introduction

The Kubelwagen was as important to the German military during World War II as the jeep was to the US military. It served on every front and in several different variations. Production of the Type 82 began in February 1940 and ran until the end of the war in 1945. Over the production run 50,000 units were produced. This version of the regular Kubelwagen is the radio car and the base kit is the same as the other Cyber Hobby Kubelwagens with the added equipment for the radio version.

Kit contents

The Cyber Hobby Radio car has 176 styrene parts, 10 clear, three etched brass frets, two turned aluminum parts, one metal wire, one decal/markings scheme, and six pages of instructions in 13 steps. The Kubelwagen is your standard for a 1942-era build. Two figures are included, but one is listed in the do not use category. They both wear warm weather Army uniform styles, so keep that in mind during your build.

Vehicle Specs:

Manufacturer Volkswagen
Production 50,435 (1940 - 1945)
Engine aircooled flat-4,
985 cc (23 hp) /
1,131 cc (25 hp)
Transmission 4-speed manual;
self-locking differential
Wheelbase 240 cm (94.5 in)
Length 374 cm (147.2 in)
Width 160 cm (63.0 in)
Height 165 cm (65.0 in) (top up);
111 cm (43.7 in) collapsible
Curb weight 715 kg (1,576 lb) (GVW 1,160 kg)
Fuel capacity 30 L (7.9 US gal/6.6 imp gal)

Review

The body exterior gives you the appearance of stamped metal and its details are nicely molded. The doors are molded in their closed positions with their hinges being nicely done however this is a drawback if you want to show them opened and will require surgery to achieve. The front hood has separate fuel filler parts, fine rib details, and the mount for the spare tire.

The tires are standard European style and full of detail. Since there are no hubcaps, the center hubs will be visible which is fine as they are correct when compared to pictures of the same timeframe. The suspension is made up of separate pieces and looks to provide a better than average look in this area.

In order to install all of the added radio equipment into the Kubelwagen you will need to do some surgery. The back seat must be cut in half as well as the rod running between the sides of the car. That being said, it does not look to be all that involved. Bending the PE could cause some headaches for new builders, but with proper work it should go together fine.

In the Figures and Extras department, there are two figures included in the kit; a driver and seated officer. Both are wearing typical Army (Heer) uniforms. Only one figure is marked for use, the driver, in the instructions. Also included is a set of three multi-part jerry cans. These have the etched brass inserts to create the seam between the two halves of the can along with separate carrying handle and pour spout cap. These are mounted to the fender with PE racks.

The radio car version of the Kubelwagen has a new set of PE included for a locker, table-top, and various shelves for the communication equipment. Included is some typical German radio equipment, a Fu.11 SE 100 transmitter and a Torn. Fu. d2 receiver. Along with these is a Zubehör or battery pack. Just about everything that is needed to communicate in the field is included, however there are a few parts on the equipment sprues that are not used. This includes a piece of equipment that looks like an Enigma machine. There is also a turned aluminum antenna.

The decals are printed by Cartograf and are typical of their product. The markings are for an unidentified unit and the painting calls for an over all Dunkelgrau color. Instructions are typical Dragon line drawings and should be easily followed. As with typical practice, colors are keyed to Model Master and Gunze paints.

Conclusion

This is a nice unique kit of an otherwise typical piece of equipment. When you are looking for something more for a dio or a build with a little extra this is the kit you should add. The PE might be a little challenging to a newer builder, but that should not make you avoid this kit. The kits details seem to match up well with available photo references. The radio and communication gear is a nice addition to the Kubelwagen, however there is no “wiring diagram” for the equipment. To get everything wired up correctly will take a little research, which should not be hard. The surgery needed to fit the radio equipment does not look hard at all and should be straight forward.

References: “German Military Transport of World War Two”, Hippocrene Books, by J. Milsom.