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Right On Replicas, LLC Step-by-Step Review 20150423* KettenKraftrad with Infantry Cart & Goliath Demolition Vehicle 1:48 Scale Tamiya Model Kit #32502 Review

Review and Photos by James Yeager

The Kettenkraftrad was designed in 1939 and was originally for the German Airborne to use as a small towing vehicle that also had multiple purposes. The Kettenkraftrad became very popular throughout the German Army and soon it was doing anything from taxiing jets to the runway to hauling equipment and even hauling artillery. The Kettenkraftrad had a 4 cylinder 1478cc Opel Olympia engine that could get up to 36HP. It had three forward gears and one reverse gear and could handle very well on off road situations. The Kettenkraftrad could pull close to 4 tons of weight. The first place the Kettenkraftrad was used was during the invasion of Crete in 1941 from there it served all through Europe, in North Africa and on the Eastern Front. The Infantry Cart was designed to replace the older wooden cart which was much heavier. The replacement was a much lighter model that not only could be towed by the Kettenkraftrad, a motorcycle, a horse but by two soldiers as well. The Goliath, Sd.Kfz.302: While occupying France the German Army found plans by a French manufacturer Keggresse about a little device that transported explosives. The Borgward Company created the Goliath off of the research the Germans did of that manufacturer. The Goliath had two electric motors and carried 60kg of explosives and weighed 370kg. The remote control was done with an 800m long cable. The Goliath was introduced at Sebastapol in Southern Russia in 1942 however until 1943 it was not formally used during combat, after that it was used for attacking defensive positions or clearing mines from the roads. There were 2650 of these devices built by January 1944

For the modeler: This is the Skill Level 2 Tamiya kit #32502 in 1: 48 scale. The pieces are molded in tan with water slide decals. There are 88 pieces to this kit and very well laid out instructions. The dimensions are; 2 5/8 L X 7/8 W X 1 3/8 H just the Kettenkraftrad and the German Driver, 3 15/16L X 7/8W X 1 3/8 H with the cart and German Driver, 5 1/8 L X 7/8W X 1 3/8H with the Goliath and the German Driver, 2 5/8 L X 17/8w X 1 H just the Kettenkraftrad no driver, and 2 5/8 L X 7/8W x 1 5/16H just the Kettenkraftrad and the Mauser Kar 98K’s with no driver.

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Figure 000b The box art for this model. This was released in 2004 as a new tool. This is one of six variations that Tamiya had out that dealt with the Kettenkraftrad in the 1:48th scale. The other versions that are out there are; Focke Wulf Ta183A “Huckebein” with Kettenkraftrad (89586), Dornier Do335A Pfeil with Kettenkraftrad (89598), German Power Supply Unit with Luftwafffe crew and Kettenkraftrad (89768), Messerschmitt Me262A-2a with Kettenkraftrad (61082) and German Power Supply Unit with Kettenkraftrad (32533). The Kettenkraftrad, Sd.kfz2. kit. Unless stated differently Testors Model Cement in the tube and Testors Enamel paint in the bottle was used for the construction of this model kit.

Figure 3201 and Figure 3202 The left (X17) and right (X18) side hulls are glued to the hull floor (X19). This assembly is then painted Model Master Engine Gray. The right track assembly (X14) and the left track assembly (X7) are painted; Model Master Engine Gray (Wheels), Model Master Graphite Metallic (Track), and detailed with Model Master Flat Black (Wheels). The inside outer road wheels (X6) and outside outer road wheels (X13) are painted Model Master Engine Gray and detailed with Model Master Flat Black. Two of the outside outer road wheels are attached to the exterior side of the track assemblies. Two of the inside outer road wheels are attached to the inside portion of the track assemblies.

Figure 3203 Here is the Left Track assembly (X7) after it is assembled to give a better idea of how it looks. The two outside outer road wheels are visible in this Figure.

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Figure 3204 and Figure 3205 The tail light (X10) is attached to the tail light bezel (X9) and then the tail light bezel assembly is glued to the rear hull section (X8). The rear hull assembly is attached to the hull assembly. The left mud flap (X2) and the right mud flap (X3) are attached to the hull assembly. The trailer hitch on the hull assembly is carefully removed and a lower trailer hitch (W22) is installed so the cart can be pulled. The front hull section (X5) is glued to the hull assembly and then the top hull section (X15) is secured to the hull assembly. The bench seat top (X23) is attached to the top hull section. In Figure 3205 the parts were not painted so they are more visible for this review. The left and right track assemblies are attached to the hull assembly. The following parts are painted Model Master Engine Gray; tail light, tail light bezel, left mud flap, right mud flap, rear hull section, trailer hitch, top hull section, and the bench seat top’s frame. The left mud flap has detail that is painted Testors Red. The bench seat top is detailed with Tamiya XF 64 Red Brown. The top hull section is detailed with Tamiya X2 White (gauges) Testors Semi Gloss Black (gauge rings, front seat) and Tamiya XF 64 Red Brown (rear bench seat).

Figure 3206 and Figure 3207 The following parts are painted Model Master Engine Gray; right fork assembly (X21), left fork assembly (X22), center fork assembly (X20), front tire (X4), headlight (X12), and the handle bars (X1). The front tire is detailed with Model Master Flat Black (tire) and Tamiya X2 White (fender plate). The handle bars are detailed with Model Master Flat Black. The right fork assembly is attached to the front tire. The center fork assembly is attached to the right fork assembly. The left fork assembly is attached to the center fork assembly and the front tire. The fork assembly is attached o the hull assembly. The handle bars and the headlight are installed into the fork assembly. The canvas cover is painted Tamiya XF 57 Buff and attached to the hull assembly.

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Figure 3208 and Figure 3209 The left cart wall (W8), right cart wall (W7), front cart wall (W2), and rear cart wall (W1) are glued to the cart floor (W20). The cart tongue (W12) is glued to the cart floor. The cart shocks (W23) are attached to the left and right cart walls. The cart tie down ring (W16) is glued to the cart assembly. The cart assembly and both cart tires (W15) are painted Model Master Engine Gray. The cart tires are detailed with Model Master Flat Black before they are attached to the cart assembly.

Figure 3210 and Figure 3211 The torso (V7) is glued to the legs (Y2). The left arm (V6) and right arm (V5) are glued to the torso. The head (V4) is glued to the torso. The German Soldier is painted Model Master Gunship Grey (Uniform), Model Master Acryl Skin Tone Warm Tint (face and hands), and Model Master Flat Black (boots and belt). The German Soldier is installed into the Kettenkraftrad. The ball on the trailer hitch will have to be removed in order to use the cart.

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Figure 3212 and Figure 3213 The Goliath bottom (V8) is attached to the Goliath top (V13). The Goliath assembly, right Goliath tracks (V12), left Goliath tracks (V9), Goliath bumper (V10), right leaf spring (V1), left leaf spring (V2), both trolley tires (V3), and the trolley (V11) are painted Model Master Engine Gray. The right Goliath tracks and left Goliath tracks are detailed with Model Master Graphite Metallic before they are attached to the Goliath assembly. The trolley tires are detailed with Model Master Flat Black. The left and right trolley leaf springs are attached to the trolley. The trolley tires are attached to the trolley.

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Figure 3214 Here is what the Goliath would look like being pulled by the Kettenkraftrad. It is just placed into the trolley on two locking pins and no glue was used to secure it in place.

Figure 3215 Assemble the parts for the accessory items.

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Figure 3216 The Mauser Kar 98K’s (W9) are painted Tamiya XF 64 Red Brown and detailed with Model Master Gun metal. The jerry cans are assembled; W13, W10, and W11then the completed assemblies (3) are painted Model Master Engine Gray. The hand grenade carrying case is assembled; W17 and W18 and is painted Model Master Gunship Grey. The fuel drum is assembled; W4 (top), W5 (Side A), W6 (Side B), and W3 (bottom). The fuel drum and ammunition boxes (4 each) are painted Model Master Engine Gray. Both the Panzerfaust 60 and both Panzerfaust 30 Klein are painted Model Master Wood. To follow the box art on the cart the ammunition boxes, hand grenade carrying case, and the three jerry cans are installed into the cart. Both of the Panzerfaust 60 and both Panzerfaust 30 Klein are placed on top of the items. The Mauser Kar 98’s are installed into the rifle racks on the Kettenkraftrad.

Figure 3217 and Figure 3218 There are 7 possible markings for this kit however one marking just states unknown and two others do not give a unit designation. The other 4 units are; 7th Machinegun Battalion 7th FD Air Division, the 4th Mountain Division, the 55th Kradschutzen (Motorcycle) Battalion 5th Panzer Division and a captured Kettenkraftrad now used by the military police. I chose the 55th Kradschutzen markings; decals 3, 3,13,19,19, and 9. The Goliath gets decals as well and they are decal 22 and 23.

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Figure 3219 There are spare parts that give the ability to build at least one more soldier. If there were legs for the other body parts then there would be two extra soldiers for the build. There is also the airplane tow bar that is used to haul planes to the runway. It appears that the incomplete soldier uses the same legs as the German Driver that was built in Figure 3210 and Figure 3211.

Figure 3220 Here is another 1:48 scale version of the Kettenkraftrad by Tamiya and this is the German Aircraft Power Supply Unit and Kettenkraftrad by Tamiya kit number 32533. This shows how versatile this little guy actually was.

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Conclusion: In my opinion this is a “must have” for any military builder and history collector. Shown here with a couple extra barrels from another kit it is a great start to a WWII diorama. It was really interesting to learn the history of the Kettenkraftrad. The only thing I would want to change is for Tamiya to use part descriptions as well as the part numbers. I am now searching for the other versions of this kit so that I can have them in my collection as well.