It seems that staff cars are never as exciting as tanks when it comes to making a model, so the selection available in 1/35 scale plastic kits is somewhat limited. For a long time Italeri’s Kfz. 15 Horch was pretty much it and though there are a lot more choices around now this older kit still has quite a bit to offer.
This kit comes in a large tray and lid style box on two large, light grey sprues, together with a small claer sprue and six vinyl tyres. The moulds are all very clean and sharp with no discernable flashing other than some very minor bits on some of the more delicate pieces, so clean up is limited to the usual light mould seams and sprue attachment points.
The chassis is actually very well detailed with a full suspension set-up. It’s not a huge number of parts, but what there is looks very good and doesn’t have any sense of being overly simplified. The only notable omission is the lack of an engine, or even a lower part of an engine, but unless the kit is modelled to show the underside this isn’t noticeable. The wheels are very nicely done with separate brake drums and vinyl tyres. The tyres have no manufacturers markings, but on a big positive note they have no mould seams which are usually very difficult to clean up on vinyl tyres.
The body is made up of the floor with separate panels for the sides. Only the early model option with the externally mounted spare wheel is given, but that doesn’t date the vehicle to any particular time frame as these were used througout the war. All four doors can be positioned open and have good detail on both sides. There are optional roof hoods, one up, one folded away, though there is no frame detail included with the up option so you will need to add your own. The side glass panels are each moulded as one piece in clear plastic so the frames, which are moulded as part of them, will need to be painted carefully.
The bonnet has separate side panels with some very nicely done vents, and there are two optional pennant mounts included for use on the wheel arch, one solid, one the X frame style. The bonnet isn’t desinged to be modelled open and has some large knockout marks on the underside if you do decide you want to redo it to be positioned open. The radiator grille isn’t look through, but does look good, and includes the hole for a starter handle.
The interior is also very good, with a decent enough dashboard and some very good treadplate detail on the floor, though the seat pads could use a little texturing and shaping. No decals are provided for the dash but the dials etc are all raised for painting. The levers etc are all a little overly thick but are still quite well done and could just do with a little thinning down with the edge of a sharp knife. Two jerry cans are provided for stowage in the rear. These are better than some older Italeri offerings and have the correct three pronged hanle as well as a decent looking filler cap if you’re careful joining the two halves.
Two figures are included together with a small wooden folding table and a briefcase. The mouldings on these are clean and sharp, though the folds and creases in the clothing is a little underdone and both figures look a little stiff and manakin like. Sizewise they are good being 49-50mm so around 172-175cm or 5’7-5’9″. Not overly tall but also not massively stunted. The officer gets a holstered pistol, the driver a gasmask container, mess tin, canteen, bayonet, one triple MP40 mag pouch and an MP40 sub-machine gun.
Decals and painting guides are provided for three vehicle options – Aufklarungsabteilung 220 (mot), 164 Leichte, Afrika Division, North Africa 1942 : Befehlshaber, Pz. Gruppe Von Kleist, URSS 1942 : Batterie 5, Artillerieregiment 10 (mot), Pz.Gren. Division, 10.Pz.Gruppe 2 Guderian, URSS Ottobre, October 1941.
This may be an older kit but it is still avery good one, one of Italeri’s better examples. It still comes with a good ammount of detail and, while the interior could use a little extra love and attention, it’s a quick and easy kit to put together and the end result is good straight from the box.
Click thumbnails to enlarge images.
