introduction

The Henschel 33 D1, built between 1934-1943 is a medium-sized 6 x 4 truck which was also built under license by Magirus (KHD) between 1938-1940. These were built with a variety of diesel & petrol power plants. The 33 D1 is petrol engined.

It fit into the German common general specification that was similar to the USA’s general specification for the GMC-CCKW-type truck. Unlike the GMC though, the Henschel and other standard makes were available to commercial users (with subsidy) and for export, mainly to boost production and reduce unit cost. In Germany these were used by other Government Departments including the Deutsche Reichsbahn (German Railways). They were also fitted with many different types of specialist body types, including radio trucks like the one released by ICM.

kit parts

The kit comes in ICM’s typical cardboard box with a coloured drawing of the contents on the cover. When the box was opened it contained two clear cellophane packets of sprues. One contained:

the 7 orange/yellow-coloured sprues while a second has
1 sprue with clear parts

An A4 instruction pamphlet containing 6 double-sided pages is also included and a small sheet of decals was fitted between the pages for protection.

the review

The box is in fact quite full so very little movement occurred during transit. The difference between this kit and the ICM Henschel cargo truck is mainly in sprues C1 & C2, which contain the body parts for the radio version. The plastic is still the hard brittle stuff that was used in the original cargo kit, so look out for a lot of the fine parts breaking regardless of how much care is taken removing them from the sprue.

Contrary to rumor there is NO interior in the radio body at all, it being a hollow shell. I would guess that the resin companies will soon sort out this shortfall though.

As I have both kits in my stash, I believe this ICM Henschel Radio truck kit is better than the IBG Einheitsdiesel Kfz 6-radio truck, primarily because it is molded with separate doors from the body sides, thus making it easier to build the kit with the doors open, rather then having to do major surgery to have them open as with IBG's offering. The lack of an interior to the radio body I am certain will be filled by one of the resin After Market Companies sooner rather then later, and this will add a further dimension to the kit.

I personally will not be doing a full interior on mine, as I have almost finished the IBG Radio truck with a full interior, and see no need to do two of them.

conclusion

A nicely detailed kit with a lot of fine detail often as good as Photo Etch AM parts, and it should build up into a nicely-detailed model if care is taken to remove the smaller parts from the sprues (due to the brittle plastic). Despite the brittle, hard plastic, I think this kit is worth getting and building due to its unique looks and rareness. All of that combines to make it a valuable addition to the shelf of any discerning modeller.