Wednesday, August 7

Preview update: 1/35th scale L701 German 3t Cargo Truck from MiniArt.

MiniArt Models have sent the colour choices & plastic sprue layout to add to our 1/35th scale Blitz L701 kit. We look at the new images & info in our (updated) preview...

Preview: 1/35th scale L701 German 3t Cargo Truck from MiniArt.

L701 German 3t Cargo Truck
From MiniArt
1/35th scale
Kit No#35450
Five marking choices included in the box.
The Subject
The Mercedes-Benz type L 701 was manufactured under licence from the Opel Blitz 3,6-36 S. Daimler-Benz had to start producing this type in July 1944 when production of its own 3-ton lorry, the Mercedes-Benz type L3000S was halted in April 1944. Unlike the original Opel Blitz, the L 701 had a conventional driver's cab from the final year of the war and no corporate logo on the radiator grille. Approximately 3,500 exemplars were produced till the end of the conflict.
This truck was essentially an Opel Blitz, the "standard truck" of the German armed forces during WWII, which was created and constructed by GM subsidiary Opel with American management fully aware of its intended purpose. Mercedes began producing it under licence in 1944 in modest quantities, and then again after the war from June 1945 until 1949.
Mercedes were a vexed that it wasn't their own design (their own truck of the same class was vastly inferior and significantly more expensive), which is why you could order a L 701 truck from your Mercedes-Benz dealership after the war and end up with a truck that said nothing about being an Opel made by Mercedes-Benz except in the owner's manual.

A few views of a restroed L701 in the U.S. (You can rent this one apparently).
You will notice that this truck had a wooden cab instead of the sleeker, metal constructed Opel Blitz cabs. The resources for these wooden cabs were used to save on resources and cost during the war.

A view of the cab itself.

The Kit: MiniArt's 1/35th scale L701 German 3t Cargo Truck.
We have some nice CADs of this kit providing some details of the makeup of the model. A walk around of the whole L701 German 3t Cargo Truck kit.

The option for canvas covered sides is included here, this will please many modellers who don't want to have to cratch build these themselves...
You can make this without eh canvas, but with the stringers on the tray also as an option.
The large variation of a wooden cabin for the driver & passenger, as well as that full engine with hood open or closed are shown in these CADs.
The bare bed shows off the suspension below the truck's body.
Of course, you can make this truck with just a rear tray without stringers and a canvas if you like.
These options and other small configuration changes are picked out below in blue in these illustrations
A view of the complete underside suspension and running geear of the truck. Engine is icluded here also.

The parts of this kit:
The grey plastic that make up the kit in layout. The full underside chassis, engine and interior (front and rear) are of course included in this kit.

Wheels are of the sandwich type with layers, great to use with capillary action and glue
The front grille & radiator
The instrument cluster, wooden cab and leaf suspension are here
Axles, universal joint & other mechanicals...
Side wooden ribbing for the tray.
Wooden sides for the tray that the ribbing sits upon.
Here is the frame and your wooden rear cargo deck ...
The detailed engine just needs ignition harness and some wiring if you choose to use it.
Jerry cans for spares and other parts of the mechanicals are on these three sprues that are duplicated, two each.
Wheel arches, the chassis and bonnet parts are included here.
Tools and pioneer equipment is included in this kit
Inside of the wheel bay & some other braces & parts.
A nice canvas top is included if you want to use it. Saves you making one yourself if you want a standard layout...
The top stringer canvas frame
Clear parts are provided for the lights and the windows of the kit...

Photo-Etch in the kit:
One small sheet of photo-etch is included in this kit. It replicates the thinner parts of the truck that aren't as suited to plastic moulding /or as thin/strong when moulded in plastic.
Marking Choices:
There are five marking choices for this kit. All in German army service, with one a red cross medivac vehicle. Vehicles from Afrika, Netherlands, German & Italian theatres are all choices here...

MiniArt have included a small decal sheet with individual markings, number plates, unit markings, stencil & instruments replicated here...
This kit from MiniArt will be available at the end of this month - Until then, keep an eye on the MiniArt's website or just look in here for more info on MiniArt’s new stuff.