In Bag Review of Tamiya 1/35th Scale
German Military Motorcycle DKW NZ-350
Kit no,. 89548
MSRP: Unknown (I paid $6.50 for a used kit to a vendor at an IPMS contest in the 90’s)
Tamiya is a prolific model company based in Japan. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: Unknown (I paid $6.50 for a used kit to a vendor at an IPMS contest in the 90’s)
Tamiya is a prolific model company based in Japan. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
By Ray Mehlberger
HISTORY:
Established in 1919, the German motorcycle manufacturer DKW earned international acclaim in the thirties as a producer of finely crafted two-stroke racing motorcycles. It was at this period that the German reconnaissance division of the Wehrmacht, focused on mechanization, and was accelerating the deployment of motorcycles.
At first, the Wehrmacht did not express an interest in the two-stroke engine produced by DKW. In 1938 however they decided to adopt the 11hp single cylinder two-stroke engine equipped DKW NZ 350 medium cycle. Production started on the NZ 350/1 version, specially modified for the Wehrmacht. This new model featured a cast iron engine block, centrifugal air filter and strengthening braces from the frame to an added baggage carrier.
Although it proved unsuitable for heavy cross-country use, its light weight and easy handling made it ideal as a courier cycle in Europe, North Africa and Russia well into World War II.
THE KIT:
This kit comes in a cello bag with a header card stapled to the top of it. However, the vendor that sold this to me has thrown away the header card before selling it.
WHAT’S IN THE BAG:
The bag contains only one grey parts tree and the decal sheet in a sealed cello bag, the instructions and a sheet of “Important information concerning the kit” in 13 languages including English.
The instructions consist of a single sheet printed on both sides in Japanese and English. It is 11 5/8” x 5 1/8” format and folded 3 times to fit the bag.
The face side begins with a black and white illustration of the bike, followed by the history of the bike in Japanese and English, followed by illustrations of some hobby tools and the first assembly step.
The other side continues on with a grand total of 4 assembly steps.
The single grey letter A parts tree holds: the motorcycle’s front and rear wheels, the motor, exhaust pipes, front fork parts, handle bars, seats, head light, saddle bags etc. (21 parts)
Established in 1919, the German motorcycle manufacturer DKW earned international acclaim in the thirties as a producer of finely crafted two-stroke racing motorcycles. It was at this period that the German reconnaissance division of the Wehrmacht, focused on mechanization, and was accelerating the deployment of motorcycles.
At first, the Wehrmacht did not express an interest in the two-stroke engine produced by DKW. In 1938 however they decided to adopt the 11hp single cylinder two-stroke engine equipped DKW NZ 350 medium cycle. Production started on the NZ 350/1 version, specially modified for the Wehrmacht. This new model featured a cast iron engine block, centrifugal air filter and strengthening braces from the frame to an added baggage carrier.
Although it proved unsuitable for heavy cross-country use, its light weight and easy handling made it ideal as a courier cycle in Europe, North Africa and Russia well into World War II.
THE KIT:
This kit comes in a cello bag with a header card stapled to the top of it. However, the vendor that sold this to me has thrown away the header card before selling it.
WHAT’S IN THE BAG:
The bag contains only one grey parts tree and the decal sheet in a sealed cello bag, the instructions and a sheet of “Important information concerning the kit” in 13 languages including English.
The instructions consist of a single sheet printed on both sides in Japanese and English. It is 11 5/8” x 5 1/8” format and folded 3 times to fit the bag.
The face side begins with a black and white illustration of the bike, followed by the history of the bike in Japanese and English, followed by illustrations of some hobby tools and the first assembly step.
The other side continues on with a grand total of 4 assembly steps.
The single grey letter A parts tree holds: the motorcycle’s front and rear wheels, the motor, exhaust pipes, front fork parts, handle bars, seats, head light, saddle bags etc. (21 parts)
The decal sheet contains 3 different Wehrmacht license plate numbers plus the speedometer decal.
There is no driver figure included. It would have been nice to have one and I think it will take a search of figures in my stash of kits to find a suitable seated German figure.
Highly recommended. I don’t know if this kit is OOP or not.
Highly recommended. I don’t know if this kit is OOP or not.
As said above, kit was courtesy of my wallet.