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Horch 108 Type 40 with German Infantry 1:35


Mike

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Horch 108 Type 40 with German Infantry

1:35 ICM

 

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The original 108 was a design that dated from 1937 for a light 4x4 vehicle for the Wehrmacht, which was updated in 1940 to include an internally mounted spare wheel.  Due to reliability issues they were retired from production in 1942 to be replaced by the new Kubelwagen that was not only cheaper, but more robust and reliable too.  The remaining vehicles were used until they could no-longer be repaired, but many made it to the end of WWII.

 

 

The Kit

This is a relatively new tooling from ICM, dating from 2015, but adding in a set of figures to improve the overall value.  The box art has been redone to show a Panzer Grey example with a group of four figures, although the instruction booklet is from the earlier boxing and has a Sand Yellow vehicle stood alone.  The instructions for the figures are given on the two additional sheets that have been slipped inside the main booklet, which makes a lot of sense from a layout and cost point of view.  Inside the usual box-within-a-lid that ICM favour are nine sprues in sand yellow styrene, plus a clear sprue, a floppy sprue of black rubberised tyres, a small decal sheet and the aforementioned instruction booklet.

 

sprue1.jpg

 

sprue2.jpg

 

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The model is built up on its ladder chassis, including the engine, transmission, suspension with nicely moulded springs, plus body supports, brake hoses and exhaust system.  Overall it's a very neatly detailed underside, with the engine being the focal-point.  The hubs are split between inner and outer halves, which facilitates easy painting of the wheels and tyres separately, and installation of the tyres on the hubs without stuggle.

 

wheels.jpg

 

The coachwork is assembled on the floor plate, which has the rear wheel arches moulded in and stops at the firewall, with spaces for the driver's pedals in the left footwell.  The body sides are added, with moulded-in framework, and the dashboard is fitted between them to stabilise the assembly.  The dash has a decal for the instruments, a handgrip for the co-driver, heater ducting and a lever beneath the steering column, which is added later.  The front inner arches are glued to the underside of the body, and a rear load cover with moulded-in seatback is applied over the rear arches, after which the two rear doors and their handles are installed.  A delicate (in this scale) framework is fitted between the rear seats and the driver's area, with the fifth wheel behind the driver, and two bench seats facing each other in the rear compartment, which also have delicate framework under their cushions.  The front seats are individual, but of similar construction, and have space for the supplied KAR98 rifles between them, with two more pairs fitted in the rear compartment.  The windscreen is of the flip-down type, and has two separate panes added to the frame, with no windows supplied for the sides, as it is modelled with the hood down.  The doors can be fitted opened or closed, with their own separate handles inside and out.

 

clear.jpg

 

Once the chassis and body are mated, more of the underpinnings are added, and the radiator with cooling fan are attached along with the louvered bonnet and front bumper irons.  At the rear the hood is constructed from four parts, sitting on top of the load cover in a folded state, as there isn't an option for a raised hood on this variant.  Wing mirrors, pioneer tools, front headlights with clear lenses, and number plates are dotted around to finish off the build.

 

 

Figures

Two medium sized and one small sprue are devoted to the figure included in this boxing, depicting an officer discussing directions or tactics with one solider, while a machine-gunner carrying his MG34 and his ammo-man walk past, the latter laden down with two spare ammo cans, and the former draped with a length of ammo around his neck.  The ammo is on the small sprue, and is so thin that it is flexible enough to form to shape, then tack with a trace of glue.  All figures have gas mask containers, canteen, entrenching tool, daysack, pistol, MP40 pouches, binoculars (for the officer) and even bayonets included, which are all given detailed painting instructions on one sheet, while the main painting guide fills the other sheet with full colour printing.

 

sprue4.jpg

 

Markings

Four decal options are supplied on the small sheet, with unit, number plate and tyre pressure stencils being about all that is to be seen.  All options are from the Eastern front, with three shown in Panzer Grey, and one in the Sand Yellow scheme used later in the war.  From the box you can build one of the following:

 

  • 8.Pz.Div, Soviet Baltic, 1941 – grey
  • Russia, Summer 1942 – grey
  • Russian, Autumn, 1942 – grey
  • KG 51, Russia, Summer 1943 – Dark Yellow '43

 

decals.jpg

 

Conclusion

A nice detailed model that benefits from the addition of the figures.  A driver figure would have been nice to see, but as you're getting four well-sculpted chaps already, that feels a bit churlish.  You can build it buttoned up, or with the bonnet, doors and tail-gate all hanging open, so it lends itself to inclusion in a diorama.

 

Review sample courtesy of

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  • 4 weeks later...

Nice review of a decent looking kit, I actually went and bought one after reading this and hope to make a diorama along with a 1/35 Tamiya Panzer II I have in my stash.

One question as I can't see anything in the instructions in my boxing that indicates this, how would I model the bonnet open - would it simply be a matter of cutting the bonnet part in two along the hinge line and mounting one or both halves open?

 

Andrew

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  • 1 month later...

I did a double take at the KG in the final decal scheme and then the WL prefix on the number plates confirmed it - they've included soldiers, but 3 of the 4 colour schemes are for Luftwaffe vehicles. An interesting mix :) 

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  • 1 month later...

Is interested to read that this vehicle will be used in the Autumn of 2

On ‎26‎/‎05‎/‎2017 at 5:11 PM, Mike said:
  • 8.Pz.Div, Soviet Baltic, 1941 – grey
  • Russia, Summer 2942 – grey
  • Russian, Autumn, 1942 – grey
  • KG 51, Russia, Summer 1943 – Dark Yellow '43

 

 

It's interesting to know that at least one of these vehicles will be used in Russia, in the autumn of 2942. I'm guessing it will feature in the historical documentary series 'Back When Wars Were Proper Wars.'

:D

 

Rearguards,

Badder

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