German Bundeswehr Truck 1.5 t gl, Daimler-Benz Unimog S 404 B
ROCO 1:87 Scale Vehicle Review
Bundeswehr Panzer, Panzergrenadier and Panzerjäger companies had one Lkw 1.5 t in the maintenance platoon. Motorized Panzergrenadier units, later designated Jäger (light infantry), had infantry companies mounted entirely on Unimog 1.5 t trucks. These vehicles were equipped with machine gun ring mounts above the cab, and a double-sided bench on the flat bed. The shelf immediately behind the cab holds the camouflage net in place, ready to be pulled over the cab when the vehicle is parked. The model was sprayed in Bundeswehr »Yellow Olive RAL 6014«, tinted with 30 % white to take aerial perspective into account. Raised detail was then shaded and drybrushed using Jim Gordon’s weathering technique.
Contents
- Unimog S 404 B with flat bed and canvas tilt
Evaluation
The model has only 17 parts and it is sold fully assembled, ready to play. Serious modellers will take the Unimog apart, remove flash and glue the parts together permanently.
The cab and body are nicely detailed and will be fun to paint.
Compatible with HO scale model railroad equipment and miniatures by Märklin, ROCO, Faller, Pola, Preiser, and Noch.
Some flash around stowage boxes, front bumper and mud guards.
There is no rear license plate holder in the kit.
Cab doors do not open.
The canvas cab cover may be removed, but there is no kit part representing the folded cover. This part may be scratchbuilt.
The windshield folds down, but the hinge parts are a little out of scale.
Windshield wipers and rearview mirrors are not included in the kit. ROCO offers several vehicle upgrade kits which include such small parts.
Decals are not included, they need to be purchased separately.
Possible Conversions
- Unimog with folded cab cover
- Panzergrenadier (mot.) and Jäger Gruppenfahrzeug (squad carrier) with machine gun ring mount above cab
The Unimog 1.5 t 4×4 is an excellent troop and cargo carrier which may be used as a squad vehicle for Bundeswehr PzGren (mot.) and Jäger light infantry units. The vehicle will have to be converted to fit this role, but the work is well worth the trouble.