ArtScale 1:35 Velorex and trailer PAv40

[Fran]

 

1:35

Art Scale Kit

Velorex

And

 

Trailer PAv 40

 

 

Velorex – catalogue n.º 200-K35001

Available here – 24,50€

PAv40 – catalogue  n.º 200-K35003

Available here – 3,30€

 

And Velorex 3D Print Wheels – available here - €5,30

 

Art Scale Kit (also known as ASK) is a model hobby shop and has growing in the modelling world with their decals, 3D Productions and tools.

They have release their first injection mold 1:35 model.

 The Velorex and its little Pav40 trailer.

The Art Scale Kit (ASK) 1:35 Velorex (kit number K35001). The first time I saw it, I thought: what?

Velorex? I confess I never heard about it.

 

“Based in Parnik, Czechoslovakia, the Stransky brothers (Frantisek and Mojmir) opened a bicycle repair shop in 1936. Inspired by the simplicity of Morgan's three-wheelers, the brothers decided in 1943 to build their own three-wheeled economy car, aimed at disabled veterans. That year their first prototype was constructed, using a tubular steel chassis and sheet metal for the bodywork.

 

By the time the first batch of a dozen production cars was made in 1945, the duralumin bodywork had been swapped for a leathercloth-type material called Igelit, but the original tubular chassis was retained. Those Igelit panels were held on by press studs which made them easy to replace if they got damaged.

 

The two brothers experimented with engines, with those first Oskars (as the car was now called) receiving a mix of 150cc, 250cc and 300cc two-stroke air-cooled engines. As an exercise in cheap motoring the Oskar was a triumph, as it cost about a quarter of the cost of a more typical car. The vehicle was about as faithful as one could get to the true spirit of the classic cyclecar. Components such as the engine, wheels, wings, and even the teardrop-shaped fuel tank were pure motorcycle.

 

 

In 1950 the Stranskys' design was taken over by a government co-operative called Velo, and their workshop was transferred to Hradec-Kralove, later renamed Velorex. A year later half a dozen workers and the machinery to build the Oskar 54 (as it was now called) were once again relocated, this time to Solnice, for production to be ramped up.

 

While just 120 Oskars were built in the whole of 1951, and 180 the following year, by 1954 production was running at the rate of 40 cars each month. This wasn't a good year for the Stransky brothers though, because in January Frantisek was killed while testing an Oskar prototype, then later that year Mojmir was sacked from the company for refusing to join the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia.

 

In 1956 the company that made the Oskar was renamed the Velorex Oskar before later reverting to simply 'Velorex', and despite the car's advancing years it was in demand more than ever. Half of the cars made were going to disabled Czechs while the rest were being distributed throughout other Eastern Bloc countries such as Hungary, Poland, East Germany and Bulgaria. By 1959 120 Oskars were leaving the factory each month and in 1961 the investment continued with a new factory opening up to share the workload.

 

Until 1963 the Oskar had been fitted with a choice of 172cc or 249cc single-cylinder engines, but from this point on the bigger engine was swapped for a 350cc Jawa unit, while the interior was also spruced up a little – not that the Oskar was ever what you would call luxurious.

 

Oskar production continued right up to 1971 when an all-new four-wheel model took over, with the very catchy name of 453. But it was a disaster and production stopped after just two years, as the 453 couldn't compete with the Trabant which was much more usable and just as affordable – even if the waiting list to get one ran into several years. The joys of living in a communist regim”

https://www.below-the-radar.com/velorex-oskar/

Also check the link for some great picture for color indication.

This injection-molded plastic kit, developed with input from Velorex club ACR as it results on the back of box with the Velorex club bagde and a note of thanks.

 

The box art is a profile  drawing of the Velorex.

 

 

This injection mold kit is the first offer in any scale, I think, of the Velorex and Pav40 trailer.

 

This quirky vehicle model kit is quite appealing to auto modelers, diorama builders, or simply to the modeler that wants something quite different.

The completed model measures approximately 80mm in length, making it compact yet detailed for 1:35 displays.

 

So, inside the box, you got three plastic sprues, two plastic gray and one clear plastic, separately bagged for protection. You also get a set of 3D Resin printed wheels and a small decal sheet.

 

I was quite surprised with the amount of detail of this little model kit, despite it`s 1:35 scale.

 The grey plastic is very well molded with some quite good details, with a little flash, easy to deal with.

 The clear parts are quite clear and perfect visible.

 

The 3D wheels are very good as all 3D Printed parts from Art Scale.

 

 

In grey plastic you get the engine (Jawa engine - no idea if is the 175cc or the 350cc) with two cylinder, exhaust, the tubular frame, canvas body, two roof options, separate doors, fenders and for the inside detail, seats, wheels, pedals and of course, the steering.

 

 

The small decals sheets give the modeler the Velorex logo in black and in white and plates.

 

The instructions are quite good with a small Velorex History. It has no color indication for the interior or other parts. However, gives you four profiles and the color used giving Mr Color indication color (a bit odd choice, at least for me).

 

 

Complementing it is the separate 1:35 Návěsný Vozík PAv 40 trailer (kit number K35003). It’s a complete separate kit so you can buy the Velorex or the Pav 40. The trailer is a simple add-on designed specifically for the Velorex, replicating the real-world single-axle trailer used for extra cargo.

 

Its comes in a very small sturdy box and inside a single grey plastic sprue with 8 parts with fine surface details, basically the same quality as the Velorex.

 

The two parts of the “bag”, the only wheels, the tubular support and 3 small details.

 

 

The instructions are in a single sheet with no decals.

 

***

            Conclusion:

Wow!! I really liked this little gem that it will stand out as a single piece or in a diorama!

And with the trailer Pav40even more, so indulge yourself and get one of each. If you want detail even further this little gem, so go ahead and get the Eduard details set for it as it looks like worth it.

 

My thanks to Art Scale for making this model possible and it is on the model buils for 2026.

 

 

Francisco Guedes

 

 

 

 

.

 

[Martinnfb]

So cool, I remember Velorex from my childhood, there was one disabled neighbour who had it. So crazy, I would never say that this will be a subject of a model kit release.