KdF VW Type 60

From Faustnik - jmqtv(at)iol.pt

Manufacturer: Military Wheels (Kit #7201)

Contents:

• 44 Parts in plastic
• 9 Parts in clear plastic
• Packed in card box, with a painting of the subject (reminiscences of the Airfix^© kits).
• A4 sheet with assembly instructions and painting notes
• A small sheet of water slide decals, with registration plates for 3 vehicles, with black background [??] - WH, WL and a civilian car from Berlin District. The painting notes are for 2 Black gloss cars, one of them for the Japanese Ambassador in Berlin, 1941. Also, as a bonus are decals for 2 road signs - "Achtung minen" and "Achtung Partisanengefahr".

Evaluation:

Like their cousin KdF VW Type 87, this is a Limited Edition model, from this Ukranian producer, and the appearance looks more like a second rate resin kit. My first experience with this material indicates that perhaps I should use Epoxy glue or Super-Glue, as the plastic is not of the best quality. A lot of cleaning is needed in almost all pieces. Also some warping is visible, particularly in the floor piece. In the end I will also use a lot of putty to fill all those gaps between the pieces.

The interior and the clear plastic parts are a little rough, so perhaps you should remake them. A nice touch is the inclusion of diagrams, and also tips for cutting some of the parts in the rear, so that the engine compartment could be seen - totally empty, unless you get an Academy Kubel engine and use it in this area.

Overall:

After the introduction of the first version of the Beetle, the Type 60 (some 650 produced in 1938-45), this was very soon adapted for a military use, and in 1939 the Type 82, better know as Kubelwagen, appeared. In 1941, the off-road chassis from the Kubelwagen were married with the Type 60 body, producing the first military beetle, the Type 82 E (or Type 92SS in the case of the units made for the Waffen-SS) with some 546 produced, which was used by all German organisations. Some of them even managed to reach the warfront, especially in Tunisia, with the D.A.K., and the Ostfront, in this case in the hands of the Waffen-SS. Both units used them as commander's car or messenger's vehicle.

In reality the model depicted with this kit, is the Type 82 E or Type 92 SS, as the width and the wheels are representative of that version. One could retrofit to a Type 60, by replacing the wheels with another set, and also the kit needs some reshaping, on the sides, to bring it to the correct width. The interior is almost representative of the Type 82 E, so you also need to get some interior for the luxurious Type 60.

If the Type 82 E is your model, improve the wheels by reducing the diameter to 9,5mm and replace the hubs with the ones from another Kubel - Academy or Hasegawa.

Useful bibliography: MAYER-STEIN, Hans-Georg - VW Beetle at War, Schiffer Military Hist. Vol. 54; MAYER-STEIN, Volkswagen of the Wehrmacht: A Photo Chronicle, Schiffer Military History.

As far as scale is concern, the KdF Type 60 or Type 82 E/92 SS is around the 1:72-1:70.

Highly recommended - after all is the only KdF beetle in our scale.