Introduction

The world of 1/48th scale models is small and unfortunately dominated by Tamiya that has toy like detail. While I really like that scale as it allows you to build a model quickly and have a large number of models on a limited shelf space the lack of detail distracts me from making more model. The range of aftermarket products and figures is also very limited. Therefore, every new player in 1/48 is very welcome, especially when it is a quality one.

Def Model from Korea is well-known for excellent accessories for 1/35th scale models and it is very pleasant to see their attention turn to 1/48th scale. So far they have concentrated on tyres for different Tamiya models (Humvee, Schwimmwagen, Steyr, Horch) and I really hope they extend their range to more products including conversions.

Review

DW48004 set of tyres for WW2 German Steyr type 1500A comes in a plastic bag stapled to cardboard backer. Inside there is another bag with resin tyres (2 front, 2 rear and 1 spare), a set of masks and instruction sheet for their application. The latter is a very welcome addition to the tyres as it eliminates the need for cutting or searching for paint masks and allows accurate painting without overspray. Def model provides 2 variants – for the tyre and for the rim, and modeller should select the preferred method depending on the personal painting sequence.

The tyres are placed on small casting blocks which have letters indicating their destination (A for front, B for rear and S for spare). The casting blocks are attached to the tyres in the bottom to guarantee that the pattern is not affected when you clean up the parts. The detail on the resin is very good and considering the scale these look better than many of the 1/35th scale items. The benefits of using Def Model sets are obvious from the images provided: no need to fill and sand, the tyre has markings (Continental and tire dimensions) on both sides, the bolt detail on the rims is considerably improved, and most importantly these have the correct tread pattern and are slightly sagged. I quickly tested the fit of these items on the Tamiya chassis and it worked perfect. The small labels Def Model has on the inner side of the rim are not seen after installation or can be filled with putty if desired.

Conclusion

An excellent and inexpensive set that considerably improves the detail of Tamiya’s Steyr 1500A. Personally I am happy to see a new name in 1/48th scale and I am looking forward to their further releases.