Roden 1/72 Opel Blitz Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

The Opel Blitz three-ton cargo truck is one of the most notable tools in the Wehrmacht. Despite the more famous combat vehicles like the Tiger and Panther, none of these would have remained operational without the Blitz and other similar supply vehicles. These workhorses transported fuel, ammo and supplies to the front lines in order to keep the tanks and troops in the fight.

The story of the Blitz dates back to the mid-1930s, when General Motors owned the Opel company and was applying its design and manufacturing skills to German industry. In 1936, one design that would lead to the mobility of the German Army was the Blitz Type S. By the time the war began in 1939, all of the Type S Blitzes were drafted and upgraded to the military Kfz.305 standard.

By the end of the war, nearly 140,000 Opel Blitz variants were produced. In addition to its three-ton cargo configuration, the Blitz was adapted into radio vehicles, mobile workshops, ambulances, and many more variations.

The Roden 1/72 Opel Blitz has arrived and is definitely a nicely detailed model. Molded in their standard tan-gray styrene, the Opel Blitz kit is presented on three parts trees. Two of these trees are identical and contain parts for the wheels, suspension, etc.

Right out of the chute, this kit gets kudos! There is a complete engine provided for under the hood. This is a nicely detailed assembly, especially in this scale.

The chassis is also very nicely detailed, right down to the intricate framework that mounts the cargo bed to the frame. This is a 4x2 powertrain, so the mechanics of the drivetrain are simpler with this kit.

The wood floor and wood-sided cargo bed are nicely done and there are even bench seats and your choice of covered top or stowed top framework.

The cab is nicely detailed and this detail is not lost after assembly. Rather than use styrene windows that would distort the interior from outside viewing, Roden is using acetate that has the window outlines printed on the sheet, making this material easy to use.

The completed exterior is treated with a wide variety of pioneering tools and personal kit stowage.

Markings are included for six different examples: one from the DAK (Afrika Korp) 1942; one from SS Panzer Grenadier 'Adolf Himler', Khakov, 1943; one from the 503rd Schwere Heeres Panzer Abteilung, Normandy, July 1944; one from the 18th Engineering Battalion, 18th Infantry Division, Lithuania, 1941; one from the 501st Schwere Heeres Panzer Abteilung, Eastern Front, March 1944; and, one from Panzer Division 'Grossdeutschland', Ukraine, Spring 1944.

This is a very impressive kit in this scale and it makes me hope that Roden would do a similar release in 1/35th! This kit is definitely recommended!

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