Tatra 57B Wehrmacht Heer & Kriegsmarine

Plastic model kit for building a Tatra 57B, Wehrmacht Heer & Kriegsmarine

• Scale 1:72
• clear and photo-etched parts included
• wheels made of resin
• 2 marking options
• unbuilt, unpainted
• paint and glue not included

The Tatra 57B was a Czechoslovakian passenger car of the 1930s, which, after the occupation of Czechoslovakia, was also used by the German Wehrmacht and Kriegsmarine. The vehicle was produced by Tatra in Kopřivnice and was considered robust, economical, and reliable. Due to its simple design, the car was well-suited as a courier, liaison, and staff vehicle for army units, as well as for administrative and port duties of the Kriegsmarine. Particularly in occupied territories, many civilian vehicles like the Tatra 57B saw military service.

Technically, the Tatra 57B had an air-cooled, four-cylinder boxer engine with a displacement of approximately 1.3 liters and an output of about 25 hp. Characteristic of Tatra was the air-cooled design, which reduced maintenance requirements and made the vehicle less susceptible to extreme temperatures. The car had rear-wheel drive, a four-speed manual transmission, and a top speed of approximately 90 km/h. The body was usually designed as a two-door sedan, though convertible versions were also produced on occasion.

In military service, the Tatra was frequently camouflaged and bore Wehrmacht license plates. Although the car was not specifically designed for military use, it proved its reliability and economy. Today, the Tatra 57B is one of the best-known civilian vehicles used by German armed forces during World War II and is very popular with collectors of classic cars.jaj3