Zvezda Mercedes L4500A (Wheels & tyres and kit build report)

 

Wheels and tyres

Although the kits narrow shoulder treaded tyres do look a little odd they do appear to be authentic and there are pictures of them on L4500's

 

I had a set of Hussar production wheels in the stash https://hussarproductions.com/product-categories/ols/products/schwimmwagen-wheels which I think show a far more pleasing tread pattern.

 

It looks like the Hussar wheels although nicely rendered are too small. Measurements for the Hussar wheels and tyres are 27.3mm diameter and 6.5mm wide. I also measured the kit wheels and tyres for comparison, and they come out at 27.6mm diameter and 7mm wide
 
There are four tyre sizes mentioned in the official handbook and all to fit on a 6-20 rim.

Converting each to 1/35 scale:
 
9.75-20 = diameter of 29.17mm and a width of 7.14mm
 
270-20 = diameter of 30.28mm and a width of 7.14mm
 
Biggest size permissible on 6-20 rim
 
10.5-20 - diameter of 30.37 and a width of 7.82mm
 
300-20 = diameter of 32.28mm and a width of 8.68mm
 
Looking at the measurements above taking the smallest 9.75-20 tyre and using the smallest measurement within tolerance still gives 1/35 size of 28.9mm diameter and a 7mm width.   The Hussar tyres are way smaller and in 1/1 scale would be 56mm/ 2.2 inches too small in diameter and 17.5mm/0.688 inches too narrow in width! Taking the smallest 9.75-20 tyre again, the kit wheels are a match width wise but the diameter in 1/1 scale would be 54.95mm/2.16 inches too small
 

There are a few other aftermarket companies offering resin L4500 wheels including Def Models, Plus Model, Panzerart and ET Model to name a few.

The Panzerart 'Gelande marked' tyre set RE35-445 look to be a close scale match to the actual 270-20 tyre size having a slightly smaller diameter at 29.75mm but being slightly wider at 7.58mm.  

I will purchase the Panzerart set but until then and because I have already built up the hubs to fit the Hussar wheels I will carry on for now.

 Both front and rears mount to the kit hubs without issue.  The rears as already mentioned attach directly to the backplates and the fronts line up over the rim on parts E8

 

Tread pattern difference between kit (left) and Hussar wheels

Along the way I embellished a few areas of the kit with some scratch items or parts sourced from the parts bin.  As the top engine panel on the drivers side will be removed on my build these included missing pipework to the engine, a brake fluid reservoir, horn, and side support bracket to the bulkhead. I also added a fire extinguisher and some bracing, a blanket made out of foil discarded on the seat and a driver’s side sun visor in the cab. I sourced a better scaled Notek light, some assorted paraphernalia hanging out of the cargo underfloor storage bin and some towing cables wrapped around the front bar. I also added the airtank pipework. The side steps were made from photoetched treadplate and their brackets from copper wire. Cargo area tie down hooks were made from photoetch and sourced from another truck kit. A few photoetch chains will be added to the load bed and rear tow hook.

Kit build conclusion

I had only heard unfavourable reports about Zvezda kits and although I can’t comment on any other of their releases IMO both the 4500 kits I have now built present extremely good value.  As we have seen they do have a few issues but what kit doesn't? The cab could have been designed a little more sympathetically with painting the interior in mind. The L400A had far more seam lines to clean up than the later released L4500S kit I built so I would assume that later releases should be better difined and require less work to clean up. Some of the small fitment issues I found will lead to further fitment issues if not dealt with but by and large these are well detailed and well-designed kits. The lack of injector marks on almost all the major components is to be commended and it is refreshing to see zero errors or omissions in the instructions.

Looking online there are quite a few aftermarket accessorise available for all their L4500 kits https://www.scalemates.com/kits/zvezda-3596-ww2-german-heavy-4wd-cargo-truck-l4500a--1281636

Having already built the late wooden cab L4500 S version I knew this would be a pleasurable build and knowing the few pitfalls and issues helped enormously. I purchased this kit cheap off Fleabay and am confident it is an original 2007 first production run. I say this as I still have a fair amount of the 2019 re-boxed L4500 S parts on sprues and they have crisper detail, far better aligned seam lines and absolutely zero flash. I also recall the plastic being slightly softer in the later kit.