1:35 German Kommandowagen

The real subject

The Germans used the designation Kommandowagen for a command vehicle, that is a car adapted for directing a unit on the march and in the field. Such vehicles usually had extra signals equipment and room for the commander and his people, so that command did not have to wait for a fixed post. In a collection or on a diorama it adds a rear-echelon and staff vehicle to the combat machines, and one that tends to be just as interesting as the tanks.

What the kit is

This plastic kit in 1:35 scale is supplied unassembled and unpainted. The parts are held on sprues; the builder cuts them off, cleans them up, glues them and paints them according to the enclosed instructions. The exact form of the vehicle, the paint list and the markings offered are all in the instructions in the package.

Building and painting tips

Glue the chassis and the wheels on a flat surface, so that the vehicle sits level and does not rock. Fill and sand the body with its large flat areas; every unevenness shows once it is sprayed. Glue the glazing with a cement meant for clear parts and mask out the frames before spraying. Paint the interior before you close it up, because the inside of the vehicle will be visible through the windows. Finally bring the finish to life by emphasizing the shadows and lightly dusting the wheel arches and the lower body.

Who it is for

The set suits modelers who collect German vehicles of the Second World War in 1:35 scale and diorama builders looking for an extra vehicle for a staff scene or a column. Paints, glue, filler and other materials are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.