I’ve built another one. I feel like I have a pretty good assortment of fuel trucks at this point!
What can we say about this Luftwaffe service vehicle?
I previously looked at a more general purpose Opel Blitz, of course this truck is significantly the same. Three variations on this truck from the previous one, most obvious is the fuel tank which pretty much defines the vehicle’s purpose.
Next is the canvas roof. This was a pretty normal wartime economy measure, I believe every combatant did this with at least some of their output.
The last is harder to see, the exhaust lets out mid-chassis. This is actually common on fuel tankers of all nationalities, it keeps hot exhaust gasses away from where the fuel is dispensed or service personnel are working.
This represents a vehicle working in occupied France, Summer 1940. Its from the Italeri kit. Its the first of their’s I’ve built as an adult; seriously, I think its been 45 years since I’ve done anything by this brand. Since I have several other (mostly Italian) subjects by this brand I was interested in seeing what their current product looks like. This kit was released last Summer in a Battle of Britain Commemorative package. I suspect it is a much older tooling, at least it looks like it. The detail is okay, fit is pretty good. And in the end, it looks like a fuel truck. Although the detail, the parts are clearly thicker than the Opel Blitz from Tamiya I built several months back. That may not be a fair comparison, Tamiya is clearly at the top of the game. And its not a huge issue, this model looks the part when complete.
I could add I may have chosen the least interesting color scheme provided with the kit. I really wanted to do something tied to the Battle of Britain. There were two trucks listed as “Unit Unknown, Eastern Front” that were far more interesting looking! But “unit unknown” didn’t fire my imagination. There was also one in North Africa garb, but then you’re trading monotonous yellow for monotonous grey; not sure that’s an improvement!
Plane Dave 
I agree that the Tamiya kit looks better. I often find that some road wear and dust helps to break-up the German grey color! What’s the scale?
It’s 1/48 again. I like being able to get a good size comparison with subjects posed together. But it sure is funny with the same subject by different makers looking somewhat different.
Good point about the weathering. It makes a huge difference on all Olive Drab aircraft.
I love your fuel trucks, both Italeri Opel Blitz, and Tamiya GMC. They are perfect as airfield vehicles. I gueas they are both 1/48. In my preferred scale, 1/72, we are stuffed. The 1/72 Academy Opel Blitz fuel truck is a T-Stoff wagon, and therefore only applicable for putting with a Messerschmitt Me 163. It doesn’t go with a Bf 109 or Ju 88, for example. Similarly, the 1/72 Hasegawa fuel truck is aagin not good for US airfields, it is of the two small fuel tanks variety mose often used by the US Army. If only someone would make in 1/72 the excellent two trucks that you have made here in 1/48, both of which are perfect for airfield dioramas.
That’s awesome! I’m glad you like.
I don’t do dioramas as such, but I love being able to show the relative looks and sizes of the aircraft and service vehicles. I also find the differences between them interesting.
It does surprise me we’ve been fortunate with four (!) of them in this scale. I’m a little surprised you don’t have them in 1/72; so often, especially with bigger aircraft, 1/72 offers a lot more than 1/48. I would guess the Albion, as an Airfix kit, would be done in your scale.
Thanks for the comment!