1:35 1941/42 Ford V8-G81A Funkwagen

Ford V8-G81A Funkwagen 1941/42 - 1:35 (Roden)

A plastic kit in 1:35 scale from the production of the firm Roden. The subject is the passenger car Ford V8-G81A in the Funkwagen conversion, that is, a vehicle fitted with a radio set for the signals service, in the condition matching the years 1941 and 1942.

The real subject

The Ford V8-G81A was a vehicle from the German production of the Ford concern, technically derived from a civilian passenger car with a V8 engine. During the war the Wehrmacht took over large numbers of production civilian vehicles and adapted them to military tasks; the type thus served as a staff and courier car and, in the Funkwagen conversion, as a mobile workplace for signalmen. The radio equipment made demands on the power supply and on the mounting of the antenna, so vehicles of this purpose differed from ordinary ones in the details of the body. For a modeler it is a rewarding object: a smooth body of civilian origin in a military finish creates a contrast which catches the eye in a diorama.

Building and painting tips

Finish the interior and the instrument panel before you close the body up. Glue the parts with a thin cement for plastic and sand the parting lines on the fenders and the hood carefully, as every trace is visible on a smooth body. Apply a primer before painting, which reveals the joints and at the same time improves adhesion. Spray the base shade with an airbrush in thin layers; on light vehicles a gentle lightening of the upper surfaces looks convincing. Keep the weathering sparing: a dark wash into the seams of the hood and the doors, and concentrate the dust and mud on the wheel arches, the fenders and the underside. Mask the glazing and glue it in only after varnishing.

Who the model is for

• Anyone interested in military non-combat equipment of the Second World War
• Builders of dioramas looking for an additional vehicle for a scene
• Collectors of German automotive equipment in 1:35 scale
• Modelers with experience of smooth bodies and an airbrush

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.