Mercedes-benz 170V berline
By Faustnik - jmqtv(at)iol.pt
Manufacturer: ODEX Minicars (Kit #72D01)
Contents:
Evaluation:
High quality of castings and details. As any resin kit, some cleaning of the parts is needed. Some care in removing small parts from their sprues is also needed. In my specimen there were no air bubbles and no warping.
The lack of instructions is not dramatic, as this item is very easy to assemble, in any case it will be useful to use photos of the real thing. Of course, the interior of the cab is open to some super-detailing, depending of your skill, will and information, not exactly by this order.
Background:
While this is not a strictly military vehicle - like it's cousin MB 170VK, of which some 19.075 170 were produced in 1938-42 - some numbers of them were impressed in service from 1939 onwards. Mostly used in the staff car or light transport car (lPkw) role, like most of similar designs: Wanderer, KdF-Wagen, Horch, Opel, Ford, Tatra, and so on.
The production started around 1938 ending in the end of 1940, when the War forced Daimler-Benz, and their branch of Mercedes-Benz, concentrating only on military designs. As this vehicle was produced in several batches and configurations (most bodies came from coach builder Ambi-Budd of Berlin in 2/4 doors and berline/cabrio versions) this means that they could differ in many aspects. Most noticeable was the cover over the spare wheel on the back of the car early versions had a metal cover, while in the late version there isn't any cover.
During the production some rare versions also appeared as a Post Office small van, with the body mostly from wood. This version was also pressed in the military service, for … Postal distribution of letters in the "Home Front", but some could get in others services.
After the War, in 1945, the production resumes with the production of the berline version and the small van, with austere interiors and body. Some of these were in use in Portugal as a Cab/Taxi unit until the '60s.
Overall:
As far as scale is concern, using the available data - at least the wheelbase - the overall dimensions are at 1:72.
Obvious conversions will be the cabrio version, were the roof is partly cut and a tarpaulin hood insert to cover the area, but attention look first at some photos.
An excellent choice of subject, at least to me, as this vehicle could be used almost from 1939 till 1946, in several colours and users, making it a "best buy" choice. If you want a civil vehicle in military use, why not using a colourful car - gloss colours like white, buff, cream or black - with some white/yellow markings during 1939 or 1940. Another option will be using some US markings and make it a vehicle in the US Army service in late 45. Use your imagination and photographic sources.
The later could be a problem, as been not a strictly military subject, few photos surface in our hobby, so these could be something like "walking on thin ice" but one could get some info from (don't expect more than 2-3 photos):
Highly Recommended
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