Review - Trumpeter 1/35 BR-52 Steam locomotive / Kriegslokomotive

This is my in box review of the 1/35 BR- 52 Steam locomotive by Trumpeter. This is a huge kit and was a wonderful gift by my good and generous friend Andy AKA TacticalJackalope.
I am eager to go to work on this beast, but in the mean time here are my thoughts on the kit.
Andy's modelling channel: / tacticaljackalope
A few links for historical references:
www.militarymodelling.com/news...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DRB_Cla...
Thanks to everyone for the support!

[@johnnypenso9574]

Excellent review Carlos. Great production values and very informative. Keep up the good work.

[@gerobinson812]

Excellent review Carlos. I've thought about this kit since it was first released and just never had the courage to pull the trigger. I'm really looking forward to seeing you work your magic on it.

[@reelmesh]

+Gary Robinson Thank you very much Gary! It'll be quite a while before I even start it, but until then I hope to provide you with other interesting builds. :)

[@michaljurzysta]

Can't wait to see it done! Thank you for the review...now I'm tempted to get it myself!

[@reelmesh]

+Michal Jurzysta Thank you for watching, it's a great kit but I'll take my time and prepare before I start, I know this build will test me to the limit of my abilities! :)

[@michaljurzysta]

Completely understand. Thank you for the reply and all the videos uploaded.

[@bpezzano1]

That is going to be a beautiful build. Great review!

[@reelmesh]

+bpezzano1 Thank you! I am very much looking forward to it! :)

[@longlance67]

that was such a pretty video to watch carlos ! lovely stuff

[@reelmesh]

+Shane Smyth Thank you bud, I appreciate it! Glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@ArmourEmpire]

Big project, but so much potential. . Very keen to see what you do with this one. Thanks for the review

[@reelmesh]

+Armour Empire Thanks Mark, It'll be awhile before I get to it, but I am really intrigued by it and the ideas I have for it. :)

[@HinterlandCustoms]

Thanks for taking the time to review this kit. Looks like a fun one!

[@reelmesh]

+Hinterland Customs Thank you for watching! It's a ton of work for sure, but I plan to have my fun with this lady... ;)

[@HinterlandCustoms]

+Carlos Mendes Definitely man, look forward to seeing your work on it!

[@cloverncross]

Fantastic video Carlos,very nice job on the content views and first impressions.Look forward to your progress and video updates.Cheers bud

[@reelmesh]

+Cloverleaf Studios Thank you very much Steve, I'm very impressed with this kit, and very intrigued with the subject! :)

[@InternationalBritishModeler]

Wow, an awesome sweet beast of a build you have before you! Fabulous video and review, and, I can't wait to see you apply your talents to this beauty! Have fun building her, Carlos! Cheers, Martin : )

[@reelmesh]

+International British Modeler Thank you very much Martin I guess it'll be almost as a beast as that Ju88 you've just finished, and by the way looks freaking beautiful! :)

[@InternationalBritishModeler]

Carlos Mendes Thanks Carlos, greatly appreciated! : )

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

excellent video as usual Carlos.. I really enjoy your editing style.. The kit looks terrific and a quality Loco like this is on my list to build one day... just need to work through the knee deep pile of Panzas and Planes in my stash first.

[@reelmesh]

+Harry Houdini Thanks Harry, It's mos definitely an interesting and challenging kit, also build to an impressive model, you should check out the BR 86 as well, another very impressive model in it self. The Panzas and Planes are a problem over here as well, but this one has garnered a special place on my heart... ;)

[@freezatron]

I look forward to an in depth build log for this one Carlos !! I too, am quite "stoked" by this kit ;) :D

[@reelmesh]

+freezatron Thanks mate! This will be a full video build, but not until next year. Right now I have way too much on my plate. I'm fine with that though, it allows me to prepare for it more thoroughly! :)

[@freezatron]

well I shall look forward to it when it happens :) Glad you're keeping busy though :)

[@non-prolific135thscalemode7]

Wow, Carlos, what A kit!!! I can see it in front of me in a dio with the engineer and the heater, working like crazy and full of sweat, with a lot of steam coming from the chimney! Well, sometimes I've got a crazy imagination! Jaysis, this is such a lovely kit and generous of Andy! Good luck and a lot of fun with the build. :)

[@reelmesh]

+Non-Prolific 1/35th Scale Model Builder thank you Jens! Yep I think this kit is right up your alley and I know you'd do wonders with it... I'm much more of a "still life" kind of guy and I'm going to rust the hell out of it and represent one of the engines at the Falkenberg train cemetery. They look so peaceful... :)

[@non-prolific135thscalemode7]

Carlos Mendes I looked up the price for it and it's beyond my budget. But your idea of how to display it is great! I won't let my girlfriend read this because - for some obscure reason! - she loves rust! :)

[@rarejer]

Hello Carlos! I built this kit! I loved it, and as a display it is awesome. It took me 4 months. I didn't use extra photo etch. My only wish is that part names would be included. Thanks!

[@schweinhund227]

yeah, that's going to be epic! Nice work Carlos

[@reelmesh]

+Norm Lajoie Thank you my friend, I have plans and ideas tingling in my brain! ;)

[@schweinhund227]

+Carlos Mendes I have seen this Upturned and in disarray and it looks amazing since we see so much of the drive train..... it's an amazing gift! enjoy it fully my friend!

[@reelmesh]

You are well reading in to my mind, either that or a rusting hulk in it's resting place, allowing for the contrast between heavy vegetation and heavy metal decay! I am enjoying it thoroughly. :)

[@schweinhund227]

+Carlos Mendes I trust you will excite us beyond belief with your take on it! what ever it will be? take your time and enjoy the whole expetience!

[@richardb3882]

Good review the kit looks great and very challenging, hope there's going to be a build and painting video/'s, good luck with the build :)

[@reelmesh]

+Richard B Thank's Richard. it seems very, very challenging indeed.... It'll most certainly be a Video build as I'm working on a way to make that happen on a more regular schedule. :)

[@Duececoupe]

Great review! Need to build an extension on the house, to display her when built though....lol

[@bilk1968]

Awesome! Both kit and vid!

[@reelmesh]

+Guido “Tailor” Hopp Double thank you my friend, I'll follow up with more items on this subject! ;)

[@AllSortsOfStuff58]

Wow, I can't wait to see you build this.........David(UK)

[@reelmesh]

+MrChoochoo Thank you David, it's going to be quite a while as I am swamped with projects right now. :)

[@sjp52047]

Carlos, that was a truly great review. I have subscribed to your channel, and probably will try to find that kit. After all, my modeling is Ships, Trains, and Planes... Regards, Solomon

[@MAN394631]

Hi Carlos Again a great video, im very interesting if you want build it soon, coz i want build it too in future.......Happy modeling

[@HamilkarBarkasScaleModelling]

i have seen this steam beast built up a few times already, it is gorgeous :) agree on your remark on the part arrangements, splitting so much into two halves seems a bit annoying. but considering the content and what it costs in the end i think it is alright. you can also buy the tracks separetely, i bought two sets and nothing was warped there. i guess this has something to do with the packaging for the loco alone.

[@reelmesh]

+Hamilkar Barkas I've never seen it built, but can sort of imagine it in my head, I'll try to fix these tracks if possible, if not, I'll purchase a brand new set. They really were cramming that styrene inside the box!!! :)

[@SuperSwitched]

Now, that is modelling outside the box... Great review :)

[@reelmesh]

+Switcher Thank you my friend, this is a lovely subject, I can feel my creative juices flowing already! :)

[@SuperSwitched]

It will be an interesting build for sure. Not to many folks model a choo choo train :)

[@reelmesh]

True, but I love these old machines, I guess I have an addiction to rivets, although not necessarily in counting them. :)

[@SuperSwitched]

... as I. Don't care too much for modern locomotives, but the oldies, num num. I know you have a lot to clear off your plate. Any idea when you will be tackling this beast?

[@Alcodog]

I am really exited for this build. I was thinking ge this kit but not in the mood for something that large.Still i can't wait to see the build and i hope there will be a dio also...

[@reelmesh]

+Bill Koutroulis Thanks Bill, It's going to be next year most likely, but most certainly there will be a diorama, with a lot of vegetation... ;)

[@rarejer]

Oh. I am now building the BR 86, by Trumpeter, with Eduard photo etch for exterior. Now that is challenging!

[@HerrGausF]

Thank you Carlos for the great review. As a rail nut turned armour modeller, let me add a few notes: Except for a few very early ones, none of these had the eagle with swastika painted on, just the numbers and technical information. Don't use a 52 80xx number, these were post war rebuilds only. The wooden wind deflectors at the front of the boiler were a one-off prototype, most had none at all. Later in the war a simple curved sheet metal version was introduced, which is available with some photoetch sets. The appropriate colour for a WW2 version would be dark grey, similar to early war panzers. You may want to look for photos of 52 5804, which is one of the very few surviving examples that has been properly restored to its WW2 appearance. Thanks again, and I'm looking forward to see her built! All the best, Philipp

[@reelmesh]

+omgipwnu Thank you Phillip! You have provided me with with a wealth of very useful information, I have been reading bit here and there about it but because I'm not starting this build anytime soon I not yet committing to the full on research that such subject requires. However, I already have the Lion Roar PE set that solves the wind deflectors, as for the eagle and the numbers when time comes I'll see how I feel about that, I can always make new numbers from the ones I have in the Archer set. I read somewhere that Trumpeter was indeed basing their moulds on a very early production version of this locomotive, that would explain the weird wind deflectors that I never saw in a photograph. Once again thank you for taking your time to give me such good information! I'm afraid that what I plan to do to the locomotive isn't going to be much interesting to you as I plan to depict one of the locos at the Falkenberg cemetery.

[@HerrGausF]

+Carlos Mendes You're welcome - always happy to help :) The Br 52 stayed mostly the same during WW2 production, so it's not exactly an "early" version. While there are a number of different features on some examples, most of these happened simultaneously to the "standard" version. So you can't really do much wrong with the kit, even if you chose a higher number. Here's a photo of the wooden wind deflector version: tinypic.com/fld2s1.jpg Lots of rust then, right? Should look fantastic. One of my very-long-term projects is one of these derailed and stuck in the mud after a partisan attack on the rails....Probably not in this decade....

[@ollieahokas9179]

One thing i find a little awkward is the smoke deflectors. Germans made these in very large numbers and it was based on a pre war class BR50 but it was simplified and they substituted material to what they could use during the war to build up the engines. Because of that they did not last very long on the West German national railway (DB). East Germanys Railroad (DR) rebuilt them with more quality metals and parts, most noticeable they got new boilers of different design and lasted to the end of steam when the both networks where merged to on single railroad company after the collapse of the Eastern Europe. Many of the rebuilt engines have been preserved in Germany and after the war many of the engines were scattered around the countries which were occupied by the Germans during the war. I have seen one in Norway, which is not only preserved, but overhauled to run excursions. Unmodified ones also ran in Turkey to the 80.s in pretty much in same conditions as they were in the war well to the eighties.After the war in these countries engines were modified with better metals and parts to last longer. The Br52 had also a bigger brother with a larger diameter boiler called Br 42 with just like the Br 52, a rather short period of use before they were scrapped. I mentioned about the smoke deflectors. many of the lacked these during the war and still to very early fifties they ran without these. I am not saying that they are wrong ones on the kit, but I have seen a lot of photos of these engines but I never seen these. But those with these usually had smoke deflectors had of Witte design which looks very much different than on the kit. The tender on the kit, the car with coal and water supplies were common but they also had one with Wanne tenders (bathtub tenders). These was called so because the round shape of the lower part of the tender and they did not have a ridgid frame as the tender on the kit but ran on 2 2 axle trucks. If I would build the kit, I would either discard the smoke deflectors or find proper ones from the model railway market. I guess Marklins in 1 scale might have a right ones but they are in 1/32 scale. In over all the Br 50.s (which Br52.s were based on) were the best designed German steam engines as they had lower axle load, which made them also suitable on branch lines, reasonable high top speed, and the 2-10-0 wheel arrangement gave them a lot of traction even to haul freights on the mainline and they could handle almost any type of service, expect for express passenger trains. It was not uncommon to see these with local or secondary passenger runs until they were replaced by diesels during the sixties and early seventies.

[@Adamslee72]

my brother has this kit it is huge Carlos enjoy there's also an update set of photo etched available unless you've already got them

[@reelmesh]

+Faron Adams Thank you Faron! I already have the Lion Roar set thanks to a friend and it's almost as heavy as the kit itself! :P

[@Adamslee72]

+Carlos Mendes it is a big set bud have fun happy modelling

[@Brianthehistorynerd]

I've must of looked at this kit like 20 times at my now closed down hobby shop. Ugh now I'm sorry I didn't buy it. Great review on this fantastic kit.

[@reelmesh]

+Brian H Thank you Brian! The same happened to me about 5 years ago and that's another reason why I am so happy to have this kit in my hands! :)

[@AlexModeling]

o andy é fantastico Carlos! adorei o video e o Kit... da maneira como tu trabalhas Carlos e pintas este kit vai ser um vencedor (sem stress mas olha que não é comentário vazio falo serio) grande abraço amigo

[@reelmesh]

+AlexModeling Obrigado amigo! A ver vamos, só para o ano que vem é que lhe vou pegar, por isso até lá vou juntar mais coisas para fazer um diorama interessante. :)

[@AlexModeling]

+Carlos Mendes e é assim mesmo... agora podes-lhe "atirar" tudo o que é foto detalhe;D

[@reelmesh]

Já cá canta, graças à generosidade de outro amigo! :)

[@AlexModeling]

Carlos Mendes ahahahah!!!:) fantástico!

[@TheBentBarrel]

That kit is insane! Where do you put it when you're done, especially if you add rail cars to it.

[@reelmesh]

+Bent Barrel Airsoft I'll figure something out, and there won't be any rail cars. :)

[@sterlingmaloryarcher7943]

I wish to buy this kit... I am willing to get this train for my Birthday or for Christmas...

[@moparnut19]

That looks to be a nice project..

[@reelmesh]

+Rodney Hickey Thanks Rodney! Looking forward to take it on, but for now I have too much going on. :)

[@TacticalJackalope]

Man, what a beast of a kit...I hope you didn't have anything else planned for the year?...lol. Superbly filmed and edited bud most impressed. KUTGW. You are very welcome sir even though you don't need to thank me:) STAY AWAY FROM THE DAMN PE! haha

[@reelmesh]

+TacticalJackalope I do need to thank you, this beast of a kit wouldn't be in my hands if it weren't for your generosity my friend! BTW It's too late, another friend has come forward and provided the brass to take this build to another level... :)

[@rarejer]

+Carlos Mendes Aha! Just take your time! I am doing the smaller BR 86 with Eduard photo etch. To help you out, in case you lose a few bolts, I believe that there are quite a few extras. But they like to jump out of the tweezers!

[@Fisch1969]

It is a beautiful, but really not easy kit. I had build the machine once as a "war-machine" - and another kit is "in work", but as a peacetime locomotive der serie 50 with parts of the (much better) BR 86 from trumpeter (some parts were changeable also in real). Please note, that the BR 52-kit is in many parts wrong. It seems, Trumpeter had made a mix from drawings, the Museum machine 52 6666 and the trial-machine in the early 40er years (the terrible wind deflectors)

[@blaubarblaubar4436]

Fisch1969 www.flickr.com/gp/blaubar/570900 And mixed plate and bar frame and added fiction..... 😂

[@blaubarblaubar4436]

Actually, they did not use the 52 6666, impossible, as the frame would have shown them that their kit is wrong 😉 as they used a bar frame top but the plate frame sides.🤦🏻‍♂️ also the air pressure tanks would have been the same size then, and not different.... and so forth

[@jjriveral]

Hello Carlos, Do you know where I can find dimensional drawings of either BR50 or BR52 steam locomotive? I appreciate your help.

[@blaubarblaubar4436]

jjriveral go on armorama and find my blog. I do own technical drawings and visited all 52s in Germany. The kit is 100% inaccurate however^^. I uploaded all on Flickr. www.flickr.com/gp/blaubar/570900

[@pebblecreekmodels]

This is a cool kit. Im currently working on the Br86 if you would like to check it out i have a couple videos of my progress.

[@mailperson]

Only 700 parts?

[@goclunker]

I am gonna buy this kit, and convert it to run on g scale track, motorized.

[@joe-ut7ee]

It's too bad that Trumpeter does not make American steam engines. The quality and detail is excellent.

[@Felisbarcinonensis]

Wow!! Today is the drooling day!:"AaggaGGhGhghGhGhghhhh!"

[@reelmesh]

+Felis Barcinonensis Hahahahahah! Thanks Daniel, that really made me throw a good laugh! :)

[@militarymodellerpaul5932]

Looks to be a great kit, but don't let it turn you "loco" sorry' looking forward to your build.

[@reelmesh]

+TANK MODELLER Paul Inge Hahaha, thank you Paul, don't worry I'll manage the insane build carefully! :)

[@user-vy7er1iq3r]

Интересная модель

[@mariebcfhs9491]

well, I have restrained myself a lot from screaming "POLITICAL BULLSHIT" but I'm glad you chose the accurate way

[@mariebcfhs9491]

this is the locomotive that makes every other locomotives looks crappy XD

[@psh1773]

found this kit(drunk) bought it opened the box shit tone of shits give up help

[@reelmesh]

Hahah, you should have done what I did and added the Lion Roar PE set to it!