OPEL Blitz 1000 "Propaganda"

By Faustnik.

Manufacturer: AL.BY Miniatures (Kit #883)

Contents:

• 20 Parts moulded in high quality resin
• Packed in a transparent box.
• A sheet of assembly instructions
• No decals or painting information

Evaluation:

As usual, this is an excellent kit from this well known french manufacturer. Depicting the small Opel Blitz 1-ton, which appeared in 1934. The version modelled by AL.BY is representative of the 1938 production, that continued until 1942, and resumed in 1945.

One must remember that Opel vehicles were made for the civilians, even if large numbers of them were indeed used by the German Armed Forces, in variety of roles.

This particular version could be used as Ambulance, vehicle in service with the Ministry of Propaganda, Postal service, fire departments, grocery van and as special vehicle in the German Army, specially as Radio van and Repair unit.

In the accompanying photo, you could notice that the supports for the loud-speakers are already sanded, this is because, I've read in Steel Masters, that one should buy this version, to get an late cab/bonnet combination - now I believe that both offerings from AL.BY will share this characteristics.

As always, Alain presented us with a spectacular kit, with very crisp detail! As any resin kit, some cleaning of the parts is needed, easily visible in the photo. The air bubbles and warping, the modeller's nightmare, are almost absent in my model, with the exception of one over the windscreen, already deal in the photo. One must have a lot of care in removing the casting blocks, present in some parts, particularly in the front grille area - Yes! I made that mistake and broke mine. My specimen, presented in the photo, has the mudguards damaged, by me, to represent a old and beaten van.

There is only one point where some of us could "scratch their nose" - the rear compartment. This is moulded as a solid block of resin, so no interior. While for some of us this is a relieve - no more detailing. But others would ask why didn't AL.BY present us with the same detail as in the Dodge T214-WC54 Ambulance kit?

As for references I would advise, as the most affordable source BARTELS, Eckhart, German Trucks & Cars in WW2, Vol. III - OPEL at War, Schiffer Military History Vol. 32.

Overall:

Another winner from AL.BY, combining the excellent choice of subject, with an almost infinite choice of roles and painting schemes. I wonder if Alain is preparing the Opel Blitz 1 ton truck - used as tractor and FlaK vehicle, or the 1,5 ton series…

As far as scale is concern, using the available data the overall dimensions are exactly at 1:72.

Highly Recommended