1:35 GERMAN 3T 4×4 CARGO TRUCK 3.6-6700A EARLY PROD

German three-ton cargo truck 3.6-6700A, early production, 1:35, from MiniArt

An injection-molded plastic kit of a German cargo truck with a three-ton payload and all-wheel drive. The type designation 3.6-6700A belongs to the off-road version of the most widely used German cargo truck family of the Second World War, which the Wehrmacht's vehicle fleet used literally everywhere. The early prod qualifier in the name identifies an early production form. The model is released by MiniArt in 1:35 scale.

The real subject

While the base version drove only the rear axle, the A-suffix version received drive to all wheels plus a low-range transfer case, making it usable off paved roads as well. It was powered by a six-cylinder gasoline engine of roughly three and a half liters and carried three tons of cargo. It entered service around the turn of the 1930s into the 1940s and continued throughout the war, from supply runs to casualty evacuation to special bodywork. The early production series differed from later ones in the cab finish and chassis details.

Building and painting tips

Kits of this type tend to have a finely broken-down chassis, so assemble the frame on a flat surface and let it cure before mounting the axles on it. Paint the cab and bed separately so you can reach into the corners. The wooden elements of the load bed stand out when an oil paint is dragged over the base shade and brushed along the grain with a dry brush. Round out a German gray or dark-yellow finish with a dark wash into the seams and dust pigments on the fenders and wheels.

Who the model is for

• Collectors of German Second World War equipment
• Modelers of cargo trucks and supply vehicles
• Diorama builders, where the vehicle complements infantry or artillery
• More experienced modelers comfortable with a finely broken-down chassis

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