kit that is also very good value for money.
Tamiya Steyr Type 1500A Kommandeurwagen :
Based on the Steyr 1500A platform mentioned above this kit creates the staff car version by adding new parts to give you a boot plus a soft top roof which can be modelled in either the up or down position.
A third figure is also included so you get the original two plus a seated senior german officer to go in the back seat. Once again this is a very well detailed kit that should not disappoint.
Bronco Sd.Kfz 13 Adler :
Good clean parts and strong detail that make up into an unusual and interesting kit. There are a few technical inaccuracies with the real thing but only a serious researcher would pick them out. The kit comes with a small PE fret and markings for three pre-war and early war vehicles.
The bonnet comes as seperate parts but there is no engine and no option to pose it open. The tyres come as seperate one part moulded plastic parts that fit onto the three piece wheels. You get a choice of weapons, an MG13, an MG34 or a PzB 39 anti-tank rifle. A magless MP40 and several grenades are also included. No figures are included.
Bronco Sd.Kfz 13 Adler Radio Car :
Basically the same kit as above but this one comes with the extra parts to turn the Adler into the Radiocar version with internal radios and a large frame antenna on top. It also includes an extra set of early pattern tyres.
Again a nice interesting variation from the norm that will look good on anyones shelf or in an early war diorama.
Bronco Opel Staff Car “Stabswagen” :
Sharp, clean detail and nice tidy mouldings with minimal cleanup on another unusual but interesting subject. The body comes with the bonnet and grille all moulded as one, though all the doors are separate and have the nice feature of being an external and internal panel which trap the glass part between them looking just like a real car. As the bonnet is part of the body there is no engine. The hood can be displayed up or down and the internal detail is good enough to have it down. The tyres are moulded in slices to give the best tread detail.
An MP40 with ammo pouch is included to mount inside and you also get an MG34 with a length of ammo belt, three drum mags and an ammo tin. Two jerry cans with pe parts are also included. No figures are included.
All in all this makes up well although like most of the staff cars it looks a little barren. It would take well I feel to a bit of fine detailing and a few items sitting in the back like a mapcase and maps, etc.
Bronco 1937 Opel Olympia :
There isn’t a lot to this kit but what there is is very well made. Good clean detail and minimal clean-up. The body is a one piece moulding so no seperate bonnet or boot and as such no engine. Chassis detail is very good and the tyres are moulded in slices to give the maximum level of detail to the tread. A PE fret is included for detailing things like the wipers and the briefcase that comes with this kit. The doors are seperate and moulded as an internal and external panel that sandwich the glass between them.
No figures or weapons are included but as mentioned there is a briefcase for the back seat.
A very simple kit that builds into a very nice model. The sparseness is probably exagerated by years of tanks with all manner of bits attached so with that in mind it actually makes a very interesting comparison and stands out when amongst armour.
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I thought also that with the increase in avaiability of staff cars recently that a look at some of those in the pipeline was in order. So here are a few that are coming, though I couldn’t say when and have no further information on them at this time.
Miniart German Staff Car 170V :
Miniart German Staff Car 170V Cabriolet :
Update pending 
Miniart German Car 170V :
Update pending
Masterbox Kfz. 1 Type 170VK :
Masterbox Kfz. 2 Type 170VK : ( coming soon )
ICM Kfz 1 Personal Car :
Update Pending
ICM Kfz 2 Radiocar :
Update Pending
Bronco Opel Staff Car “Stabswagen” Saloon with Crew :
Update Pending
NB : If you know of anything we’ve missed please let us know so that we can update the list and keep it as accurate as possible.
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