Tamiya 1/35 Pkw K1 Kubelwagen

The Volkswagen Kübelwagen (a back-formation as literally, 'tub' car,previously mostly used for rail, industrial or agricultural hopper cars) was a light military vehicle designed by Ferdinand Porsche and built by Volkswagen during World War II for use by the German military (both Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS). Based heavily on the Volkswagen Beetle, it was prototyped as the Type 62, but eventually became known internally as the Type 82.

Kübelwagen is a contraction of Kübelsitzwagen, meaning 'bucket-seat car' because all German light military vehicles  that had no doors were fitted with bucket seats to prevent passengers from falling out. This body style had first been developed by Karosseriefabrik Nikolaus Trutz [de] in 1923. The first Porsche Type 62 test vehicles had no doors and were therefore fitted with bucket seats. Mercedes, Opel and Tatra also built Kübelsitzwagen.

The vehicle was widely used and along with the Schwimmwagen, was probably Germany's most produced military vehicle. It is basically the equivalent of the US Army's Jeep. The type was built in a bewildering number of variants and dozens have survived the war.

This is one of Tamiya's earliest toolings and is not a complex kit. Probably not much more than 30 parts for the vehicle along with the bits for the three figures. This one was imported by MRC and so the instructions are in English even though the box top is not.

The kit has basically two options, aside from the figures. This a soft top and an MG 34 on a pintle just behind the front seats. The kit has a floor pan anto which the seats and gear shift are attached. The hood and side pieces are separate with the instrument panel attaching to the hood. The engine cover/rear wheel wells along with the hood and the windscreen frame are trapped between the two side panels.

Next the spare, headlights and a few other bits are attached to the hood. The wheels are assembled and then attached to plastic axles that are thread through the floor pan. Tail lights and plates are attached long with the shovel and if you opted for the machine gun, that is glued on. The last items is the raised or lowered soft top. That's it.

Instructions are well done and make it clear where everything goes. On the back of the sheet is information on where various uniform markings are attached and how the figures are painted. There are four different sets of license plates along with a number of unit specific markings on the decal sheet, but no real information on what is used with what so you are on your own. Same with painted the vehicle, though really you have only two options for base colors which is desert yell or panzer grey.

Despite its age, I'm looking forward to building this one. It will make a nice break from more complex kits. Even though the kit includes three figures as shown on the box top (two sitting and one standing), I won't be using them as I am really bad at painting figures. This is still widely available at what currently passes for a reasonable price.  

ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_K%C3%BCbelwagen

September 2026

Copyright ModelingMadness.com. All rights reserved. No reproduction in part or in whole without express permission from the editor.