In Box Review of Testors-Italeri 1/35th Scale
German BMW & Zundapp Motorcycles
Kit no 852
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1980
Available in the 2006 re-boxing at Sprue Bros for $14.49 or at Mega Hobby for $16.19 or at Kit Linx for $14.39 and no less than 12 locations overseas on the web.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1980
Available in the 2006 re-boxing at Sprue Bros for $14.49 or at Mega Hobby for $16.19 or at Kit Linx for $14.39 and no less than 12 locations overseas on the web.
THE KIT:
Italeri is an old prolific model company based in Italy. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
Testors is the distributor for Italeri. They are based in Rockford, IL.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box, that has a slide out tray inside. It is blousy and 2” too long.
The box art shows a color photo of the two motorcycles and 4 German soldiers made up by modeler Mike Good, sitting on his workbench.
Both motorcycles are overall Panzer-grey.
The BMW R-75 has license plate no. SS-72228 on its front fender. It’s driver wears a field-grey uniform and steel helmet. He is reading a map.
The Zundapp KS-750 has license plate no. ss-46495 on its front fender.
On the side of the fender is white tire pressure reading 1.75 atu stenciled. Its driver is holding a canteen in his right hand and talking to a field-police man standing in front of the bike. Both wear field-grey uniforms with steel helmets. The policeman holds a traffic baton in both hands. He has the Gendarme steel badge on a chain around his neck.
Standing behind the Zundapp is another German soldier. He wears a camouflaged jacket and field grey trousers and steel helmet and black jack boots. He carries a Mauser 98K carbine in his right hand.
Box art says: 1/35th scale unassembled kit. Recommended for experienced modelers ages 10 and over.
Italeri is an old prolific model company based in Italy. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
Testors is the distributor for Italeri. They are based in Rockford, IL.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box, that has a slide out tray inside. It is blousy and 2” too long.
The box art shows a color photo of the two motorcycles and 4 German soldiers made up by modeler Mike Good, sitting on his workbench.
Both motorcycles are overall Panzer-grey.
The BMW R-75 has license plate no. SS-72228 on its front fender. It’s driver wears a field-grey uniform and steel helmet. He is reading a map.
The Zundapp KS-750 has license plate no. ss-46495 on its front fender.
On the side of the fender is white tire pressure reading 1.75 atu stenciled. Its driver is holding a canteen in his right hand and talking to a field-police man standing in front of the bike. Both wear field-grey uniforms with steel helmets. The policeman holds a traffic baton in both hands. He has the Gendarme steel badge on a chain around his neck.
Standing behind the Zundapp is another German soldier. He wears a camouflaged jacket and field grey trousers and steel helmet and black jack boots. He carries a Mauser 98K carbine in his right hand.
Box art says: 1/35th scale unassembled kit. Recommended for experienced modelers ages 10 and over.
HISTORY (off one side-panel):
The German military strategists of WWII believed that successful armed forces should be able to strike quickly and employ the element of surprise. Motorcycles, because of their ability to move rapidly over any terrain, figured heavily in this kind of warfare.
The BMW R-75 and the Zundapp KS-750 were the motorcycles used most often by German forces. Capable of running alone or with side-car and armament, these two motorcycles were seen everywhere, and as a result are historically significant in WWII military action.
Approximately 34,000 (combined production) BMW’s and Zundapp’s were built in WWII.
The German military strategists of WWII believed that successful armed forces should be able to strike quickly and employ the element of surprise. Motorcycles, because of their ability to move rapidly over any terrain, figured heavily in this kind of warfare.
The BMW R-75 and the Zundapp KS-750 were the motorcycles used most often by German forces. Capable of running alone or with side-car and armament, these two motorcycles were seen everywhere, and as a result are historically significant in WWII military action.
Approximately 34,000 (combined production) BMW’s and Zundapp’s were built in WWII.
The other side panel says it is an un-assembled kit, over suggested listings of Testors brand glue, paints, hobby tools, brushes and tape. Plastic parts are molded in dark-grey.
The bottom of the box shows 6 color walk-around type photos of the motorcycles and men made up.
Features of the kit are: Over 120 highly detailed, injection molded plastic parts will allow you to build exact 1/35th scale models of the BMW and Zundapp motorcycles. Wheels rotate and forks turn freely to simulate steering. Soldiers and equipment are additional features included for realistic dioramas.
A thorough, easy-to-follow instruction manual provides tips on “weathering” figure-painting and other detailing techniques.
In addition, each Testors plastic model kit includes authentic decals by Micro Scale. In this kit optional decals are provided for a variety of marking schemes. Usually available only through specialty hobby stores, these exact scale decals have the well-earned reputation for being the thinnest and most accurate in the industry.
Box was printed in the USA. Kit made in Italy. Copyright of the kit is 1980 and Testors street address in Rockford, Il USA is provided.
Paints and cement are not included in the kit.
A thorough, easy-to-follow instruction manual provides tips on “weathering” figure-painting and other detailing techniques.
In addition, each Testors plastic model kit includes authentic decals by Micro Scale. In this kit optional decals are provided for a variety of marking schemes. Usually available only through specialty hobby stores, these exact scale decals have the well-earned reputation for being the thinnest and most accurate in the industry.
Box was printed in the USA. Kit made in Italy. Copyright of the kit is 1980 and Testors street address in Rockford, Il USA is provided.
Paints and cement are not included in the kit.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 2 dark-grey parts trees in a sealed clear cello bag, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a un-bound booklet of 8 pages in 8 ½” x 11” page format, folded to fit the box.
Page 1 has the history of the motorcycles and their specifications, preparation of parts, and painting instructions.
Page 2 is the parts-trees illustrations.
Pages 3 through 6 give a grand total of 7 assembly steps.
Page 7 is figure painting instructions and weathering hints.
Page 8 is a painting and marking guide for the 2 motorcycles. Shown are two 3-views of the bikes as sides, front and rear views.
The top illustration is the BMW R-75. It is in the box art scheme, but you can alternately use license plate no. WH-221486 instead of the SS one shown on the box art. Whichever one is chosen should again be put on the rear license plate. A large black WH should go on the nose of the front fender if you choose the Wehrmacht bike. On the SS one you can put either the Death’s head division skull on the rear fender or 15th panzer division insignia.
On the sides of the equipment case you can add a Afrika Korps palm tree with swastika insignia and a tactical insignia for motorized unit to the Wehrmacht on.
The bottom illustration is the Zundapp KS-750. It can alternately have license no. WH-801963 on its front and rear fenders and the Afrika Korps and 15th Panzer Division marks on its equipment case.
Trees are labeled with geometric symbols of a circle or a star, instead of being alphabetized like usually is done in kits.
The dark-grey circle tree holds the parts for the BMW R-75, its rider and the standing soldier. Figures are divided into separate torso, lower body and arms for the rider and full body with separate left arm for the standing soldier. Also included are 3 steel helmets, 3 Mauser 98K carbines, 2 canteens, 2 mess kits, 2 gas mask canisters. Binoculars, and 2 pairs of goggles etc. (56 parts)
This kit holds 2 dark-grey parts trees in a sealed clear cello bag, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a un-bound booklet of 8 pages in 8 ½” x 11” page format, folded to fit the box.
Page 1 has the history of the motorcycles and their specifications, preparation of parts, and painting instructions.
Page 2 is the parts-trees illustrations.
Pages 3 through 6 give a grand total of 7 assembly steps.
Page 7 is figure painting instructions and weathering hints.
Page 8 is a painting and marking guide for the 2 motorcycles. Shown are two 3-views of the bikes as sides, front and rear views.
The top illustration is the BMW R-75. It is in the box art scheme, but you can alternately use license plate no. WH-221486 instead of the SS one shown on the box art. Whichever one is chosen should again be put on the rear license plate. A large black WH should go on the nose of the front fender if you choose the Wehrmacht bike. On the SS one you can put either the Death’s head division skull on the rear fender or 15th panzer division insignia.
On the sides of the equipment case you can add a Afrika Korps palm tree with swastika insignia and a tactical insignia for motorized unit to the Wehrmacht on.
The bottom illustration is the Zundapp KS-750. It can alternately have license no. WH-801963 on its front and rear fenders and the Afrika Korps and 15th Panzer Division marks on its equipment case.
Trees are labeled with geometric symbols of a circle or a star, instead of being alphabetized like usually is done in kits.
The dark-grey circle tree holds the parts for the BMW R-75, its rider and the standing soldier. Figures are divided into separate torso, lower body and arms for the rider and full body with separate left arm for the standing soldier. Also included are 3 steel helmets, 3 Mauser 98K carbines, 2 canteens, 2 mess kits, 2 gas mask canisters. Binoculars, and 2 pairs of goggles etc. (56 parts)
The dark-grey star tree holds the parts of the Zundapp KS-750, its rider and the field policeman. Figures are divided into separate torso, lower body and arms for the rider and full body with separate arms for the policeman. Also included are 2 Mauser 98K carbines, a MP43 sub-machine gun, 3 steel helmets.2 canteens, 2 mess kits, 2 gas mask canisters, binoculars, 2 pairs of goggles, the policeman’s traffic baton etc. (66 parts)
There are not clear parts in the kit. But it is no big deal as I don’t believe these motorcycles had no windshields on them.
The decal sheet completes the kit's contents.
The decal sheet completes the kit's contents.
Highly recommended.