Opel Blitz (S-Type) 3 t Cargo Truck

ESCI 1:72 Scale Vehicle Review

Opel Blitz (S-Type) 3 t Cargo Truck, 1:72 Model Kit ESCI 8355.

The ESCI model of the Opel Blitz (S-Typ) 4×2 medium truck has the dimensions of the short wheelbase 4×4 (A-Typ) truck. ESCI used this vehicle kit as the basis for several variants of the medium truck, including the Kfz. 305/.. with standard house type van body, and the self-propelled 2 cm FlaK-Vierling 38 anti-aircraft gun. The basic cargo truck sprue is the same in all three kits of the Opel Blitz, and there are additional sprues with the parts to build one of the three different versions.

Contents

  • Opel Blitz 3.6-36S Cargo Truck
  • Three Fuel Drums
  • Decal Sheet

Evaluation

Excellent choice of subject, the Opel Blitz was the standard medium truck of the German army which served in many roles before and during the war.

Scale model with much detail. Rivets, panel lines, radiator grille, lights, and tire treads of the Opel Blitz are nicely sculpted.

Relatively easy to build, there are only 64 parts. The model went together very well, with the exception of the cab assembly, which required some filling and filing.

Fun to paint. The Opel Blitz truck served on all fronts, throughout the war, and it can be painted in a variety of camouflage patterns.

A windshield cut from clear plastic can be glued into the cab front, using white glue. Windows need to be fitted before the cab is completed. On campaign, windshields were often camouflaged with mud to minimize reflections.

Compatible with Hasegawa, Italeri, Revell, and CDC.

The front axle, part № 22, should not be glued to the chassis until the front wheels have completely set and are perfectly aligned.

The instructions do not indicate if the rear differential, parts № 20 and 21, should be glued to the springs with its little pegs facing up or down. It appears that the pegs need to face up, away from the springs.

The instructions do not indicate exactly how the exhaust pipe, part № 28, attaches to the engine.

The drive shaft, part № 14, is just long enough to connect the engine to the rear differential, but it does not plug into the engine at all. This is a very delicate connection which needs to be monitored until the glue has set completely.

Three ejector pin marks are clearly visible on the outside of both rear tires, damaging the tire and the wheel rim. Filling and sanding may fix this problem.

It is not immediately apparent which cab parts should be assembled first. We found it easiest to start with the hood assembly, parts № 17, 18, and 15, attaching the radiator grille, part № 4, to it later. The other cab parts will then align with the hood assembly.

The steering wheel practically rest on the top edge of the driver’s seat, making it impossible to fit a driver into the cab. We left the driver’s door off initially, to place the painted upper torso of a Wehrmacht driver into the cab later.

There is no driver. Unless the model is used to portray a stationary vehicle, a suitable driver will have to be scrounged from another kit.

The front left toolbox needs to be attached to the chassis frame, not the underside of the truck bed, to make room for the spare tire. The instructions do not indicate where to fit the spare tire, but the painting guide shows it on the left side of the vehicle, stowed underneath the truck bed.

The rear mudguards and tool boxes should not be attached until the truck bed has been perfectly aligned on it supports.

Part № 38 should be glued on top of the truck bed, not against the face of it, otherwise the sides do not align when they are shown in the raised position. These are not working parts, they can only be modelled in the raised or folded down position. Wargamers will find the raised position more useful, so that the Opel Blitz can be used as an anti-aircraft or cargo vehicle alternatively.

The surface of the canvas tilt is too smooth to be realistic. Experienced modellers will want to cover the entire part with tissue paper which provides more texture. The short stubs attached to the tilt do not hold it in place securely, if the tilt is meant to be removable. We added plastic card or sprue stubs in the corners of the tilt to fix this problem.

Vehicle width indicators are shown on the box cover, but they are not included in the kit. These tiny parts may be made from pianowire or paintbrush bristles, with a small bead of white glue on top. Width indicators were attached to the side of the front fender, or in the center of the front fender later in the war.

Rear mirrors are not included, they need to be scratchbuild from pianowire with a small disc of sprue attached.

Wargamers and collectors need many Opel Blitz medium trucks to motorize their infantry, tow anti-tank guns, and keep the army supplied in the course of a campaign. The ESCI Opel Blitz will serve well in either of these roles.

Sample from ESCI/ERTL

German m.Lkw. (S-Type) Medium Truck