MiniArt - 1/35 German Tractor D8506 Mod.1937 (Build review)

[Adam Durrant]

So this will be my entry…it has to be small or I’ll never finish it

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This is one of a number of pre-war agricultural and utility tractors that MiniArt have released.

For my donation I’ve gone with Médecins Sans Frontières who are on the ground in the Ukraine.

[Adam Durrant]

The model comes in a sturdy open top box, not exactly jam packed with plastic, but then again the subject is pretty small. The spruces are molded in light grey styrene with one small clear sprue and a tiny PE fret. Some of the parts are obviously universal and are packed into one plastic bag, a handful of spruces specific to this kit in another. You get a total of 9 spruces, two loose wheel parts, the PE fret and a small decal sheet which looks to be in register for my example.

The instructions have a sprue layout that shows sprue “Ce”. This looks like one long sprue but in my kit had been cut in half to fit in the box.

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The instruction manual is in booklet format, slightly larger than A4 and is a grand total of 10 steps. Two versions are supplied (East Prussia 1938-45 and Netherlands 1939-51) but the variation is minor. Both versions colour schemes are called out in Vallejo, Mr. Color, AK RC, Mission Models, Ammo of Mig and Tamiya. I like this final point as more and more kit manufacturers are partnering with paint companies and only calling out that brand.

[Adam Durrant]

Page one of the instructions gets you here;

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It’s a fairly typical MiniArt build, lots of tiny parts, instructions are a touch vague (so dry fit everything) and the fit is a bit rough. So far all I’ve done to improve things is to cut the pin out of the tow cleat so I could clean it up easier then replaced the pin with bent wire.

[Vincent Power]

From what I've read, this is a good little kit, Adam. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with it.

Vincent

[Adam Durrant]

And I’m done

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Overall a pretty easy build. I replaced a lot of the fine rod details with brass wire as the plastic was going to be too hard to tidy up. Not shown here are the wheels. They build up in a very interesting way, essentially as a series of discs glued together so that there is no seam line to remove on the tyre. Quite a lot of work but the end result is nice.

[Philipp Gross]

Nice work Adam, the level of detail on this kit is absolutely impressive

Are you doing a civilian or military version?

Philipp

[Adam Durrant]

I’m going to use the “Lanz” green colour scheme. I think that’s civilian.

[Steve Hutchinson]

Great work and a speedy build too Adam

The "civi" green should be a refreshing change from military colours.

Are you going to wreck and rust her?

Domestic scenario or farming?

looking good

Regards

Steve H

[Shawn Ramsey]

Looking at all those completed group builds at the bottom of your posts, I don't think your going to have a problem finishing it.

I love the idea of group builds and I was one of the group who really wanted us to do them. But once we got started and had a certain amount of time to complete them, it started feeling more like a job with a deadline, so for me personally it took all the fun out of it. On a side note there is a very good chance that my next build is going to be a Mini art kit.

Shawn

[Philipp Gross]

The Ukraine GB is open ended for now, so no worries about running out of time

Philipp