Schwerer Wehrmachtsschlepper (sWS)
ROCO 1:87 Scale Vehicle Review
This ROCO model of the sWS heavy military tractor has received a new cargo bed with higher dropsides and hood sticks similar to the Tatra 809 half-track built in Czechoslovakia after the war. The converted vehicle will be used as an artillery prime mover for Czech Warsaw Pact troops.
Contents
- Schwerer Wehrmachtsschlepper (sWS)
Evaluation
The model has only 9 parts and is sold fully assembled, ready to play.
The cast-on detail is very accurate and paints well.
The ROCO model is 4 mm short. The tracks extend beyond the rear ammunition stowage box. On the actual vehicle, the cargo bed is noticeably longer. This problem may be fixed by cutting the 7 × 7 mm ammo box off, extending the cargo bed with plastic card, and adding a new 10 × 7 mm ammo box at the rear. Better yet, leave the ammunition storage box off and build a simple cargo bed for this unarmed transport version of the sWS.
The armoured cab of the vehicle is too long. Photos and drawings of the sWS show the first road wheel just behind the rear edge of the cab. The cab of the ROCO model extends approximately 4 mm further back, reducing the length of the cargo bed to only 35 mm, when it should be 40 mm.
Compatible with HO scale model railroad equipment and miniatures by Märklin, ROCO, Faller, Pola, Preiser, and Noch.
Possible Conversions
ROCO produced its model of the sWS heavy military tractor in far greater numbers than the original. This is particularly the case with the armoured variant of the sWS, of which few were made.