1:35 RSO/01 Type 470

The real subject

The Raupenschlepper Ost, RSO for short, was a German fully tracked tractor of the Second World War, designed to move through deep mud and snow where wheeled vehicles got stuck. A simple cargo bed with a tarpaulin, high-set tracks and an undemanding design made it a universal load carrier and a tractor for artillery equipment alike. The designation Type 470 belongs to one of the production versions. The Goliath, by contrast, was a small tracked demolition charge carrier controlled remotely, meant to reach an obstacle or a fortification and detonate its charge.

What the set contains

According to the name the box holds parts for the RSO/1 Type 470 tractor, plus track pads for driving in snow and mud, and a small Goliath on top of that. In one box you therefore have two entirely different vehicles that can be combined into a single scene. The extent of the parts and the marking options are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

Clear the parts of excess material and traces of manufacture and sand the mating surfaces. Assemble the tracks and the running gear on a flat surface as the instructions say, so that the model sits on all its wheels and does not twist; it pays to paint the tracks separately and attach them only after the bed has been painted. Use cement for plastic models sparingly. Before painting, wash the surface, degrease it and lay down a thin base coat. On a vehicle that drove through mud and snow, restrained emphasis on the build-up around the running gear and on the fenders makes sense, but work in thin layers.

Who it is for

The set will please modelers of German equipment who are looking for a less usual vehicle than a tank, and builders of Eastern Front dioramas. Paints, thinner, glue and tools are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.