Model Military International – September 2019

Newsline - September 2019

4 Model Military International - September 2019

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Totternhoe, Bedfordshire, LU6 1QX, UK

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Email:[email protected]

The Editor gets an early look at Ryfield Models’ brand new 1:35 scale Type 82E Volkswagen Beetle

* Historical background courtesy of Wikipedia.

T

he Volkswagen Beetle, officially the

Volkswagen Type 1, informally in

German the Käfer (meaning "beetle"),

in parts of the English-speaking world

the Bug, and known by many other nicknames

in other languages—is a two-door, rear-engine

economy car, intended for five occupants that

was manufactured and marketed by German

automaker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003.

The need for a people's car, its concept

and its functional objectives were formulated

by the leader of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler,

who wanted a cheap, simple car to be mass-

produced for his country's new Reichsautobahn

road network.

With 21,529,464 produced, the Beetle is the

longest-running and most-manufactured car of

a single platform ever made. *

Modellers have not been very well served

with 1:35 scale Volkswagen kits. Until now,

the only real option has been the CMK

kit, originally released around 1998 and

subsequently re-issued by Revell and Italeri.

This was a typical limited run kit of its era

• somewhat simplified with a bit of careful
  cleanup required before assembly. The boot,
  bonnet and the doors were all moulded shut.
  Now, more than 20 years later, Ryefield
  Models has released a brand new 1:35 scale
  Volkswagen. This is a major improvement over
  the old CMK offering and worthy to stand with
  the latest generation of kits.
  Ryfield's 1:35 scale German Staff Car Type
  82E (presumably the Volkswagen brand was
  not used due to trademark issues) comprises
  89 parts in tan coloured plastic; 11 parts in
  clear; 3 x photo-etched parts; markings for

three vehicles.

Production quality is world class with perfect

moulding, narrow sprue attachments and clear

raised parts numbering.

Detail is excellent and surface textures are

beautifully done.

The upper body is moulded as a single

part including the four fenders. The body

is thoughtfully supplied inside a separate

cardboard box but this did not prevent damage

to the rear bumper mounts on my sample.

The boot, bonnet and doors are all separate

parts and may be posed open of closed.

Under the rear hood, a ten-part engine is

provided.

Structural elements inside the front bonnet

space are moulded in place with a spare tyre

and jerry can offered as optional stowage.

Separate hinge parts are provided for the

open boot and bonnet options.

The cabin is thoroughly fitted out with nice

upholstery moulded onto the three seats,

instrument panel, acceleraor, clutch and brake

pedals, hand brake, gear shift and another

stick shift (not sure if it really should be there -

transmisson range maybe?), rear vision mirror

plus the steering wheel making up the well

appointed interior. A single decal is supplied

for the speedometer.

The clear windows are designed to be

fitted from the inside. Windscreen wipers are

separate parts.

Optional headlight blackout covers or clear

lenses are included. The clear parts are all thin

and fee from distortion.

Drive train and steering elements are also

supplied as separate parts. It looks as if the

front wheels may only be posed straight ahead

without some additional surgery.

Two styles of wheels are included - standard

narrow road wheels and off-road balloon tyres.

The road wheels feature beautifully detailed

hubs and vinyl tyres.

The balloon tyres are all-plastic (hooray!).

Each of the balloon tyres is supplied as inner

and outer halves.

The number plates are photo-etched parts.

There is also a photo-etched part with the

famous VW logo but this does not seem to be

called out on the instruction sheet.

Instructions are supplied in an eight page

booklet with clear black-and-white diagrams

across 13 steps.

Three markings are suggested but any

number of options are possible thanks to

the blank licence plates and number jungle

of decals. Data stencils are provided in black

and in white depending on your Volkswagen's

finish.

I don't have enough detailed knowledge of

the subject to comment on absolute accuracy

but any Volkswagen experten are welcome to

let us know how it stands in that regard on

Missing-Lynx's Axis Forum.

Ryefield's 1:35 scale Volkswagen is a

beautifully detailed kit that is fully fitted out in

the cab and the engine bay. I am really happy

that we have the option of all-plastic balloon

tyres straight from the box too.

This is easily the best 1:35 scale Volkswagen

available today. ■

Thanks to Ryefield Model for the sample

http://www.ryefield-model.com

RFM’S NEW

BEETLE

Ryefield Model 1:35 German

Staff Car Type 82E with Full

Interior - Kit No. RM-

The nicely moulded main body viewed

from the rear

Nice textures on

the cabin floor

Doors are separate and may be posed open All-plastic balloon

tyres are offered

as an option

The modest photo-etched fret The clear sprue

Vinyl tyres for

the standard

road wheels

The kit decal sheet