DEENFR

Lassen project

Unimog 401

My Revell kit of the 1953 Unimog 401, a pure CAD model made by Heljan, voted Model of the Year in 2000.

After the beacon light set, this 1953 Unimog 401 was my next big project. Very demanding and highly accurate in terms of detailing and fit. This model is a pure CAD product, made by Heljan in Denmark. The superb box illustration was created by graphic designer Albert Schneider.
After the beacon light set, this 1953 Unimog 401 was my next big project. Very demanding and highly accurate in terms of detailing and fit. This model is a pure CAD product, made by Heljan in Denmark. The superb box illustration was created by graphic designer Albert Schneider.
This kit was meant to be the start of an interesting series of Unimog models.
This kit was meant to be the start of an interesting series of Unimog models.
A version with the fixed Westfalia cab was also planned.
A version with the fixed Westfalia cab was also planned.
For this model, too, I had modelled the folds of the tarpaulin by hand.
For this model, too, I had modelled the folds of the tarpaulin by hand.
The chassis is absolutely true to the original and has metal coil springs.
The chassis is absolutely true to the original and has metal coil springs.

My model was voted Model of the Year in 2000 by the readers of the model-building magazines Modell Fan and Modell Magazin.

After the 401 with the folding fabric top, the closed version with the fixed Westfalia cab and clearing shovel was to follow.

The box contained 6 grey sprues with the parts for chassis, engine and body, a sprue with the glass parts and a chrome sprue with two exterior mirrors and a Mercedes star. There was also a blister card with 5 tyres of the SR1 off-road tread type. The blister pack also held four different metal coil springs, two for the front axle and two for the rear axle. A small decal sheet and 18-page assembly instructions, which took me 8 weeks to produce, were also included in the kit.

I sold 4,500 kits within 12 months, and that as a newcomer to the model market.