In Box Review of RPM 1/35th Scale
German Tank Destroyer UE 630(F)
Kit no. 35045
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1999
Out of production
I paid $28.99 for my kit 20 years ago.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1999
Out of production
I paid $28.99 for my kit 20 years ago.
ISTORY:
At the beginning of the 30’s, France began modernization of its army. A competition for a universal cargo carrier was won by Renault Company. A total number of 2,596 vehicles was produced between 1934 and 1937.
After the German invasion of France in 1940, this carrier became a part of Wehrmacht armor.
During Eastern Front fights, the Renault UE had undergone many field modifications. One of them was a tank-destroyer. A 3.7 Pak 35/36, as well as captured Soviet 4.5cm cannons were used.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Prime mover
Place of origin: France
Service history
Used by: France, Nazi Germany, 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: 9 mm (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)
Length: 2940 mm
Width: 1250 mm
Height: 1240 mm
At the beginning of the 30’s, France began modernization of its army. A competition for a universal cargo carrier was won by Renault Company. A total number of 2,596 vehicles was produced between 1934 and 1937.
After the German invasion of France in 1940, this carrier became a part of Wehrmacht armor.
During Eastern Front fights, the Renault UE had undergone many field modifications. One of them was a tank-destroyer. A 3.7 Pak 35/36, as well as captured Soviet 4.5cm cannons were used.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Prime mover
Place of origin: France
Service history
Used by: France, Nazi Germany, 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: 9 mm (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)
Length: 2940 mm
Width: 1250 mm
Height: 1240 mm
THE KIT:
RPM 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, shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The box is 3” too long and 2” too wide.+
The box art shows a color illustration of the UE 630(f) parked next to a destroyed and burning building.
The UE is overall sand, with a white skeletal type German cross on its nose and a Nazi battle flag slung over its side. Two crewmen are looking out the top of. Both wear camouflaged-uniforms and steel helmets with camouflaged covers. One man is standing and pointing with his right arm. The other man is seated and manning the gun.
Standing beside the UE is an officer, dressed in a camouflaged jacket and field gray trousers, with a gray officer’s billed hat. He has a MG42 slung around his neck and is looking through a pair of binoculars.
One side panel of the box begins with a small color repeat of the box art, showing all but the burning building. This is followed by the statement: Model suitable for ages 8 – adult. Contains decals and instructions for assembly. Paints and plastic adhesive not included. Copyright of the kit is 1999 and RPM’s street address in Warsaw, Poland is provided.
RPM 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, shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The box is 3” too long and 2” too wide.+
The box art shows a color illustration of the UE 630(f) parked next to a destroyed and burning building.
The UE is overall sand, with a white skeletal type German cross on its nose and a Nazi battle flag slung over its side. Two crewmen are looking out the top of. Both wear camouflaged-uniforms and steel helmets with camouflaged covers. One man is standing and pointing with his right arm. The other man is seated and manning the gun.
Standing beside the UE is an officer, dressed in a camouflaged jacket and field gray trousers, with a gray officer’s billed hat. He has a MG42 slung around his neck and is looking through a pair of binoculars.
One side panel of the box begins with a small color repeat of the box art, showing all but the burning building. This is followed by the statement: Model suitable for ages 8 – adult. Contains decals and instructions for assembly. Paints and plastic adhesive not included. Copyright of the kit is 1999 and RPM’s street address in Warsaw, Poland is provided.
The other side panel shows 5 color box arts of other AFV kits that RPM manufactures. Only the kit numbers identify them. I looked up what they are and here is what I found: Kit no. 35014, a Lorraine 37L, Kit no. 35064, a 730(f) tractor, Kit no. 35050, a Sd.Kfz. 135 “Stuka zu Fuss”, Kit no. 35042, a CP armored tractor and Kit no. 35011, a TKS tankette.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds one dark olive-drab tree, 2 light gray trees, 2 chalk-white trees, a brass PE fret and the decal sheet in 3 clear sealed cello bags
The instruction consists of a single-sheet folded in the middle to create 4 pages in 7” x 9 ¾” page format.
Page 1 begins with a small repeat of the box art printed all in blue, next to the UE’s history in Polish, over decal application instructions and an illustration of the deca sheet in Polish.
A side view of the UE is shown with colors called out in Humbrol brand hobby paint colors: H30 dark-green and H64 gray camouflage. An illustration of the brass PE fret is shown and the letter A parts tree.
RPM’s street address and telephone number in Warsaw, Poland is at the bottom of the page.
Page 2 shows illustrations of the letter B and C trees at the top.
The bottom of page 2, through to page 4, shows a grand total of 9 assembly steps.
There are 2 identical chalk-white letter A trees. They hold: drive sprockets, idler wheels, road wheels, side rails, link and length type tracks, tow hooks, return rollers, hatch dome covers, bogies etc. (57 parts each)
The kit holds one dark olive-drab tree, 2 light gray trees, 2 chalk-white trees, a brass PE fret and the decal sheet in 3 clear sealed cello bags
The instruction consists of a single-sheet folded in the middle to create 4 pages in 7” x 9 ¾” page format.
Page 1 begins with a small repeat of the box art printed all in blue, next to the UE’s history in Polish, over decal application instructions and an illustration of the deca sheet in Polish.
A side view of the UE is shown with colors called out in Humbrol brand hobby paint colors: H30 dark-green and H64 gray camouflage. An illustration of the brass PE fret is shown and the letter A parts tree.
RPM’s street address and telephone number in Warsaw, Poland is at the bottom of the page.
Page 2 shows illustrations of the letter B and C trees at the top.
The bottom of page 2, through to page 4, shows a grand total of 9 assembly steps.
There are 2 identical chalk-white letter A trees. They hold: drive sprockets, idler wheels, road wheels, side rails, link and length type tracks, tow hooks, return rollers, hatch dome covers, bogies etc. (57 parts each)
The large light-gray letter B tree holds: the top, sides and floor of the crew compartment, the flow and walls of the rear cargo department, muffler slotted shield, shovel etc. (26 parts)
Dark olive-drab letter c tree holds: the parts of the main gun, with wheels and carriage to build the gun off the UE. It has spoked and solid wheel rims. Nice inclusion. Also rounds of ammo etc. (69 parts)
A small light-gray tree marked as letter E holds a machine gun and its bipod (2 parts) This tree is not illustrated in the instructions-parts trees illustrations or anywhere in the assembly steps. So, obviously a bonus.
The brass PE fret is next. It holds: nose armor pieces, engine hatch sides, Renault oval manufacturers badges and numerous brackets. (27 parts)
There are no clear parts or figures included.
Detail is excellent.
Highly recommended.
Detail is excellent.
Highly recommended.