ITALERI 1/35 GERMAN OPEL "BLITZ" (LATE VERSION) TRUCK
By Ray Mehlberger
Kit no. 6386
MSRP: $22.00
GREAT MODELS PRICE: $16.50
Kit no. 6386
MSRP: $22.00
GREAT MODELS PRICE: $16.50
HISTORY
The Opel "Blitz" was the standard, medium weight, truck used by the German Army all through WWII. Tens of thousands were used in every theatre for various roles, including gun carrying platforms.
At the end of 1943, production began on versions of the truck with wooden cabins, instead of the metal ones used previously. This was done to reduce the use of metal materials which became more and more scarce towards the end of the war.
The Opel "Blitz" was the standard, medium weight, truck used by the German Army all through WWII. Tens of thousands were used in every theatre for various roles, including gun carrying platforms.
At the end of 1943, production began on versions of the truck with wooden cabins, instead of the metal ones used previously. This was done to reduce the use of metal materials which became more and more scarce towards the end of the war.
THE KIT:
Italeri is an old prolific model company based in Italy. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
Obviously, this new kit is somewhat of a re-pop of Italeri's earlier "Blitz" kit, that had the metal cabin, but with a few new parts for the square shaped wood cabin. So, a lot of parts will be common to both kits.
The kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The box art shows a "Blitz" tooling along a road, throwing up a cloud of dust. However, I cannot detect the presence of any driver in the cab, or else the artist does not like to draw figures.
It is overall dark green with a white license plate on the front bumper with black serial no. WH-408112 on it.
One side of the box contains the history of the Opel Blitz in 8 languages.
Italeri is an old prolific model company based in Italy. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
Obviously, this new kit is somewhat of a re-pop of Italeri's earlier "Blitz" kit, that had the metal cabin, but with a few new parts for the square shaped wood cabin. So, a lot of parts will be common to both kits.
The kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The box art shows a "Blitz" tooling along a road, throwing up a cloud of dust. However, I cannot detect the presence of any driver in the cab, or else the artist does not like to draw figures.
It is overall dark green with a white license plate on the front bumper with black serial no. WH-408112 on it.
One side of the box contains the history of the Opel Blitz in 8 languages.
The other side has the history in in 4 languages as well as Model Master paint recommendations and the contact information for Italeri.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
Inside the box are two trees of sand yellow colored styrene parts, a tree of eight black vinyl parts, and a tree of clear parts.
I was flabbergasted to see that Italeri used a cello bag on the clear parts, to keep them from getting scratched if they abrased against the other two naked trees. I wish Italeri would cello bag all the trees, as...invariably...I usually find parts broken off the trees, sometimes damaging them at the attachment points.
Tan parts tree, letter "A" holds parts of two seated figures, the vehicle' frame, leaf springs, wheel parts, rear bed floor and sides, rear axle etc. (88 parts)
Inside the box are two trees of sand yellow colored styrene parts, a tree of eight black vinyl parts, and a tree of clear parts.
I was flabbergasted to see that Italeri used a cello bag on the clear parts, to keep them from getting scratched if they abrased against the other two naked trees. I wish Italeri would cello bag all the trees, as...invariably...I usually find parts broken off the trees, sometimes damaging them at the attachment points.
Tan parts tree, letter "A" holds parts of two seated figures, the vehicle' frame, leaf springs, wheel parts, rear bed floor and sides, rear axle etc. (88 parts)
Tan parts tree, letter "B" holds parts of the cabin walls and roof, doors (which can be posed open or closed), seats, hood, grill, steering wheel, engine, control levers and foot pedals etc. (70 parts).
Clear tree "C" is the windows and headlight lens parts (5 parts)
Finally tree "D" are the black vinyl parts. There are eight tires on this tree...but the plans only show using seven of them...so one will be excess.
A small decal sheet and the instructions complete the kit contents.
Italeri really should have included at least a driver figure and a cargo load of some kind.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 10 pages in 7 ¾” x 13” page format.
Page one gives a single paragraph history of the vehicle in a dozen languages, including English.
Page two begins with another 12 paragraphs of general instructions, in the same 12 languages.
Page three is the parts tree drawings. Approximately 32 parts are shaded out, on these drawings, as being excess...or not used to build this version. The bottom of the page gives us the first assembly step.
Pages 4 through 7 give us the balance of a total of 11 assembly steps. The bottom of page 7 is the decal application instructions in nine languages.
Pages 8 and 9 are the painting and decal application instructions.
Page 8 shows a 4 view of a Blitz truck that is overall dark-tan with field-green blotches camouflage. It carries a white license plate on the front and rear with black serial no. WH-408 112 on them.
Page 9 shows another 4-view of a Blitz truck that is overall gunship-gray. It carries license plate no. WL-335650 on its front and rear.
Page 10 gives us a paragraph of general cautions in no less than 20 languages.
Decals are for two versions: a Luftwaffe and an Army one. License plates are given for each service, along with tactical markings.
As this vehicle was the WORKHORSE of the Wehrmacht, all manner of equipment could be added to the rear bed. It just is left to modelers-imagination as to what to put back there. Lots of diorama possibilities.
I highly recommend this kit to those of us that like soft-skinned military vehicles. It will be a welcome addition to a lot of armor collections I'm sure.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 10 pages in 7 ¾” x 13” page format.
Page one gives a single paragraph history of the vehicle in a dozen languages, including English.
Page two begins with another 12 paragraphs of general instructions, in the same 12 languages.
Page three is the parts tree drawings. Approximately 32 parts are shaded out, on these drawings, as being excess...or not used to build this version. The bottom of the page gives us the first assembly step.
Pages 4 through 7 give us the balance of a total of 11 assembly steps. The bottom of page 7 is the decal application instructions in nine languages.
Pages 8 and 9 are the painting and decal application instructions.
Page 8 shows a 4 view of a Blitz truck that is overall dark-tan with field-green blotches camouflage. It carries a white license plate on the front and rear with black serial no. WH-408 112 on them.
Page 9 shows another 4-view of a Blitz truck that is overall gunship-gray. It carries license plate no. WL-335650 on its front and rear.
Page 10 gives us a paragraph of general cautions in no less than 20 languages.
Decals are for two versions: a Luftwaffe and an Army one. License plates are given for each service, along with tactical markings.
As this vehicle was the WORKHORSE of the Wehrmacht, all manner of equipment could be added to the rear bed. It just is left to modelers-imagination as to what to put back there. Lots of diorama possibilities.
I highly recommend this kit to those of us that like soft-skinned military vehicles. It will be a welcome addition to a lot of armor collections I'm sure.