Review of MENG VS-015 1/35 German Kubelwagen Type 82 Kit, Meng vs Tamiya
This model is a 1/35 scale assemble German Kubelwagen Type 82 Kit(Pkw.K1 Type 82 Volkswagen Kübelwagen), produced by MENG Models. It belongs to the VS series, which focuses on pickups and off-road vehicles.
The packaging follows MENG's signature style, with a top‑lid and bottom‑tray design. The painting reference guide primarily uses AK Interactive paints. This is a particularly famous subject, not only because of its wartime service record, but also because Tamiya released a kit of the same subject in the late 1990s.
MENG's VS‑15 German Kubelwagen Type 82 Kit is the North Africa version, directly comparable to Tamiya's 35238 released in 1999. A simple comparison of the sprues is included at the end of this article for your reference. The completed model measures 108mm in length, 46mm in width, and 43mm in height.
History of German German Kubelwagen Type 82 (North Africa Version)
The Pkw.K1 Kübelwagen Type 82 Vehicle (North‑Africa / Tropen version) was a German light utility vehicle designed by Porsche and built by Volkswagen, serving with the German Afrika Korps from 1942.
Derived from the civilian Beetle chassis, this rear‑wheel‑drive light car was optimized for harsh desert conditions. It adopted wide low‑pressure “balloon tyres” to prevent sinking in loose sand, with raised spare‑tire bracket. Its air‑cooled rear engine required no cooling water, an enormous advantage in water‑scarce North‑African theatre.
Finished in desert sand‑yellow paint, many vehicles carried the Afrika‑Korps palm‑tree insignia. Open‑body layout with soft canvas roof; rifle racks inside, provision for mounting MG34 machine‑gun. Roles included officer transport, reconnaissance and liaison.
Light‑weight construction and independent suspension delivered outstanding mobility over dunes and stony desert. It became one of the most iconic vehicles of Rommel’s Africa‑Korps campaign. After the 1943 North‑Africa surrender, many captured examples were evaluated by Allied forces.
Tip: All images can be clicked to view larger images.
Due to the vehicle's relatively simple design, the number of sprues is not excessive. However, the parts are well protected – each sprue, decal sheet, and tyre is individually packaged. The tyres are rubber. No photo‑etched parts are included, and no figures are provided. MENG's instruction manual is printed in full colour, which is a pleasure to look at. The moulding quality is top‑notch by today's standards – unless you look very closely, most mould lines are practically negligible. MENG's design philosophy leans towards Tamiya's approach, so assembly should be relatively trouble‑free. However, on some parts – presumably for future tooling compatibility – you will need to drill your own holes.
The Meng German Kubelwagen Type 82 kit offers three camouflage options:
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A: German Wehrmacht, 15th Panzer Division, Anti‑Aircraft Unit, North Africa, 1942
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B: German Wehrmacht, 21st Panzer Division, Anti‑Aircraft Unit, North Africa, 1943
You can judge the part details from the photos, but personally, I find them more than adequate. A few years ago, a domestic brand called HERO Models also released a kit of the same subject. While both brands drew some inspiration from Tamiya's tooling, HERO's felt like a stripped‑down version of Tamiya, whereas MENG's feels more like a "power‑up" edition. Every detail surpasses Tamiya's, and it also replicates the real vehicle's three‑piece chassis structure and wooden floor. Unlike Tamiya, which only offers a blackout cover option, MENG also provides a transparent lamp cover version.
So, German Kubelwagen Type 82 Kit, Meng vs Tamiya – which is better?
I do have Tamiya's German Kubelwagen Type 82 kit on hand (the sandy‑yellow sprues are Tamiya's), though mine is Tamiya 35213, whose tyres differ significantly from the North Africa version, while the rest of the sprues are largely similar. However, Tamiya 35238 also uses plastic sprues rather than rubber tyres. As mentioned earlier, MENG is more refined, with some details hollowed out. Tamiya only provides transparent plastic film, while MENG offers injection‑moulded clear parts with excellent transparency.
Overall, MENG has successfully outdone Tamiya with this release – it feels like Tamiya's "power‑up" edition. Not only is the detail superior, but the price is also about 20% lower than Tamiya's. It's a genuinely generous offering. If none of the included camouflage options appeal to you, don't worry – other variants of this vehicle are likely to appear in the future. For anyone who has never built a military vehicle model before, this kit makes an excellent entry‑level choice.
Overall Rating: 9/10
Next issue, let's take a look at the Review of Tiger Model 4611 BMPT-72 Terminator-2 Model Kit