Cliff Hutchings reviews ICM's Henschel 33 D1 Radio Truck.



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Thanks!

Ola Cliff.
Thanks for this great insight in this kit. I had this kit in my hands some weeks ago at an event but didn't buy it because of the lack of interior. To me it is really a minus to the kit. I'd happily spend a bit more money on it if I could kit it out fully ootb. Great review. Aside the missing interior a really neat kit

Good point, Robert, though in fairness the IBG kit's interior costs 2x the kit price (I was sucker enough to buy both the kit and the interior. I actually might go for this one and put it next to the IBG one with its doors open.

I too purchased the Interior kit for the IBG kit and paid double what it cost for the kit But unlike you Bill I am about 70% though building the IBG and Niko interior kits and while it is looking good it is a major job as while the Niko Interior looked good in the box it is NOT good to use especially the PE with it.

This ICM Henschel will stay in the stash a while and if an interior set comes out that someone reviews as a build review as good to excellent then I may relent and purchase one but if not I'll build this kit with cab doors open using the Part PE set for the cargo truck version and leave the radio doors shut!

Cliff, could the IBG interior be used in the ICM truck, especially since the doors are already separately-molded? I realize they may not be exactly the same inside, but probably close enough. The fit issue would be the one that concerns me (aside from your very negative assessment of the PE, LOL).

Ola Bill
I think you can use the IBG/NIKO set to built the interior for the ICM kit. You probably could get away with using the Verlinden Opel Blitz Radio Koffer interior set. IBG's EinheitsDiesel is a telephone exchange vehicle but could well be kitted out as a radiotruck as they used the same body. There were standard layouts for these interiors but more often then not they were rebuilt by crews to suit them better. Even the purposes of trucks could mean it was kitted out slightly different.
I have a wartime manual at home which shows how to refit a standard truck to back up as a reserve radio car but the manual starts off with numerous examples of standard einheitsbodies and cars being fitted with radio's and such and even give a good insight in what was in the lockers on the vehicle.

Yes Bill I think you could use either of the German Radio interiors as a start plus you could use the Eduard German Radio set or the other aftermarket German radio gear out there. The major difference is the larger body size on the Henschel compared to the IBG EinheitsDiesel radio body so I feel the Henschel probably had more gear in it. Perhaps the coding machines as well as larger more powerful radio equipment. These I think are available in Resin and worth looking at. I may do this as I think it will be easier then you think if you have some styrene card and minor scratchbuilding skills.

EDIT - The seats and furniture could be built using styrene card and I think your money would be better spent on buying all the gear like radios, coding machines, cable reels etc that are available as AM kits rather then using the Niko/IBG interior radio kit.

Who makes the various coding machines? I know Eduard has a radio set....

Bill there are several sets out there I just have to find them again. Once I do I'll post the links. But try searching this site using radio and a lot comes up

I've seen radio stuff, but no Enigma coding machines, though I have seen them somewhere.

I too have seen a set recently with the Enigma machine in it but can't remember where. Old age is catching up on me fast I think

Ola Bill and Cliff

Plusmodel makes a set with coding/communication machines among it is I believe an Engima coding machine

Plus Models

http://www.fieldsofglorymodels.co.uk/PLU249

Jaydar model shop are showing the Plus Models 249 in stock at under 15 bucks US.

yes I am ordering one LOL!

Thanks, Cliff, I have ordered a set and a Plus Models generator for the truck that I'd tried to get here, but the dealer was insulted when I asked him to take $70 for the thing including shipping. Said I was being "unfair to his other customers." We're talking about less than $5. So I got it cheaper from Jadar AND got the Enigma set and the ICM small radio car. So a good deal for me all around.

Bill I ordered the ICM small radio car and the new Masterbox Mercedes Radio car 4 days ago. I am hoping they can add the radio set to the parcel to save on freight. I'd love to get the generator trailer but my pocket is empty for a while now.