Horch 180 Type 40

Manufacturer: MAC Distribution (Kit No. 72054)

CONTENTS (BOTH BOXES):

• 73 Parts moulded yellow plastic
• A small fret of PE with 19 parts
• Packed in a Cardboard box, with illustration of vehicle.
• Assembly instructions
• Decal sheet comprising:

• A Herman Göring vehicle in PanzerGrau finish (Eastern Front 1941);
• A car from 15.Pz-Div./Afrika Korps in 1941
• also included are decals for a GrossDeutschland vehicle and a 6.Pz-Div or 3.Pz-Div [depending if 39/40 or 41/42 period] not referenced on the assembly sheets, no doubt for the Horch 180 1a kit

EVALUATION:

First this is from the same producer as the Steyr models I already review, even if stated as MAC productions and not AMC Models (I will never understand these Central Europe companies evolution).

Second this is a limited production injection kit, again a weird statement as the quality of the moulds is very good, and the model is brand new.

Third, to my knowledge this is the very first attempt on a Typ.40, on small scale, as all the others are Typ.1a (from AL.BY, Mars, and so on) even in 1:76 I do not know any Typ.40 (unless some obscure wargames model did exist).

Indeed comparing with the Steyr series, this model is a very good one, not only in subject, but also on quality, as I could ascertain from the sprues.

The assembly sheet even has a good, even if sketchy, history of the "beast", including a good reference (the FRANK, R. Schiffer book).

I hope that this model was an improvement over the Steyr one, and right from the box it seems to be. I look first at the wheels (still with their Steyr on my mind), and cross-referencing them with my references, they seems to represent a early version, also used on Typ.40, but more at home on the 1a version, but with the correct representation.

On the rest of the parts, the detail seems to be good, if not excellent, with all of them crisp and well defined. You have the option of a closed tarpaulin or an open one.

This time the PE fret is a useful one, not giving you parts to replace or superimpose on plastic ones, even if the side grills could be moulded in plastic like the ones on the top…

Overall the kit receives a "all thumbs up" note, while still on the sprues. The assembly sheet is sufficient, for the task.

And now the useful references, for improving this model:

• Wings & Wheels Pub. nº18, Horch in detail, by KORAN, STAROSTA & LÉHAR - everything you want to know about these vehicle, from models in collections and even pictures of parts during reconstruction… I just wanted that a plan was included, as on the first series;
• Schiffer Pub. German Personnel Cars in Wartime, from FRANK, Reinhard, I always liked Frank books, while old they have reliable info and wartime photos;
• Schiffer Pub. Cars of the Wehrmacht, from FRANK, Reinhard, for some extra photos;
• Geoff Lacey's plans in 1:76, G10 & G12, while they have mistakes - those doors - they are still the only reliable scale plans going around on our scale (well more or less). You should also look at Plans G79, G11, G91 & G98 for some variations - perhaps MAC will make them in the future… just cross your fingers, after all, they have a 2cm FlaK30 announced…

OVERALL:

• Using the available data, the dimensions are exactly at 1:72 - they must have use a lot of data from that WWP publication;
• Contrary to the Steyr, the price tag is very affordable, and with the quality increase, we have a winner;
• But I should first build it, to check the assembly problems, but from a "dry fitting" all is OK with good joins, so fewer use of putty

Highly Recommended

José "Faustnik" Ventura