Italeri 1/24 Reefer Trailer Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

Italeri has released their nicely detailed European cargo trailer kit with some new details and options. You may have seen this trailer in a dry cargo configuration and in special markings. In this release, the trailer has a refrigeration unit (reefer), new wheels and new markings.

This kit is molded in styrene and presented on three trees of white parts, one tree of blue parts, two trees of black parts and one tree of silver parts, plus a set of rubber (vinyl) tires.

Among the features and options in this kit:

• Detailed frame and undercarriage
• Positionable landing gear
• Triple axle configuration
• Smooth side panels
• Barn doors on rear which are movable
• Refrigeration unit (reefer)
• New wheels
• Extensive decals and vinyl side wraps

You'll be impressed by the sheer weight of this plastic in the box. This is going to build up into a beautiful trailer for display on its own or hooked up to a tractor like the Iveco Stralis or Mercedes Actros tractors.

The kit provides a set of markings for Nord Cargo which consist of one sheet of clears with lots of markings and license plate options, plus two sheets of self-adhesive vinyl with the colorful artwork on either side of the trailer. These go on the model much like the artwork does on the full-scale trailers.

Assembly of the kit is straightforward though you'll note that the frame and four long surfaces of the trailer box are molded in halves to keep the size of the kit box compatible with typical European hobby shop shelves. This won't be an issue using good styrene cement and the nicely engineered alignment keys in each of the parts halves to provide structural strength to the assemblies.

This is another nice offering from Italeri which compliments the variety of trucks that they also produce in this scale. Have some fun and build one!

My sincere thanks to Hobbico for this review sample!