The Kubelwagen was widely used by the German forces from 1940 onwards and was based on the engine and chassis of the Volkswagen Beetle. Tamiya’s 1/35 kits (standard version and Afrika Korp version with desert tyres) are arguably the best all round models of the Kubelwagen and are accuracy and easy to construct. When built out of the box, the Kubelwagen with its open interior can have a fairly empty look and this set from Trakz will help address this and subtly gives the kit a more unique appearance.

The resin set consists of replacement doors with canvas pouches attached to the insides and alternative headlights, folded canvas canopy and windscreen. The parts are crisply produced.

The replacement doors are designed to slot into the Tamiya kit once the resin plugs have been removed and test fitting suggests they are a drop fit. The Tamiya kit’s doors are unadorned as the vehicles were when issued to the troops. Each door in the Trakz set has a canvas pouch strung onto the inner panel, in what I presume is intended to depict a field addition. Each pouch has its own shape, which is a nice touch. The resin doors have accurate ribbings and the exterior of the doors have tiny bolt heads, which are missing on the Tamiya kit. However the interior sides lack the correct door handle profile (oval surround with distinct lever) of the Tamiya kit as seen in photos, and instead have a raised circular profile.

Photos show that some Kubelwagen crew fitted cloth to the windscreen (folded down of course) and/or the headlight covers and this set includes these parts. The resin windscreen has realistic looking folds and the windscreen wiper motors and offers a quick and guaranteed alternative to replicating this with putty. Test fitting showed a positive fit.

This set also includes a neatly folded canvas canopy which has good detail of the folds and straps. This part provides an alternative to the Tamiya kit’s part, which is flatter. Again test fitting indicated a good fit and the seam line is hidden on the underside.

Summary

This set provides some useful parts to add a personal touch to your Tamiya Kubelwagen and make it stand out from the crowd, whether you use all or only some of the set.

Thank you to VLS for providing the review sample

User Contributed Notes