In Box Review of Mirage Hobby 1/35th Scale
Transporter Renault UE
Zestaw Z Wózkiem Zaopatrzeniowym
(Set With Cart Supply)
Kit no. 35514
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1999
Available at 1001 Hobbies for $22.99 and at 3 locations overseas on the web.
I paid $11.16 for my kit when it was marked down from $13.95 at a local shop that went out of business.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1999
Available at 1001 Hobbies for $22.99 and at 3 locations overseas on the web.
I paid $11.16 for my kit when it was marked down from $13.95 at a local shop that went out of business.
HISTORY:
The Renault UE Chenillette is a light tracked armoured carrier and prime mover produced by France between 1932 and 1940.
In 1930 the French Infantry decided to develop a light armoured vehicle able to tow and supply small cannon and mortars. In 1931 the Renault company was given the contract for production of its Renault UE, combined with the Renault UK trailer. In 1937, from a number of competitors, the Renault UE2 was chosen as an improved type for large-scale production.
Of both types combined over five thousand were built, including license production in Romania, and they were part of the standard equipment of all French infantry divisions. Most Renault UE vehicles in French service were unarmed; those in 1940 captured by Germany were used for a variety of purposes, including being armed with machine-guns, anti tank-guns and rocket artillery.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Prime mover
Place of origin: France
Used by: France,NaziGermany,Thailand,Romania
Taiwan Republic of China, Iron Guard
Designer; Renault
Manufacturer: Renault, AMX, Berliet, Fouga, Malaxa
Produced: 1932 - March 1941
No. built; 5,168 France, 126 Romania
Variants: UE 2, Senileta Malaxa Tip UE
Mass: 2.64 t (5,800 lb)
Length: 2.80 m (9 ft 2 in)
Width: 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Height: 1.25 m (4 ft 1 in)
Crew: two
Armor: 9mm (0.35 in)
Main armament: 7.5 mm MAC for the last UE 2 production run
Engine: Renault 85 of 38 hp (28 kW)
Payload capacity: 350 kg (770 lb) in cargo bin; 950 kg (2,090 lb) with trailer
Suspension: leaf spring
Ground clearance: 30 cm (12 in)
Fuel capacity: 56 L (12 imp gal)
Operational range: 100 km (62 mi)
Maximum speed: 30 km/h (19 mph)
The Renault UE Chenillette is a light tracked armoured carrier and prime mover produced by France between 1932 and 1940.
In 1930 the French Infantry decided to develop a light armoured vehicle able to tow and supply small cannon and mortars. In 1931 the Renault company was given the contract for production of its Renault UE, combined with the Renault UK trailer. In 1937, from a number of competitors, the Renault UE2 was chosen as an improved type for large-scale production.
Of both types combined over five thousand were built, including license production in Romania, and they were part of the standard equipment of all French infantry divisions. Most Renault UE vehicles in French service were unarmed; those in 1940 captured by Germany were used for a variety of purposes, including being armed with machine-guns, anti tank-guns and rocket artillery.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Prime mover
Place of origin: France
Used by: France,NaziGermany,Thailand,Romania
Taiwan Republic of China, Iron Guard
Designer; Renault
Manufacturer: Renault, AMX, Berliet, Fouga, Malaxa
Produced: 1932 - March 1941
No. built; 5,168 France, 126 Romania
Variants: UE 2, Senileta Malaxa Tip UE
Mass: 2.64 t (5,800 lb)
Length: 2.80 m (9 ft 2 in)
Width: 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Height: 1.25 m (4 ft 1 in)
Crew: two
Armor: 9mm (0.35 in)
Main armament: 7.5 mm MAC for the last UE 2 production run
Engine: Renault 85 of 38 hp (28 kW)
Payload capacity: 350 kg (770 lb) in cargo bin; 950 kg (2,090 lb) with trailer
Suspension: leaf spring
Ground clearance: 30 cm (12 in)
Fuel capacity: 56 L (12 imp gal)
Operational range: 100 km (62 mi)
Maximum speed: 30 km/h (19 mph)
THE KIT:
Mirage Hobby is an old prolific model company based in Warsaw, Poland.
They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a blousy taped shut end-opening type box.
The kit is 3 ¼” too long and 2 ½” too wide.
I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art has a background of a tan map. Over the map there is a color illustration of a Renault UE pulling a 4-wheeled cart, that has a fuel tank tied down with rope with a hand pump in its lid.
The UE and the cart are moving across a grassy field with forest in the background. Both are overall Panzer-gray. The UE has a large German white skeletal cross on its nose and white WH to the left of the cross.
Two figures are shown. The driver of the UE, looking out of the domed driver’s hatch and a second crewman standing on top of the UE. Both men wear khaki uniforms with steel helmets.
One side-panel of the box Just says the name of the kit, the kit no. and it is a series 5. Followed by a small color repeat of the box art.
Mirage Hobby is an old prolific model company based in Warsaw, Poland.
They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a blousy taped shut end-opening type box.
The kit is 3 ¼” too long and 2 ½” too wide.
I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art has a background of a tan map. Over the map there is a color illustration of a Renault UE pulling a 4-wheeled cart, that has a fuel tank tied down with rope with a hand pump in its lid.
The UE and the cart are moving across a grassy field with forest in the background. Both are overall Panzer-gray. The UE has a large German white skeletal cross on its nose and white WH to the left of the cross.
Two figures are shown. The driver of the UE, looking out of the domed driver’s hatch and a second crewman standing on top of the UE. Both men wear khaki uniforms with steel helmets.
One side-panel of the box Just says the name of the kit, the kit no. and it is a series 5. Followed by a small color repeat of the box art.
The other side-panel of the box says: Kit is suitable for ages 6 to adult. Contains decals and instructions for assembly. Paint and plastic adhesive are not included. In Polish, English and German, with each language labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language, followed by another small color repeat of the box art.
The bottom of the box is the painting and marking guide. It shows 2 full colored side-view illustrations of the UE and cart.
The first one is earth yellow with diagonal dark- green bands for camouflage.
It is how it looked in Greece in the Spring of 1941.
The second one is also earth yellow with large horizontal areas of dark-green camouflage.
It is how it looked in Russia in the Summer of 1943.
These two illustrations are on white backgrounds that are further atop a tan map background like the cover art is.
The first one is earth yellow with diagonal dark- green bands for camouflage.
It is how it looked in Greece in the Spring of 1941.
The second one is also earth yellow with large horizontal areas of dark-green camouflage.
It is how it looked in Russia in the Summer of 1943.
These two illustrations are on white backgrounds that are further atop a tan map background like the cover art is.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 5 chalk-white parts trees, a black vinyl tree, the decal sheet and the instructions in 2 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a unbound booklet of 6 pages in 7” x 9 ½” page format.
Page 1 of a single sheet part of the instructions that is folded in the center, begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the history of the Renault UE in Polish. International assembly symbol explanations are at the bottom of the page over Mirage Hobby’s street address and FAX number in Warsaw, Poland.
Page 2 of this sheet to the top of page 4 gives a grand total of 8 assembly steps for the UE. The steps are Roman numbered. Step IX is assembly of the 4-wheeled cart and fuel tank load, with a hand pump and it’s treads.
The bottom of the page has a suggested paint color listing in Polish only, below that is a not-numbered step telling which ones of the link and length type track pieces to use to go on the UE.
The loose sheet in the center that makes the other 2 pages up of this 6 page booklet, gives 6 more assembly steps for the 4-wheeled cart.
Trees are alphabetized.
There are 2 identical chalk-white letter A trees. They hold: road wheels, drive sprockets, return rollers, Idler wheels, bogies, side rails, fenders, link and length type tracks etc. (57 parts ea.)
This kit holds 5 chalk-white parts trees, a black vinyl tree, the decal sheet and the instructions in 2 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a unbound booklet of 6 pages in 7” x 9 ½” page format.
Page 1 of a single sheet part of the instructions that is folded in the center, begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the history of the Renault UE in Polish. International assembly symbol explanations are at the bottom of the page over Mirage Hobby’s street address and FAX number in Warsaw, Poland.
Page 2 of this sheet to the top of page 4 gives a grand total of 8 assembly steps for the UE. The steps are Roman numbered. Step IX is assembly of the 4-wheeled cart and fuel tank load, with a hand pump and it’s treads.
The bottom of the page has a suggested paint color listing in Polish only, below that is a not-numbered step telling which ones of the link and length type track pieces to use to go on the UE.
The loose sheet in the center that makes the other 2 pages up of this 6 page booklet, gives 6 more assembly steps for the 4-wheeled cart.
Trees are alphabetized.
There are 2 identical chalk-white letter A trees. They hold: road wheels, drive sprockets, return rollers, Idler wheels, bogies, side rails, fenders, link and length type tracks etc. (57 parts ea.)
Chalk-white letter B tree holds the parts of the UE’s body and rear storage bin. I have put most of this together already. There were 24 parts on this tree.
Chalk-white letter C tree holds: the sides, bottom, axles and suspension for the 4-wheeled cart (33 parts)
Chalk-white letter D tree holds: shelves, braces, fuel tank, hand pump etc. for the 4-wheeled cart etc. (14 parts)
Next are a set of vinyl tracks.
The decal sheet completes the kit's contents. There are no clear parts included.
The decal sheet gives the German markings for the box art scheme and some French markings. However, we are not shown where these markings go. Bad move Mirage Hobby !
The decal sheet gives the German markings for the box art scheme and some French markings. However, we are not shown where these markings go. Bad move Mirage Hobby !
I have also assembled the rear storage bin for the UE too.
The detailing is excellent.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.