1:87 Funkwagen 30(t) /Tatra OA vz.30/

Funkwagen 30(t) on the Tatra OA vz. 30 chassis in 1:87 scale (Hauler)

A small kit of the signals version of the Tatra OA vz. 30 armored car in 1:87 scale, which corresponds to H0 model railway size. The designation Funkwagen 30(t) was used for this type by its later operators, and the letter in brackets referred to the vehicle's Czechoslovak origin. Hauler has a whole group of vehicles on the same chassis in this scale, so further versions can be built too. The contents of the package and the material of the parts are not stated here.

The real subject

The Tatra OA vz. 30 is a six-wheeled armored car built on a backbone tube chassis with independently sprung swing half-axles, that is on the solution typical of the Tatra marque, combined with an air-cooled engine. The armor was thin and protected the crew against small-arms fire, and the armament consisted of machine guns. The vehicle appeared at the beginning of the 1930s, only a few dozen were built and after 1939 some of them passed into the hands of other operators. The signals version differs from the combat one above all in the equipment for a radio set, which included a prominent frame antenna over the hull.

Building and painting tips

Parts in 1:87 scale are very small, so work with tweezers, a sharp knife and good lighting. Leave the antennas and the fine accessories until the end, after the body has been painted. Apply the paint thinly, ideally with an airbrush, so that the detail does not disappear. Keep the weathering restrained; in this scale a gentle wash and a hint of dust on the wheels and the lower part of the hull are enough.

Who the model is for

• For railway modelers in H0 scale who add vehicles to a scene
• For collectors of Czechoslovak interwar hardware
• For builders of small dioramas
• For patient modelers used to small parts

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