ICM 1/35 Henschel 33D1 Kfz.72 Radio Communication Truck Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

As Germany began to rebuild its postwar economy after World War 1, one of the tasks was transportation and logistics and several companies put forward new vehicles to meet that demand. Henschel developed the Type 33 truck that featured three axles with the two rear axles engine-driven. In the late 1920s, the early Type 33s were powered by a 65 horsepower diesel engine, but the version that had the longest production run was the Type 33D1 which was powered by a 100 horsepower diesel and had a payload of 4-5 tons. Produced between 1934 and 1943, the Type 33D1 was the most numerous version with over 6,200 examples built.

When Germany launched its offensives that begun World War Two, the Wehrmacht pressed a number of vehicles into military service. In addition to standard utility truck duties, the Henschel trucks were also modified into specialty duties by replacing the standard truck bed with various box-body enclosures.

ICM has produced another overlooked soft-skinned subject with this Henschel truck. This version is configured as a radio communications vehicle and has the distinctive box-body and wooden cab to prove it. The kit is molded in tan styrene and presented on six parts trees. There are no photo-etched parts used in this stock release but there are a number of tiny, separately molded parts which keeps the skill level at experienced.

Like many of the other truck kits released within the last few years, this kit starts off with the chassis rails and the frame is built up first. Unlike some of those recent truck kits from other manufacturers, this kit comes complete with a detailed diesel engine under that hood. With the engine built-up, it is installed on the motor mounts and the drive train is built up behind it. The drive train is mounted to a detailed suspension system and this kit is really looking nice. With all of that detail under the hood, of course the kit provides the option to pose the hood open or closed.

As with the full-scaled subject, the cab is a simple affair but the driver's controls are all there. The cab doors are molded separately so these can be positioned open or closed. The box-body is next and it too as separately molded doors which can be posed open or closed. The only disappointing part of this kit is that with all of the other details in this kit, there is no interior inside the box body. You'll have to scratchbuild the tables and shelf units inside the shelter and there are some radio sets available in the aftermarket, so you can replicate the radio truck so there is something interesting to see inside that otherwise nice shelter.

The kit also provides pioneering tools, clearance markers, and other small details to round out the exterior of the vehicle.

The kit comes with a markings for three different Luftwaffe vehicles. In those days, all Germany military vehicles were available in a wide variety of colors, as long as those were all Panzer Grey. The markings correspond to radio vehicles observed in Poland, 1939 and in the Ukraine, 1941.

This is a very nicely detailed kit. It is a shame that this radio truck doesn't have any radios nor interior inside the box body shelter, but it does provide an opportunity for the AMS modeler to turn out their own masterpiece.

My sincere thanks to Squadron Mail Order for this review sample!