Meng 1/35 German Pkw.K1 Kübelwagen Type 82 (Eastern Front) Plastic Model Kit

The German Pkw.K1 Type 82 (bucket car), as one of the symbols of the German army during World War II, was not only widely used in the North African theater but also highly active on the Eastern Front.

As the 'Operation Barbarossa' progressed and winter set in across the Soviet Union, the muddy roads caused great hardship for the German army. However, the bucket car, with its lightweight body, smooth and flat chassis, and axles equipped with gear-reduction wheel hubs that provided greater torque and higher ground clearance, allowed it to be easily freed when trapped in mud. The vehicle featured a rear-mounted air-cooled engine, which was highly resistant to cold weather, and even if the front of the vehicle was hit, the engine’s operation remained unaffected.

On the Eastern Front, every armored unit was equipped with a large number of bucket cars for various tasks. The German military even installed a special starting device at the rear of the vehicle to help start the engines of 'Tiger' and 'Panther' tanks, which had become immobilized in the freezing winter temperatures.