"Panzerattrape" preview: Meng's 35th scale German Pkw.K1 Kübelwagen Type 82/3

Meng is extending the moulds of it's new Kübelwagen series with this, the Type 82/3 in 35th scale. We had not seen this thing before this announcement, so we did some research & found the real thing—CADs & features all in our preview...

"Panzerattrape" preview: Meng's 35th scale German Pkw.K1 Kübelwagen Type 82/3 

German Pkw.K1 Kübelwagen Type 82/3

From MENG

Kit No. VS-017

1/35th scale

Meng website

The subject: The Kübelwagen Type 823

The Type 82/3 was an armoured version of the Volkswagen Kübelwagen (Pkw.K1 Type 82). It was also known as the "Panzerattrape," and as the name suggests, it was constructed to function as a tank decoy in order to deceive the enemy. The mock-up armoured vehicle was flanked by simple metallic structures that mimicked a tank's track, but the machine gun-fitted turret was real. 

The vehicle's track units were removed when deployed. The vehicle had no doors; entry was through the turret hatch. They were supposed to replace the Kfz 13 armoured cars; they were mainly used in Russia.

The waggon with the fake tracks attached to the sides used during training. All of these vehicles have the fake tracks on their side, this kit does not have these added as far as we know.

It was produced with a new body, designed by Ambi-Budd Presswerke of Berlin. Approximately 80-100 units were manufactured, equipped with removable dummy tracks and a rotating turret. 

The pictures below are from a vehicle put into auction in California recently

The turret was capable of mounting a machine gun, allowing it to mimic an armoured fighting vehicle for training purposes. This vehicle featured no doors, with the only means of entry and exit being through the turret hatch.

The new kit from Meng.

MENG will release the "VS-017 German Pkw.K1 Kubelwagen Type 823" plastic kit in 1/35th scale. It is an adaptation of their earlier Type 82 kit, but with extra parts to make this training vehicle. The assembled kit size is approximately 111mm in length, 46mm in width, and 55mm in height. The kit comes with high-definition water transfer decals, high-quality rubber tyres, and one paint pattern profile in the box.

This kit faithfully reproduces the appearance of the German Pkw.K1 Kubelwagen Type 823. It does NOT have the fake tracks attached to it, as far as we can see.

The upper turret can rotate. completely. The windscreen and lights are recreated using clear parts.Digitally sculpted headlight canvas covers and fabric pattern seat details are natural.

The interior of the turret is there in detail

The chassis has a three-stage disassembly design, replicating the structure of the actual car. The floor is designed to be disassembled according to the structure of the actual vehicle, making it easy to paint.

The Pkw.K1 Typ82 features independent suspension and a rear-wheel drive system, with the front axle being a steering axle. If we want to replicate steerable front wheels on a scale model, the design requires more separate parts to accurately replicate the steering mechanism. This will make the assembly process extremely complex, and the small parts may break due to insufficient structural strength. Therefore, after careful consideration, Meng decided to give up the steerable mechanism design. Instead, a separate front axle part design excellently replicates the actual car structure. It features a simple snap-fit design.The front axle faithfully reproduces the structure of the actual vehicle and uses a snap-fit ​​design for easy assembly.

The tyres are made of soft rubber, and the kit comes with a spare tyre.

This new kit from Meng is still in development so keep an eye out here, or on Meng's website for more info on this new model