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CYBERHOBBY/BEGO
Product Specifications.
6339, Kübelwagen w/Cold Weather Starter & Mechanics.1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit. Contains: 168 styrene parts (including 10 clear), one etched brass fret, three decal/markings schemes and 10 pages of instructions in 17 steps.
Introduction.
During that first dreadful winter of 1941/42 on the Ostfront, Hitler’s Panzertruppen learned hard lessons concerning the operation of mechanized vehicles and AFVs in extreme cold weather conditions. In response, a device that coupled a Kübelwagen’s engine to that of a Panzer, which would “turn over” the engine of the latter, was fielded; this was used in conjunction with a blow-torch that heated the engine’s coolant through a port in the rear plate.
Some years ago, DML issued this device as a separate accessory; now it has been teamed up with the fine Bego kit, through Cyberhobby, as their latest of four recent Kübelwagen limited-edition kits.
Wheels and Suspension.
The place where this kit stands above the rest is the undercarriage as well as the suspension system. The wheels have the correct hub details for the front and rear stations, and the spare tire is also well-rendered. The hubs are all visible as there are no hub caps provided; the tires are of the “European” pattern. The inner hubs have some nice details, while the outer hubs only lack air filler valves.
The front and rear suspension components are all broken down into many separate parts each, with the front end also getting a separate panel to cover things up. This will complicate assembly and will be a challenge to the less-experienced modeler, but the end result will be an extremely intricate assembly. Likewise, the vehicle’s belly has many separate parts. These include the main lower panel with the proper stamped structure and a separate lower engine compartment panel, with separate parts for the exhaust. An eight-part engine, with separate interior walls and separate access hatch lid finishes up that area.
Body Exterior.
The typical stamped appearance of the body panels is very finely-rendered, as are the other smaller details such as the mounts for the various external items. Hinge details are given on the separate door panels; each panel consists of both doors in the closed position, so opening them will require some extra work and the replacement of some of the details that will be lost making such a modification. No ejector pin marks are visible on the inner or outer panels, which is a nice touch. However, the handles are molded in place and are not separate styrene parts. This is too bad, but the kit does include etched brass replacements, which naturally, will be flat. The front panel has separate fuel filler parts, delicate rib details, and the mount for the previously-described spare tire.
As mentioned, the engine access door is separate, and the rear panel has some very fine rib and vent detail. The four wheel wells are separate parts with nicely thinned-out fender edges for a scale appearance. Separate head- and tail-lamps, Notek black-out driving head-lamp, distance-keeping tail-lamp, horn, mirrors, turn signal indicators, a shovel, tow hooks and various pennant holders dress up the outside of the vehicle.
The clear windshield and frame is movable and has molded-on blades; separate wiper motor housings are also provided. Etched brass replacements are provided for the wiper blades, but removing the molded on detail, polishing out the inevitable scratches, and then attaching the brass to the clear parts will create some challenges for the modeler. I’d avoid that exercise in the name of sanity! There are clear panels to represent the side windows as well as the rear window seen on the convertible canvas roof cover. The latter is included, but is rather basic; it has no real fold or texture detail and is completely devoid of any fastener details. The folded cover is a multi-part affair to include separate frames.
Body Interior.
This kit’s designers paid careful attention to many of the subtleties of the inside of this vehicle. For instance, the floor has the proper stamped appearance, and is complimented by beautifully represented separate parts for the wooden slats seen over it (complete with an absolutely brilliant wood grain effect). This allows for an excellent degree of detail fidelity. The trans-axle tunnel is separate as are the passenger’s floor board, the fuel-tank, all driver’s hand and foot controls, steering wheel, and instrument panel. There is even a multi-part jerry can for stowage under the front panel, which mostly un-seen on the finished model. This is a fine touch, but I’d use it elsewhere as it would be a shame to waste it under there!
Each front seat has separate mounting rails, but there is little in the way of texture for the seat cushions themselves. The rear bench seat is molded onto the top/rear deck part and also lacks any kind of cloth texture. The modeler will probably wish to address these issues.
As described so far, the kit will build into a standard 1942-era Kübelwagen. But, Cyberhobby has included new DML-produced parts to add the cold-weather starting device.
Figures and Accessories.
The original figures, a seated officer and driver figure are fairly well-done, especially considering their age. They wear temperate Heer (Army) uniform styles appropriate for the post-1942 era and therefore should have a wide variety of uses.
The cold-weather starter is a multi-part affair that mounts to the rear of the VW and is connected to a Panzer’s engine through a pair of universal joints on either end of the drive shaft. Separate circular access plates for a Panther/Jagdpanther and Jagdtiger/Tiger II are provided, as is a blow-torch, its mounting frame and port flap; this will allow for a very complete set-up, and is essentially a “diorama in a box”.
There is also a set of three figures, appropriately garbed in reversible winter parka and trousers. All are typically-well molded in non-Gen2 style (they have been around for a decade, or more) and are comprised of separate heads, arms, legs, torsos, boots and caps. There are holstered side-arms for them as well.
Molding, Fit and Engineering.
This kit is broken down into more separate parts than usually seen, especially in the area of the undercarriage, suspension and adjacent areas, as well as the interior. This complicates assembly, but the parts fit well; just proceed with care. There are no visible ejector pin marks after assembly and there were no sink marks visible on any part.
Accuracy and Details.
The main components match very well against photographs and drawings. However, I don’t have reliable 1/35th-scale plans to compare the kit to. Details are very well-rendered in nearly every case. My only gripe is that the handles on the doors are molded in place, but the kit does include etched brass replacements, even if they are of necessity a compromise.
Instructions.
These consist of traditional line drawings and should be easily followed. As usual, colors are keyed to Gunze and Model Master paints.
Decals and Markings Information.
The water-slide decals are from Cartograf, and exhibit their usual excellent quality. Three sets of markings are called out in the instructions, one each for a Heer, Luftwaffe and Waffen-SS vehicle. There are also sets of generic registration numbers and some other divisional insignia, so there is lots of scope for those with the references to take advantage of them.
Conclusion.
This kit as presented offers the option of modeling the standard version with or without erected canvas roof, with the addition of the cold-weather starting apparatus. As I said, this is a “diorama in a box” just waiting for the attention of a creative modeler.
Highly recommended.
Frank V. “Curley” De Sisto
References consulted for this review included, but were not limited to:
1. “VW Kübelwagen in Detail”, Wings & Wheels Publications Special Museum Line No.8, by F. Koran & J. Mostek.
2. “VW Kübelwagen in Detail”, Wings & Wheels Publications Special Museum Line No.35, by F. Koran & J. Mostek.
3. “Wireless for the Wehrmacht in Detail”, Wings & Wheels Publications Special Museum Line No.10, by F. Koran & A. Vesely.
4. “Volkswagen w II Wojnie Swiatowej”, Books International, by R. Sawicki.
5. “Kfz.1 Kübelwagen Volkswagen Type 82”, Almark, by T.Oliver & K. Jones.
6. “German Military Transport of World War Two”, Hippocrene Books, by J. Milsom.
7. “Modeler’s Special Edition Guide to the Kübelwagen”, Ampersand Publishing, by J. Porter.
8. “Cars of the Wehrmacht”, Schiffer, by R. Frank.
Reviewer’s note: Since May of 2005, I have been working on books for Concord Publications, a sister company to DML and Cyberhobby. The reader may wish to take this into consideration. For my part, I will attempt to maintain an objective viewpoint when writing these reviews.
Cyberhobby kits are available exclusively from them at their web site: www.cyber-hobby.com.
