Darren Baker takes a look at the Faun L 900 Plus SdAh 115 from Das Werk in 1/35th scale.

Read the Review

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Darren, thanks for the review. From what I have read, the sprues are molded by the same outfit that does the work for Takom. When I lay a sprue from this kit next to one from one of my Takom kits, you can not tell the difference. Also, in the instructions, QR codes are provided that when you scan them with your phone, it links to a video showing how to do that specific step. I think this is a great idea and hopefully other manufacturers adopt this.

It is unfortunate that Werk chose not to include an engine. In any case, I am glad they did render the engine's lower oil pan as a separate piece and did not go the more typical model route of creating a large unrealistic "pan" that would enclose the entire bottom engine area. (Regardless I would have had to cut that away anyway!) However I suspect some enterprising After Market company will soon help us with the remainder of the engine. (or even Das Werk themselves.)

It is my understanding that a more correct set of tires is already in in the works, coming from just such an AM manufacture. Also I have heard that there is a hardtop cab version on the way so some may want to hold off for this second version.

For myself I wish Das Werk would go forward with a possible plan to offer the trailer separately.

Very sadly, that's quite an inaccurate kit. Looks great in the box, yes, but poor research has marred a kit many have been waiting for ages.

Could you motivate your remarks, please?
Is it pretty good, not so good, bad, quite some mistakes?
Your input would help others, I guess.

To Javier:




I think the information in the booklet of the truck assembly states very clear that the references were very limited. Due to wartime issues like bombing the Faun archive (in late war) and more important, Faun did almost no commercial builds by that time. These trucks were purpose builds as from the mid thirties.
I get the taste of what is discussed on Missing-Linx about the tires has become a common negative approach to a wonderful kit. Nobody ever talked about the 115 trailer. The discussion already came to an end when a smart guy mentioned to compare Büssing L 900 chassis to the Faun, which is in fact a license build,. It's as always a never ending story of nit picking people with no solving clues to set things right at the end.
About the chassis, except for the fenders there is visual evidence, there were also a lot of comments, again no clues. Why? The designers of this kit mentioned that in their Historical Summary.
So finding the Büssing L 900 (which is no problem) is the answer to an interpretation of the Faun.

Kind regards,

Robert Jan

The only reference I was able to locate was in the form of period photographs; written detail is also extremely thin on the ground. Due to this I find it difficult to believe that one persons observations can be taken over another's. I feel that Das Werk has done an exceptional job when comparing the contents against period images of the Faun.

I knew that the tyres would come in for grief due to being made of vinyl rubber, but I was not able to find anything factual to prove they are wrong. If I felt this model was poor I would have said as much, but it is a very well designed product, that appears accurate visually and is provided at a very reasonable price.

If there are big accuracy issues then please provide chapter and verse as I feel your comment needs justification beyond the opinions of others.

Don't really care about the nit-pickers; I'm excited about the trailer and if the truck is as good as is seems I hereby suspend reality and will simply enjoy the build and its resulting early-war dio that it will be featured in.

The discussion at ML was long and full of evidence against the kit. Is there for everyone to read and get their own opinion:

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/missinglynx/das-werk-1-35-faun-l-900-and-sdah-115-video-t318059.html

You can all say (and I agree) that the kit "looks" nice: well-moulded, crisp detail, an impressive combo. But is not accurate. You are all free to buy and glue whatever you want and of course free to enjoy any model. At the end, that's the only thing that matters: enjoyment. But please, understand that won't make the kit any better on its (non) accuracy. If Das Werk claims they made the kit in close cooperation with the Faun archives (or whatever remains of these), then at least some of the very basics of the vehicle should be right, and they are not. In no way. If the archives material is incomplete, then deep research by a model company is a must if they intend to release a kit and be taken seriously, still more when there are some trails they could have investigated to get first-rate info on the real thing. Instead, research looks poor and seems they have thrown a lot of guessing onto those nice moulds. A real pity and really sad as I love those trucks.

Glad to be honoured as a "nitpicker" or "rivet counter". Thanks to other, far more serious "nitpickers/rivet counters", who put their knowledge, eyes, rulers, time, money and archives for many projects, the hobby is what it is today, at least the "business" side of it with new companies and kits flourishing all over. A bit more of "rivet counting" from some model companies would help for less discussions like this one, too.

Sorry Javier for the flak you are getting here - (it is kind of a "don't shoot the messenger" type of situation - but you are getting shot anyway!) Everyone here has the best of intensions and a strong desire to "get it right" but there is also a lot of "back biting" going on here.

None the less I tend to agree with Frank, as I too will suspend belief. Though I admit I WILL be purchasing the resin replacement tires, jacking up the suspension to make the tire/fender spacing look correct, trimming the front fenders and adding mud flaps.

At the very least I would say that Das Werk got us to the one yard line on the Faun. I don't mind doing a little extra work to get the ball across the goal line.

Tat Baqui's report on the replacement tires for the Faun can be viewed at:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/274679

I hold only slight resentment towards Das Werk for releasing replacement resin tires AT THE SAME TIME they release the main kit.

The creation of the injection molded kit is a much longer process than the creation of replacement resin tires.

The design of the main kit is not always within the complete control of the sponsoring company. There is often a contract design engineer (CAD designer) hired as a sub-contractor and the sponsoring company is to some degree at the mercy of the contract employee's ability to do correct research and also his or her dedication to producing a design that is faithful to the original.

Then the mold maker and the molding company get into the mix and place their own requirements and limitations on the kit. (That is a separate issue entirely)

Whereas the work on the corrected resin tires just might all be done in-house. A flaw is discovered in the kit, a new tire design is put together using their in-house CAD facility. This design is run out using 3D printing. This out-put is then smoothed and cleaned up (step lines removed) and this then becomes the master to make molds for the new resin tires and in-house production casting begins.

The resin work can be a much more rapid production process than the injection molded kit so I can understand to some degree the new tires arriving at the same time as the main kit.

Perhaps Das Werk should instead be applauded for trying to "get it right".

Totally agree!

Kind regards,

Robert Jan

Having codes to link to videos might be good for some, but as for me, I do not own a smart phone, nor do I intend to...so, do I miss assembly instructions along the line? Staying with basics on this...owning just a flip phone, with little functionality (of which I like). Less to hack.

Bought the resin sets for the truck and trailer. They are perfectly matched (hate rubber kit parts)!

Can you show some pictures of that?

Kind regards,

Robert Jan

NOTE: if you buys these resin wheels/tires, be sure to pay attention to the 'weighted' look given them and mount appropiately.

I think I like what I see but perhaps a larger, brighter photo????

Will work on a brighter pic...have patience!

Brighter photo...click on it to enlarge...

Question:
Would the Elite ‚Schwerer Anhänger, 11 ton‘, item 3529, fit behind this truck?
Or would the truck than have another type of cabin?

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/elite-models-3529-schwerer-anhaenger-11-ton-german-cargo-trailer--725546

Google search didn‘t bring me any information.
But maybe one of you?
Thanks in advance.

Hello Paul,
The Faun is pretty capable to pull such a trailer. Early WW2 they were used to bring the tanks to the battlefield, later on these trucks were mainly used for logistic services and became part of the supply chains to the fronts (Nachschub). I've seen photos of them with a variety of trailers, will search for them over the weekend.

Kind regards,

Robert Jan

Dank je wel!

Hallo Paul,
Geen probleem. Bekijk de volgende link:
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=132&t=161260
Combinaties genoeg en een perfecte vraagbaak.

Groeten uit Thailand,

Robert Jan