MiniArt has combined their previously released L1500S truck with some accessories and civilian liveries, and here Kevin Brant has a look in the box.

Read the Review

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Looks to be a very creative offering. Unusual combination of a number of kits to make something rather different.

Just took delivery of mine from my LHS yesterday. Put the engine together last night just for fun. The plastic formulation in this kit is PERFECT! Bonds really well just using the regular Testors in the black container with the hypodermic needle applicator.

Maybe this one will get my juices flowing again in the hobby! Been in a slump of late!

WOW, just discovered something: This is the first model I have ever seen where each cab door is a two piece affair that actually traps the window glass in between and also allows you to position the glass in any position, up of down that you wish.

Again WOW!

Checking through the model I found a couple of things that warrant further comment.

The load box floor is excellent! It is so thin and finely molded (with wood grain on BOTH sides) that unfamed it is NOT self supporting! Without the vehicle chassis frame the unsupported floor bows under it's on weight just like the real "wood" floor would! WAY COOL ! ! ! !

Now for a small negative: Several model companies have recently started doing this. Regarding the motor mounts; they only offer the two forward mounts. No rear transmission mount is present on the model and the back of the engine/tranny combo is supported solely by the tiny driveshaft. This is a totally unrealistic method of construction and a very weak support. When I make this build I will definitely be adding a rear mount.

Thanks for the build comments
Maybe you cold consider making a separate build blog out of it?
/ Robin

Robin, so far I am just making comments on things noted as I look through the unbuilt kit.

A very nice build up review was posted for this vehicle last April over on "The Modeling News" website. Here is the link:

http://www.themodellingnews.com/2013/04/miniarts-new-l1500-15t-4x2-truck-we.html

Nice link but I agree with Robin.

I hope no one minds another small note; Re: the triangular "trailer in tow" indicator on the roof of the cab.

The box art (and the instruction sheet) shows the indicator in the off position as laying down to the rear of the cab. I could be mistaken but I have never seen one of these indicators folded to the rear but only to the front.


Blitz cargo truck built on the extended bus frame; Victory Museum, Auburn, IN.
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Blitz 3 ton 4x4 seen at the Lowell, IN. reenactment.
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Mercedes truck with house body; Victory Museum, Auburn, IN.
(Mike Koenig Photos - All rights reserved.)

A detail almost always left off these cargo truck models is the inside control lever, used to raise and lower the "trailer in tow" indicator.



NOTE: The two bolts you see are the center attachment of the "trailer in tow" sign. The lever control itself is mounted off-center towards the driver's side.

A note of warning:

Re: The civilian decal set that comes with this model: The decal set is printed on a clear carrier that is so thin that the decal will collapse into a jumbled mess if you try to slide it off the paper and don't have the model vehicle prepped to immediately slide it onto.

I was using one of the decal sets to label another model, also of a civilian vehicle, that I had built a number of years ago. The decal accidentally slid half way off the carrier paper and collapsed into a useless jumble that I was never able to straighten out. Fortunately there were three of these large door decals in the set and I only needed two.

When it comes to super thin film decals be careful what you wish for because MiniArt just might give it to you!

Some of the MiniArt decals shown here as added to my own converted civilian 3 ton Mercedes:

Hope I'm not hijacking this thread. Sorry if I am.
Would anybody be interested in parting with their leftover Brewery decals ? Dressler or Engelhardt it doesn't matter. I'm doing a brewery diorama and am using the Dragon Opel truck and the MiniArt one. So whatever set I have 2 of that will be the livery colors they'll be painted. Can swap my unused decals or ??? for the extras.
Thanks for the heads up on the decals Michael !!!
question : Wouldn't the convoy triangle be removed for a civilian truck ?
Thanks in advance !
Tom

Not sure about the convoy triangle - my impression was that the use of the "trailer in tow" indicator was a common trucking practice both before and after the war.

I guess we need a German National to comment on this question.

I guess so...

Bussing-Nag truck (circa 1935) :



1948 Bussing-Nag 5000S :



H.P.

Or a Frenchman!

In France the triangle (yellow and blue) was used until 1954 :



It was replaced with a white D in a black square, and now the D on the truck cabs is gone as well (but AFAIK it can sometimes be seen on farm tractors and heavy-construction machinery)

H.P.

As always Frenchy you're the best ! THANKS for the fotos!

Just as an idea starter:

I think it would be interesting to do a civilian trailer in matching lettering as a compaion to the Mercedes 1500! (Some enterprising modelers could trade decals they are not using to produce such a model.)


This trailer was borrowed/rented from a local cartage company for some vehicle tests at the WWII Skoda plant.

Question: What is the device on the cab floor, mounted on the transmission hump of the Mercedes?

I am going to hazard a guess that it is a gas fired cab heater. But then why waste precious gasoline when an engine hot water cabin heater comes for free?