Friday, January 7

Preview update: Test build finished! - MiniArt's new Tempo 1/35th scale E400 Hochlader Pritsche 3-wheel Truck

We have been following Ivan Kolesnikov's build process of Miniart's new Tempo E400 Hochlader Pritsche 3-wheel Truck over the last few weeks. Today he has finished the kit into a lovely civilian scheme. See how it turned out in the updated rolling preview...

Preview update III: Test build - MiniArt's new Tempo 1/35th scale  E400 Hochlader Pritsche 3-wheel Truck 

Tempo E400 Hochlader Pritsche 3-wheel Truck 
From MiniArt
Kit No #35325
1/35th scale
The kit contains four marking choices in the box.
Photo-etch & clear parts are included
The Subject: Tempo E400 Hochlader Pritsche 3-wheel Truck 
On September 25, 1928, the sales company Vidal & Sohn was established to distribute the three-wheelers of the brand Tempo in Hamburg. The name Tempo was attributable to the patented three-wheeler design of Gustav Ehlers. Although the cooperation of both parties ended quite quickly, Vidal & Sohn brought its own three-wheeled trucks on the market after a short space of time. The competition was enormous but it turned out that both Hamburger had the right sense for the needs of petty traders. After only two years, in November 1930, the completion of the 1000th Tempo three-wheeler was celebrated.

The Tempo "boy" is an early model of the truck. The “Boy” versions had somewhat smaller engines than the man versions; a 10 hp 244 cc motor in order to qualify its use by a Category IV driver’s license, which was immensely easier and cheaper to obtain.
In 1936 a new type, designated with the abbreviation E400, was introduced. The number 400 signified the rounded up capacity of exact 396 cc and the letter E stood for “Eisen” (German for Iron). In plain terms, the new letter gave information about the state of the car body. The former mixed construction of the driver’s cabin and the chassis out of plywood and steel made way for a complete construction out of steel. Besides the choice of materials also the tire size was amplified by 1 inch to 18 inches in total. 

The E400 restored in modern times
With his brothers – the E200 and E600 – the sales could be additionally pushed and Vidal & Sohn were pleased with full order books. The E 400, also known and available under the name "Athlet" at the dealers, was fitted with a water-cooled two-cycle engine, which was mounted on the steering. The engine had a performance of 12,5 hp, which was transferred through a 3-speed gearbox and a chain to the single front wheel.

A post world War II version of the E400
Although the E400 was very popular it could not reach the success of its small Brother; the E200. Totalled up 3,311 three-wheelers of the E400 were produced at the works in Hamburg during 1936 and 1938.

A 1938 Tempo E 400 by Tempowerk Vidal & Sohn
The kit from Miniart:
This new kit from Miniart has just added the CAD images to the test build in plastic form. First,  we have several features of the kit in 3-D CAD form to inform us of what to expect.

Two licence plate holder options for customization.
Two wheel cover choices and an alternate number plate position on the rear.
Both the doors and the bonnet can be opened
The highly detailed engine can be seen through a fine photo-etched grille
The sides of the tray can be posed up or down...
The whole structure of the underside of the vehicle is replicated faithfully on this model
The wooden carbo tray is moulded faithfully to the grainy texture
Build up process of the kit:
MiniArt has provided us with shots of the kit in the process of being built. The sequence shows us a lot more about the fit and how the kit goes together...

The construction of the doors and windows, the floor with the battery, accelerator and brake and steering wheel column, the front of the inside firewall of the truck and the fuel tank...
The rear axle, with wires added in copper, the rear back of the seat in the cab,The bottom of the same seat on the floor panel and an alternate view of the rear axle.
Those three wheels with hubcap and good tread detail, the front nose hood cover with photo etch for those fine grilles and number plate, lastly, the little engine that could...
The rear tray with sides up and photo-etch on the thinnest of parts to replicate the real thickness of the metal structures...
All of those parts placed together, ready for painting and final assembly, no doubt more to come!
The load of the "big rig", all this fits in the back of the truck!
 09/12 2021 - Preview update II: Test build - MiniArt's new Tempo 1/35th scale  E400 Hochlader Pritsche 3-wheel Truck 

Ivan Kolesnikov's build of their Tempo E400 continues where we left off, with the fence and ladder which were painted in the base colours ready for further weathering.
The cabin's seat looks great here with darker shades in amongst the  creases in the leather on the seat...
The exterior and some of the interior was undercoated grey in rudiment for further coats of colour...
The interior door cards were painted, with the exterior metal shaded in blue, windows were masked...
The whole understructure of the chassis and the truck was painted in black as a starter after the undercoat.
The rest of the cab interior was painted that cream interior colour.
The floor is painted int hat cream colour, while trcr body colour wrapped around the universal is painted blue...
The rear wheels were given a shade of blue like the  car body colour...
Not only the rear wheels and body, but the tray were painted in that same bele before decals, weathering and finishing in the last part of Ivan Kolesnikov's build.
Updated Preview Part III:
The little three wheeler truck is now completed! Ivan Kolesnikov has taken us throught he major parts of his simple, but very effective process in building and painting, now for the walk around...
Loaded up with a ladder and some fence palings that come in the kit. MiniArt have made the most of their catalogue as per usual.
The little tray at the rear cannot hold that much, but you will find room to store some interesting stuff we are sure.
From low-down at eye level, you can see the three wheeled set up of the truck and the curved front bonnet (or hood).
The low profile of the truck and the boot is also evident.
The kit is available from the end of this month from MiniArt's distributors.
 See more about all of MiniArt's kits on their website...