In Box Review of Tamiya 1/35th Scale
Citroen Traction 11cv Staff Car
Kit no. 35301
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright; 1992
I paid $23.80 for my kit, years ago at a local hobby shop that went out of business.
Kit is available at Hobby Linc for $24.00 or at Squadron for $25.00 or at Mega Hobby for $27.30 or at Sprue Brothers for $27.99 or at Kit Linx for $25.59 and at one location overseas on the web.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright; 1992
I paid $23.80 for my kit, years ago at a local hobby shop that went out of business.
Kit is available at Hobby Linc for $24.00 or at Squadron for $25.00 or at Mega Hobby for $27.30 or at Sprue Brothers for $27.99 or at Kit Linx for $25.59 and at one location overseas on the web.
HISTORY:
The Citroën Traction Avant is the world’s first unibody front-wheel-drive car. A range of mostly 4-door saloons and executive cars, were made with four or six-cylinder engines, produced by the French manufacturer Citroën from 1934 to 1957. Approximately 760,000 units were produced.
Whilst front-wheel drive and four-wheel independent suspension had been established in the mass market by Auto Union and subsequently others some years before, the Traction Avant pioneered integrating these into a mass-production, crash resistant, unitary, monocoque body. Additionally, the car was also an early adopter of rack and pinion steering.
Although the car's name emphasized its front-wheel drive power delivery ("Traction Avant" literally means “front traction”), the car stood out at least as much by its much lower profile and stance – made possible by the absence of a separate chassis under the car's unitary body – sharply distinguishing it visually from its contemporaries.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Citroën
Also called: Citroën 7, Citroën 11, Citroën 15/6, Citroën Light Twelve (UK), Citroën Light 15 (UK), Citroën Big Fifteen (UK), Citroën Big Six (UK)
Production: 7 : 1934–41, 11 : 1934–57, 15/6 : 1938–56
Assembly: Paris, France, Forest, Belgium, Cologne, Germany, Slough, England, Copenhagen, Denmark
Designer: Flaminio Bertoni, André Lefèbvre
Body and chassis class Executive car
Body styles: 4-door saloon, 2-door saloon, 2-door convertible, 5-door hatchback
Layout: MF layout
Related: Citroën H Van
Powertrain:
Engine: 1.3 / 1.5 / 1.6 / 1.9 L I4, 2.9 L I6
Transmission: 3-speed manual, column/dash shift
Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 2,910 mm (114.6 in) 7 & 11 légère (light), 3,090 mm (121.7 in) 11CV normale & 15/6, 3,270 mm (128.7 in)11CV longue & 15/6 limousine
Length: 4,450–4,960 mm (175.2–195.3 in)
Width: 1,620–1,790 mm (63.8–70.5 in)
Height: 1,520–1,580 mm (59.8–62.2 in)
Kerb weight: 1,025–1,170 kg (2,260–2,579 lb)
Predecessor: Citroën Rosalie, Citroën C4 & C6
Successor: Citroën DS
The Citroën Traction Avant is the world’s first unibody front-wheel-drive car. A range of mostly 4-door saloons and executive cars, were made with four or six-cylinder engines, produced by the French manufacturer Citroën from 1934 to 1957. Approximately 760,000 units were produced.
Whilst front-wheel drive and four-wheel independent suspension had been established in the mass market by Auto Union and subsequently others some years before, the Traction Avant pioneered integrating these into a mass-production, crash resistant, unitary, monocoque body. Additionally, the car was also an early adopter of rack and pinion steering.
Although the car's name emphasized its front-wheel drive power delivery ("Traction Avant" literally means “front traction”), the car stood out at least as much by its much lower profile and stance – made possible by the absence of a separate chassis under the car's unitary body – sharply distinguishing it visually from its contemporaries.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Citroën
Also called: Citroën 7, Citroën 11, Citroën 15/6, Citroën Light Twelve (UK), Citroën Light 15 (UK), Citroën Big Fifteen (UK), Citroën Big Six (UK)
Production: 7 : 1934–41, 11 : 1934–57, 15/6 : 1938–56
Assembly: Paris, France, Forest, Belgium, Cologne, Germany, Slough, England, Copenhagen, Denmark
Designer: Flaminio Bertoni, André Lefèbvre
Body and chassis class Executive car
Body styles: 4-door saloon, 2-door saloon, 2-door convertible, 5-door hatchback
Layout: MF layout
Related: Citroën H Van
Powertrain:
Engine: 1.3 / 1.5 / 1.6 / 1.9 L I4, 2.9 L I6
Transmission: 3-speed manual, column/dash shift
Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 2,910 mm (114.6 in) 7 & 11 légère (light), 3,090 mm (121.7 in) 11CV normale & 15/6, 3,270 mm (128.7 in)11CV longue & 15/6 limousine
Length: 4,450–4,960 mm (175.2–195.3 in)
Width: 1,620–1,790 mm (63.8–70.5 in)
Height: 1,520–1,580 mm (59.8–62.2 in)
Kerb weight: 1,025–1,170 kg (2,260–2,579 lb)
Predecessor: Citroën Rosalie, Citroën C4 & C6
Successor: Citroën DS
THE KIT:
Tamiya is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in Shizuoka City, Japan. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a Citroen 11CV posed against one of Tamiya’s SIGNATURE all white backgrounds, that they use for the majority of their box arts.
The car is overall Panzer-grey. With the ends of the front bumper and edges of the front fenders in white. In the center of the front bumper is a black rectangle with white serial no. 1352 RM1 on it.
The front of the left front fender has an white outlined shield with 3 vertical bars across it, over white VIH. The front of the right front fender has a white tactical insignia on it, which is a square, with a radio antenna on the top, followed by a K.
The driver is in his seat. You can only see his head.
The upper right corner of the box art says: Ready to assemble precision model kit, Modeling skills helpful if under 10 years of age. Model may vary from images on box. Cement and paint not included.
The lower left corner of the box art says: Military miniatures series no. 301. Highly detailed static display model. Unique design with delicately curved body lines and front/rear fenders accurately reproduced. Front doors can be opened to reveal interior details. Suspension area features dampers & mudguards. One driver figure & 4 types if markings included.
One side-panel of the box shows 3 color walk-around type photos of the model made up. Plus a paragraph all in Japanese and Tamiya’s street address in Shizuoka City, Japan.
Tamiya is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in Shizuoka City, Japan. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a Citroen 11CV posed against one of Tamiya’s SIGNATURE all white backgrounds, that they use for the majority of their box arts.
The car is overall Panzer-grey. With the ends of the front bumper and edges of the front fenders in white. In the center of the front bumper is a black rectangle with white serial no. 1352 RM1 on it.
The front of the left front fender has an white outlined shield with 3 vertical bars across it, over white VIH. The front of the right front fender has a white tactical insignia on it, which is a square, with a radio antenna on the top, followed by a K.
The driver is in his seat. You can only see his head.
The upper right corner of the box art says: Ready to assemble precision model kit, Modeling skills helpful if under 10 years of age. Model may vary from images on box. Cement and paint not included.
The lower left corner of the box art says: Military miniatures series no. 301. Highly detailed static display model. Unique design with delicately curved body lines and front/rear fenders accurately reproduced. Front doors can be opened to reveal interior details. Suspension area features dampers & mudguards. One driver figure & 4 types if markings included.
One side-panel of the box shows 3 color walk-around type photos of the model made up. Plus a paragraph all in Japanese and Tamiya’s street address in Shizuoka City, Japan.
The other side-panel of the box shows a 3-view illustration of the car. It is overall olive-green. It has a black license plate on the front and rear bumpers that begins with a illustration of a red, white and blue French flag, followed by white no. L392506. This is followed by another paragraph in Japanese and a repeat of Tamiya’s address.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 1 Panzer-grey parts tree and loose hull bottom and top part, a clear tree, 4 black vinyl washers and the decal sheet in 4 stapled-shut clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 pages in 6 ¾”x 10 ¼” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the history of the car in 8 languages, including English.
Page 2 begins with READ BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions, over PRECAUTIONS, a paint color listing and illustrations of tools to use. In multiple languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 on to the top of page 5 gives a grand total of 8 assembly steps. Painting and assembly of the seated driver figure is in step 6.
The bottom of page 5 is a painting and marking guide, showing two 3-views of the car.
The first 3-view is the cover art markings (already described above).
It was with the Engineering Company, 112th Infantry Div., Wehrmacht, Eastern Front.
The second 3-view is overall olive-green. It is the scheme on the side-panel of the box. (also already described above).
It was with the French Army, early WWII.
Page 6 is another painting and marking guide. It shows two 3-views and a front and rear view of the car.
The first 3-view is overall jet-black. With black license plates with white no. 9806 RM9 on them.
It was a French civilian car, France, during WWII.
The second 3-view has a light colored body and dark fenders. The paint numbers are not to be found on the paint listing on page 2. Bad move Tamiya. The black license plates only have WH in white on them.
This was a French civilian car.
The 2-view does not have paint numbers on it to tell what color it is. It is very dark, with plate no. 6593 RL5 on it.
It was another French civilian car.
The bottom of page 6 has the decal application instructions, in multiple languages, including English and a customer-assistance coupon.
The parts trees have part no. tabs next to the parts on them. Careful study will be needed to get the right part for each assembly.
The main Panzer-grey tree holds: the front fenders, grill, seats, wheels, doors, exhaust, steering wheel, axles, headlights, dashboard, driver figure (divided into separate head, torso, lower body and arms) etc. (50 parts)
This kit holds 1 Panzer-grey parts tree and loose hull bottom and top part, a clear tree, 4 black vinyl washers and the decal sheet in 4 stapled-shut clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 pages in 6 ¾”x 10 ¼” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the history of the car in 8 languages, including English.
Page 2 begins with READ BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions, over PRECAUTIONS, a paint color listing and illustrations of tools to use. In multiple languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 on to the top of page 5 gives a grand total of 8 assembly steps. Painting and assembly of the seated driver figure is in step 6.
The bottom of page 5 is a painting and marking guide, showing two 3-views of the car.
The first 3-view is the cover art markings (already described above).
It was with the Engineering Company, 112th Infantry Div., Wehrmacht, Eastern Front.
The second 3-view is overall olive-green. It is the scheme on the side-panel of the box. (also already described above).
It was with the French Army, early WWII.
Page 6 is another painting and marking guide. It shows two 3-views and a front and rear view of the car.
The first 3-view is overall jet-black. With black license plates with white no. 9806 RM9 on them.
It was a French civilian car, France, during WWII.
The second 3-view has a light colored body and dark fenders. The paint numbers are not to be found on the paint listing on page 2. Bad move Tamiya. The black license plates only have WH in white on them.
This was a French civilian car.
The 2-view does not have paint numbers on it to tell what color it is. It is very dark, with plate no. 6593 RL5 on it.
It was another French civilian car.
The bottom of page 6 has the decal application instructions, in multiple languages, including English and a customer-assistance coupon.
The parts trees have part no. tabs next to the parts on them. Careful study will be needed to get the right part for each assembly.
The main Panzer-grey tree holds: the front fenders, grill, seats, wheels, doors, exhaust, steering wheel, axles, headlights, dashboard, driver figure (divided into separate head, torso, lower body and arms) etc. (50 parts)
Next is the one piece Panzer-grey body and the chassis.
The clear tree holds the window panes and headlight lenses (8 parts)
Final parts are the black vinyl washers (4 parts)
The decal sheet completes the kit’s contents.
There is no engine parts in the kit and not trunk interior. The door to the trunk is molded solid.
Nicely detailed but would have been nice to have an engine, truck interior and separate trunk door.
Recommended.
Nicely detailed but would have been nice to have an engine, truck interior and separate trunk door.
Recommended.