Ebbro/Tamiya 1/24 Citrően 2CV Fourgonnette

The Citroën 2CV (French: "deux chevaux" i.e. "deux chevaux-vapeur" (lit. "two steam horses", "two tax horsepower") is a front-engine, front-wheel-drive, air-cooled economy car introduced at the 1948 Paris Mondial de l'Automobile and manufactured by Citroën for model years 1948–1990.

Conceived by Citroën Vice-President Pierre Boulanger to help motorize the large number of farmers still using horses and carts in 1930s France, the 2CV is noted for its minimalist combination of innovative engineering and utilitarian, straightforward metal bodywork — initially corrugated for added strength without added weight. The 2CV featured a low purchase cost; simplicity of overall maintenance; an easily serviced air-cooled engine (originally offering 9 hp); low fuel consumption; and an extremely long travel suspension offering a soft ride, light off-road capability, high ground clearance, and height adjustability via lengthening/shortening of tie rods. Often called "an umbrella on wheels", the bodywork featured a distinctive and prominent full-width, canvas, roll-back sunroof, which accommodated oversized loads and until 1955 reached almost to the car's rear bumper, covering its trunk.

Manufactured in France between 1948 and 1989 (and its final two years in Portugal 1989–1990), over 3.8 million 2CVs were produced, along with over 1.2 million small 2CV-based delivery vans known as Fourgonnettes. Citroën ultimately offered a number of mechanically identical variants including the Ami (over 1.8 million); the Dyane (over 1.4 million); the Acadiane (over 250,000); and the Mehari (over 140,000). In total, Citroën manufactured over 8.8 million "A Series" cars, as 2CV variants are known.

This kit represents one of the later versions of the delivery vans. THe kit is molded in mostly white plastic with one small black, one small grey and one even smaller chrome sprue with a clear sprue as well. Molding is superb and while I don't know if this is a Tamiya boxing of the Ebbro kit or vice versa, the detail on the parts is superb. Also included is a small chrome sticker sheet for rear view mirrors and a decal sheet for a plain vehicle and one for a garage in the UK.

The kit is not a curbside and comes with a full engine and transmission. The type's unique suspension system is full detailed and the suspension pieces are held in place with screws, all this being hidden once the body is installed. A nicely detailed cooling system is provided including the rather large cooling fan. Interior consists of two seats with Citroen's unique steering wheel.

Since this is a delivery van, there are parts for the sedan that are not used. The van section is built up of several pieces with basically separate  floor, walls, roof and fore and aft sections. Clear bits are installed from the inside. The engine compartment is quite busy and you get a full shift linkage. Rear doors can be modeled open or closed and the same is true of the main doors. The side windows are each in two pieces so you can present these open or closed as you desire.

Instructions are nicely done with Tamiya paint references, but all the colors are named so painting will not be an issue. The very last construction sequences show the application of the decals. Body color is your choice and I'd recommend visiting search engines to see what colors were normally carried on these vehicles.

Even if you are not a car modeler, you have to find things like this to be pretty neat. It would make a great kit for those into the less 'normal' and for those wanting to move out of their comfort zone a bit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_2CV

May 2016

Copyright ModelingMadness.com

Thanks to me for the preview kit. Where else will you find previews of things like this?