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Lastkraftwagen 3.5T AHN with German Drivers (35416) 1:35


Mike

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Lastkraftwagen 3.5T AHN with German Drivers (35416)

1:35 ICM via Hannants

 

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The original AHx design by Renault could carry a load of 2 tonnes, and when Germany conquered France they ordered more into production and the larger AHN, which was capable of carrying 4 tonnes, but was designated 3.5 tonnes by the Wehrmacht, probably as a safety feature.  The AHN was equipped with a 4L straight six petrol engine coupled to a four speed gearbox.  From introduction in 1941 to the end of WWII they served in all theatres, and around 4000 were built in various forms.

 

 

The Kit

Stemming from a new tool in 2014, this is a reboxing with the addition of a handsome set of driver figures that we reviewed separate here a little while ago, although they were previously moulded in sand-coloured styrene.  Inside the box are six sprues of grey styrene, the figure sprue also in grey, a clear sprue, a bag of flexible plastic tyres, decal sheet and instruction booklet with colour figures instructions interleaved.

 

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This is a full detail kit, and construction starts with the chassis, which is built from rails and cross-members, into which you install the engine when it has been assembled from a decent amount of parts to give good detail.  The radiator slots into the front, and then suspension is added in the front and rear using leaf springs, which are then fixed to axles after the exhaust has been glued to the chassis rails.  Steering linkages are fitted into the left side of the engine, joining up with the front axle's steering rack, and then the wheels are added, made up from the flexible tyres slipped over the styrene hubs.  The rear wheels are paired for weight distribution, so have twin hubs joined together with a castellated mating surface.  Fuel tank, spare wheel, drive-shaft and towing hitches are then installed to finish off the lower of the vehicle.

 

The snub-nosed cab is next to be fabricated, and this begins with the stepped floor, which has crew steps added to the underside, and then has the two doors fixed to the sides after the clear windows are put in place, with the front completed in the same manner.  Inside the cab an air filter box, instruments (with decal), driver controls and comfy-looking barrel-backed seats are all glued in place after painting, and the rear panel with small rear-view window finishes off the framework.  The crew doors have glazing added and are attached to the front edge of their aperture in open or closed positions as you see fit, while the roof goes on as a single part, and has a couple of ejector-pin marks to square away if you think they will be seen.  At the front is a distinctive radiator grille, which has an emblem design added to the front, and then gets fitted to the hole in the nose, plus a filler cap above it.

 

The truck bed has a complex arrangement of supports underneath, which are slotted together on two central rails and surrounded by side frames, after which the floor is dropped on top and the sides are added.  The rear mudguards underneath are attached via a pair of supports that mate with small blocks under the bed and ridges on the semi-cylindrical guards themselves.  The number plate sits low on the rear, and side frames are added to the tops of the bed's uprights, with a large roof part fitted with longitudinal slats to complete top frame/tilt.  Both the bed and cab are fixed to their slots in the tops of the chassis rails, and as the final step the lights, windscreen wipers, convoy light and wing mirrors are all attached to the sloping front and sides of the cab.  Now for some paint.

 

 

Markings

There are four markings options in the box, and all but two of them have different schemes, giving plenty of variation in finish, as well as depicting one from each of the major theatres (with the exception of Africa).  From the box you can build one of the following:

 

  • Lastkraftwagen ANH Russia, Winter 1941 – Panzer Grey
  • Lastkraftwagen ANH Ukraine, Summer 1942 – Panzer Grey
  • Lastkraftwagen ANH France, 1944 – Dunkelgelb (dark yellow) with sprayed on green camouflage
  • Lastkraftwagen ANH Italy, 1943 – Dunkelgelb

 

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The decals are printed in the Ukraine, and consist of black and white with good registration, colour density and sharpness, as we've come to expect from ICM's decal printers.  Unfortunately, the profiles were all greyscale, which wouldn't scan well, so rather than show you four seemingly identical profiles, you'll have to use your imagination and the words above instead :)

 

 

Conclusion

A well-detailed kit of this funny-looking French wagon, with the added bonus of four crew figures, including an officer and three from the lower ranks.  Well worth a look.

 

Highly recommended.

 

Imported to the UK by H G Hannants Ltd.

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Review sample courtesy of

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