1:35 MiniArt Oil Products delivery Car - Liefer Pritschenwagen TYP 170V

[rverissimo]

1:35

MiniArt  Oil Products delivery Car

Liefer Pritschenwagen TYP 170V

catalogue number : 38069

Price tag: 35,50€

Miniart has been presenting us with some quite interesting models, featuring intricate details through the inclusion of small parts and subassemblies that ultimately result in a unique model.

Let’s proceed with the review:

Some historic background on this model:

The Mercedes Benz 170 model was synonymous during the mid-1930s and up until 1942 in Germany as the brand's most popular vehicle.
In the post-war period, it was again the 170 model that helped to relaunch the sales and reputation of this iconic German car manufacturer, with production continuing until 1955.
The "V" designation indicates that the engine was mounted at the front, distinguishing it from the 170H model, where the powertrain was mounted at the rear of the vehicle.
This model presented by MiniArt is yet another variation in the 170 family, offered over the years.
It is the 170 Va model (chassis for specific cargo boxes), produced between 1950 and 1952.
In this particular case, it represents vehicles used for transporting oil barrels (although the cargo box was suitable for all types of loads).

what's inside the box:

The packaging consists of a top lid featuring the model's image, covering a sturdy cardboard container designed to protect the sprues.

Inside, there is a bag containing all the sprues, decals with transparent parts, and a small envelope with the photo-etched pieces.

The instructions are located at the bottom of the box.

Sprues

this set comes with 14 grey plastic sprues, and one with clear parts. Also a photoetch fret and a decal sheet.

Sprue A
The largest sprue in the set provides us with a series of parts for constructing the vehicle's chassis, as well as interior components such as the steering wheel, engine firewall, and instrument panel.
The chassis is provided as a single piece, onto which all the mechanical components will be attached.
Other notable components include the external radiator frame (to be complemented with the photo-etched grille) and the front bumpers, which are supplied as a single piece.
This sprue also includes some parts not used in this version, with the most notable being the body shell for the Sedan version.

The engine covers are also included, featuring the typical open air-cooling grilles, which are intricately detailed and add great value when displayed with the engine exposed.

Sprue B
This sprue contains the parts that make up the engine, gearbox, engine mounts, fuel tank, steering components, and rear suspension.
The detail in the rear suspension springs particularly caught my attention.
Small details that stand out include the ashtray and cigar lighter for the interior!
Another small piece that intrigued me was the distributor, which of course will require wiring for the spark plugs (I just hope I get the sequence right!).

 

Sprue C
This sprue includes the doors (which can be displayed open or closed) as well as the interior linings.
Other doors for different versions are also provided (which could be useful for filling the cargo box!).

 

Sprue D
Two sprues D are included, though some parts are not used in this version.
Noteworthy details include the internal components of the cabin, such as door handles and the intricate detailing of the front headlights.

Sprue E
Four sprues E are included. Each one contains the parts for assembling the vehicle's wheels, the rims, hubcaps, as well as the brakes (front and rear), as they differ.
An interesting detail is that each wheel is made up of four parts, allowing for greater tread detail on the tyres.

By doing a quick dry fit of the parts that make up a tyre, it's clear why the wheels are separated into four pieces.
The three-dimensional effect of the tyre tread grooves is clear and realistic, as seen in the photos below.

note : the tire brand is also stamped on the tire wall.

Sprue F (Clear Parts)
This transparent sprue includes all the "glass" parts of the model.
The front and rear windscreens, as well as the door windows, feature guides that facilitate placement and alignment in the doors.
The grooves on the main headlamp lenses (interior) are particularly eye-catching once assembled.
There are also three circles corresponding to the dials on the vehicle's instrument panel.
Care should be taken when removing these parts from the sprue, as they are prone to cracking.

 

Sprue Be
This sprue is the first of two parts needed to construct the oil barrels that accompany the set.
On this sprue, we have the top and bottom caps of the two barrels, as well as the caps and a manual oil pump, which adds a certain "operational" feel to one of the barrels.

Sprue Bg
These two sprues contain the two halves of the barrels, along with the corresponding side reinforcements.

This set of sprues is specific to the van version.

Sprue Ha
This sprue, specific to this version, provides the canvas cover for the cargo box. It allows the canvas to be displayed either open or covered, concealing the interior.

Sprue Hb
This sprue provides the parts needed to assemble the cargo box, including the base, side walls, rear, and front panels.
The rear panel can be displayed open or closed, thanks to pins on the tailgate that allow movement through a photo-etched hinge.

Just to compare the size of the cargo box. Not big!

Sprue Hd
This sprue provides the parts for assembling the bodywork of this version (van), consisting of: a specific body with a short cabin (two seats) and a single bench, characteristic of this version.

The fine detail of the front wind shield / A pilar and roof.

 

Photo-Etch Parts
A set of photo-etched sheets is included, which will enhance the detail and finesse of the model.
Notable pieces include the radiator grille, the iconic Mercedes star, windscreen wipers, mirrors, engine and body mounts, as well as the various buckles for the cargo box canvas.
The inner circle of the steering wheel, typically used for the horn, is also provided as a photo-etch part.
I recommend lightly sanding the bonding area and, if possible, the painting area, to facilitate the processes mentioned above.

the Photo Etch Fret, is protected by a small envelope.

 

Decals
A single decal sheet is provided, with attention drawn to the logos of the various decoration options available. The film on the decals is minimal; however, some decals, due to their complexity, feature areas of film that can be minimised by cutting the decal into smaller sections and applying them gradually to the final model.
The decals are produced by Cartograf, a brand well-known and recognised for its quality.

Instructions

As usual, Miniart presents us with a full-colour instruction guide in A4 format, with 8 pages, 4 of which (the decoration options on glossy paper) and the remaining (assembly instructions) on matte paper.
The assembly instructions are divided into 46 steps (some of which are duplicated), with two additional steps for assembling the barrels.
Noteworthy is the bending diagram for the brake pipes, from the chassis to the drums. The pipes running from the brake pump to the chassis are missing (but that's just me being meticulous 😊).
The steps are clear, leaving no room for doubt regarding the gluing and placement.
The decoration plans are in colour, with paint references provided in a colour chart at the end of the assembly, referencing various available and accessible brands

As mentioned, 4 decoration options are available. All of them very unique and appealing !

A Diagram is provided to bend brake tubes ! original !

 

Conclusion
This small and original model brings a lot of personality and colour to the "olive drab" or "grey" world of military models.
The painting options are very appealing, and I must admit, I’m finding it difficult to choose my favourite decoration.
The small parts, which we all love because they enrich the final model, require careful handling, but nothing that an experienced modeller hasn't encountered in every model.  By this i'm not saying that it's not adequated to unexperienced modellers, they just need to take some care on the small parts and photo etch handling!

It's not a weekend project, but it's also not a six-month project or a shelf queen!
The subassemblies allow for a relaxed painting process, knowing in advance that they can be easily fitted into the model.
As this is a "civilian" version, we can stray from the military schemes and make use of the reds, whites, and blues that often sit on the shelf waiting to be used 😊

It is indeed a model to recommend, and kudos to Miniart for the originality of the subject!

 

 

To get one just  click here

Note: This model will be hitting my workbench soon, so stay tuned for updates on the build!

 

[Fran]

Great review! Love it mate!

Thanks

[HubertB]

7 hours ago, Fran said:

Great review! Love it mate!

Thanks

+1 !

Hubert

[KevinM]

That's a cool looking kit and something different to boot!