Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/48 Ground Power Series HG1203 German Kubelwagen Type 82 Hans Joachim Marseille’s Kubelwagen “OTTO” North Africa, 1942

True 1/48 scale.

Professionally painted.

Weathered finish.

Great attention to detail.

All markings are Tampoed (pad applied).

Rubber wheels roll.

Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic.

Highly collectable.

In November 1938 Porsche completed a prototype vehicle based on the Volkswagen designated the Kubelwagen Type 62. Kubelwagen is short for Kubelsitzwagen, (bucket seat car). The Type 62 lacked good cross-country performance so ground clearance was increased and a modified gear ratio. This gave birth to the Type 82 and in 1940 mass production began at the Volkswagen factory. By early 1943 20,000 vehicles were produced with the total reaching 50,435 by the end of WWII. The Kubelwagen was to Germany what the jeep was to the Allies.

September 1942 was the most productive month for Hans Joachim Marseille’s with 54 victories. Seventeen of these victories came on September 1st when 8 aircraft were shot down in a 10 minute period. To honor this occasion a squadron of the Italian Regia Aeronautica presented Marseille’s with a Type 82 Kubelwagen that they had painted “OTTO” on each side in large letters; “OTTO” is eight in Italian. This brought Marseille’s total victories to 158 in 382 sorties. On September 30, 1942 Marseille’s was killed bailing out of his aircraft.

Specification Kubelwagen Type 82 Produced by - Volkswagen Years of production - 1940 - 1945 Number produced - 50,435 Accommodation - 1 x Driver, up to 3 x passengers Engine - 1 x Volkswagen Type 1, 4-cylinder 985cc air-cooled generating 24 hp up until 1943. After 1943 1 x Volkswagen 4-cylinder 1131cc gasoline engine generating 25 hp Performance Speed - 80.4 km/h (50 mph) Range - 434 km (270 miles)

Dimensions Length - 3.77 m (12.3 ft) Width - 1.6 m (5.25 ft) Height - 1.65 m (5.41 ft)

Weight - 750 kg (1,653 lb)