I finally wanted to build an Opel Blitz without hiding the beautifully detailed cargo bed beneath a canvas cover. While looking for inspiration, I came across a period photograph showing an Opel Blitz with a soldier busy changing a wheel. I liked the idea immediately, as it offered the opportunity to show some of the vehicle’s mechanical details while also creating a small, believable scene around the truck.

The kit itself is from Dragon and was enhanced with a number of photo-etched details from Voyager. The tires are from Pimp My Miniature, which provide a nice improvement over the kit parts, particularly in terms of tread and overall appearance. I also sourced the separate wheel rim from Pimp My Miniature, which was especially useful for depicting the wheel-change scene.

The figures are mainly from Panzer Art, complemented by an older Alpine figure that I converted slightly to fit the scene. Rather than simply placing the figures around the vehicle, I wanted their poses to tell a small story and make it clear what was actually happening.

To depict the maintenance work, I positioned the truck with one wheel removed and supported the chassis on wooden blocks. The figures were then arranged around it as if they were in the middle of changing the wheel, with the loose wheel and other small details helping to tie the scene together.

The overall idea was to keep the setting fairly simple and focus attention on the Opel Blitz and the interaction between the figures. At the same time, leaving the cargo bed uncovered allows much more of Dragon’s excellent detail to remain visible and gives the finished model a rather different appearance from the more commonly seen canvas-covered Blitz.