In Box Review of IBG 1/35th Scale
Einheitsdiesel with Bilstein Recover Crane
Kit no. 35006
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $47.99
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $47.99
HISTORY:
The Einheitsdiesel (Uniform Diesel), as the vehicle was generally called, was built from 1937 to 1940 by Man (1800 units), Henschel (1500 units), Magirus (2500 units), Bussing-NAG (3200 units), Faun (700 units), Daimler-Benz (550 units and probably Vomag.
The vehicle was technically advanced, robust and reliable. Because of its complex running-gear design (six-wheel drive and individual suspension of all wheels), the Uniform Diesel had remarkable off-road capability, and was thus very popular among the troops. One advantage was the low load limit of 2375 kg, compared to a net weight of 4925 kg.
Production was halted in 1940, as less expensive two-axle trucks with comparable performance figures existed by then. Einheitsdiesel was widely used by Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe units in almost all theatres of the war as a standard truck, radio van, telephone exchange van, field kitchen, service van (this kit subject) and other versions.
THE KIT:
IBG (International Business Group) is a model company based in Warsaw, Poland. I never heard of this brand before and go curious about it. I went on line to their web site and discovered that they not only make their own line of model kits, but also retail just about every other brand A to Z.
The kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The box is blousy and 3 1/4" too long.
The box art shows the truck parked on top of some railroad tracks and beside some battle-damaged buildings. It is overall Panzer-grey with no markings and has a tan canvas roof over the cab. A soldier is standing beside it looking at some paperwork.
One side-panel begins with IBG's street address, telephone and FAX numbers, e-mail address and their web site address. This is followed by a white sticker that says that Squadron MMD is the distributor of this kit and that the kit is not suitable for children under 14 because of small parts. Paint and glue are not included. Instructions for assembly are inside the box.
The other side-panel has the history of the truck in Polish, German and Engish. Each single paragraph is marked with a color illustration of the flags of Poland, Germany and the UK, followed by a small repeat in color of the box art and MADE IN POLAND.
The Einheitsdiesel (Uniform Diesel), as the vehicle was generally called, was built from 1937 to 1940 by Man (1800 units), Henschel (1500 units), Magirus (2500 units), Bussing-NAG (3200 units), Faun (700 units), Daimler-Benz (550 units and probably Vomag.
The vehicle was technically advanced, robust and reliable. Because of its complex running-gear design (six-wheel drive and individual suspension of all wheels), the Uniform Diesel had remarkable off-road capability, and was thus very popular among the troops. One advantage was the low load limit of 2375 kg, compared to a net weight of 4925 kg.
Production was halted in 1940, as less expensive two-axle trucks with comparable performance figures existed by then. Einheitsdiesel was widely used by Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe units in almost all theatres of the war as a standard truck, radio van, telephone exchange van, field kitchen, service van (this kit subject) and other versions.
THE KIT:
IBG (International Business Group) is a model company based in Warsaw, Poland. I never heard of this brand before and go curious about it. I went on line to their web site and discovered that they not only make their own line of model kits, but also retail just about every other brand A to Z.
The kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The box is blousy and 3 1/4" too long.
The box art shows the truck parked on top of some railroad tracks and beside some battle-damaged buildings. It is overall Panzer-grey with no markings and has a tan canvas roof over the cab. A soldier is standing beside it looking at some paperwork.
One side-panel begins with IBG's street address, telephone and FAX numbers, e-mail address and their web site address. This is followed by a white sticker that says that Squadron MMD is the distributor of this kit and that the kit is not suitable for children under 14 because of small parts. Paint and glue are not included. Instructions for assembly are inside the box.
The other side-panel has the history of the truck in Polish, German and Engish. Each single paragraph is marked with a color illustration of the flags of Poland, Germany and the UK, followed by a small repeat in color of the box art and MADE IN POLAND.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
The kit contains 5 medium-grey trees in 4 selfsealing cello bags, a clear tree and the decal sheet in another selfsealing cello bag and a length of black string in a further selfsealing cello bag.
The instructions complete the kits contents. I consists of a staple-bound booklet of 24 pages in 8 1/2" x 11 1/2" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art. Project, design and artwork by Jaroslaw Leoniec. Research by IBG crew and special thanks to Mr. Volker Ruff for his help.
Below this is international assembly symbol explanations, a list of paint colors by Gunze Mr. Color, Model Master Acrylic, Humbrol and Vellejo brands of hobby paints. General instructions in Polish and English and the letter C parts tree illustration.
IBG's addresses are repeated at the bottom of the page.
Page 2 has the illustration of the letter X parts tree, with IBG's addresses at the bottom.
Page 3 has the illustration of the letter Y parts tree, again with IBG's addresses at the bottom.
Page 4 has the illustration of the letter H parts tree, again with IBG'S addresses at the bottom
Page 5 has the illustration of the letter G parts tree, again with IBG'S addresses at the bottom.
Pages 6 through 22 give a grand total of 36 assembly steps.
Steps 1 to 26 are for the truck and steps 27 to 36 are for the crane.
Page 23 has a 5-view illustration of the truck in overall Panzer-grey. It has the license plate number WH 153890 on the front and rear, a yellow division marking on the left front fender and the right rear one. It has a white tactical marking over the rear license plate and on the right front fender.
It is a truck with the Maintenance Company of the 4th Armoured Division, France 1940.
Page 24 has another 5-view illustration of the truck in a base of Panzer-grey with wide bands of winter white-wash over it. It has the license plate number WH 231500 on it's front and rear. It carries a red division mark of a hatchet on the left front fender and the right rear one. A white tactical mark is over the license plate on the rear and on the right front fender.
This truck is with the Maintenance Company of the 6th Armoured Division, Eastern Front, Russia, winter 1941.
Lettering starts with the medium-sized medium-grey letter C parts tree. It holds alternate cargo bed sectons and rear fender sections (14 parts). Five parts are shaded out in the parts tree illustration as being excess and not needed to complete the kit.
The kit contains 5 medium-grey trees in 4 selfsealing cello bags, a clear tree and the decal sheet in another selfsealing cello bag and a length of black string in a further selfsealing cello bag.
The instructions complete the kits contents. I consists of a staple-bound booklet of 24 pages in 8 1/2" x 11 1/2" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art. Project, design and artwork by Jaroslaw Leoniec. Research by IBG crew and special thanks to Mr. Volker Ruff for his help.
Below this is international assembly symbol explanations, a list of paint colors by Gunze Mr. Color, Model Master Acrylic, Humbrol and Vellejo brands of hobby paints. General instructions in Polish and English and the letter C parts tree illustration.
IBG's addresses are repeated at the bottom of the page.
Page 2 has the illustration of the letter X parts tree, with IBG's addresses at the bottom.
Page 3 has the illustration of the letter Y parts tree, again with IBG's addresses at the bottom.
Page 4 has the illustration of the letter H parts tree, again with IBG'S addresses at the bottom
Page 5 has the illustration of the letter G parts tree, again with IBG'S addresses at the bottom.
Pages 6 through 22 give a grand total of 36 assembly steps.
Steps 1 to 26 are for the truck and steps 27 to 36 are for the crane.
Page 23 has a 5-view illustration of the truck in overall Panzer-grey. It has the license plate number WH 153890 on the front and rear, a yellow division marking on the left front fender and the right rear one. It has a white tactical marking over the rear license plate and on the right front fender.
It is a truck with the Maintenance Company of the 4th Armoured Division, France 1940.
Page 24 has another 5-view illustration of the truck in a base of Panzer-grey with wide bands of winter white-wash over it. It has the license plate number WH 231500 on it's front and rear. It carries a red division mark of a hatchet on the left front fender and the right rear one. A white tactical mark is over the license plate on the rear and on the right front fender.
This truck is with the Maintenance Company of the 6th Armoured Division, Eastern Front, Russia, winter 1941.
Lettering starts with the medium-sized medium-grey letter C parts tree. It holds alternate cargo bed sectons and rear fender sections (14 parts). Five parts are shaded out in the parts tree illustration as being excess and not needed to complete the kit.
Lettering jumps to the medium-sized medium-grey letter G parts tree. It holds: another cargo deck (the one needed for this crane mounted version), crane parts etc. (27 parts)
Medium-sized medium-grey letter H parts tree holds: cargo deck wall sections and frame fittings, engine parts etc. (36 parts)
Lettering jumps again to the large medium-grey letter X tree. It holds: wheels, frame fittings, windshield frame, cab sections, fan, steering wheel, dashboard, control levers, exhuast pipe etc. (119 parts). Three parts are excess.
Large medium-grey letter Y parts tree holds: hood parts, cab roof, frame members, fuel tank, front fenders, cab floor, radiator, suspension parts, engine halves, Jerry can etc. (99 parts).
The clear parts tree holds 2 windshield panes.
The decal sheet is next. It has markings for the 2 trucks described above, plus some data plates that go on the crane.
The string that goes on the crane's pulleys completes the kits contents.
The crane can be displayed in the traveling or deployed position.
There are no crew figures in the kit.
The decal sheet is next. It has markings for the 2 trucks described above, plus some data plates that go on the crane.
The string that goes on the crane's pulleys completes the kits contents.
The crane can be displayed in the traveling or deployed position.
There are no crew figures in the kit.
This is a very detailed model and pretty complex build. I recommend it only to experienced modelers. It is not for the novice, nor is it a weekend build project.
I won this kit in a raffle at a recent IPMS contest.
I have started building this kit and these are photos of the progress I have made since I received the kit.