While tanks and soldiers tend to draw eyes when it comes to World War II models, have you ever wondered, “What did they do for meals?” This German Field Kitchen Set is an existence that answers that exact question, and is a kit that realistically replicates the field kitchen wagon that supported the soldiers fighting on the front lines from behind the scenes. Unlike glamorous weaponry, its somehow simple and practical appearance is impressive, letting you feel a unique charm as if cutting out “the daily life of the battlefield.” This field kitchen wagon was affectionately known by the nickname “Gulaschkanone,” meaning “stew cannon.” It was called that because its appearance looked somewhat like an artillery piece or a tank, but in reality, it was an existence that carried the crucial role of providing meals that supported the lives of soldiers. When learning the fact that it was towed by two to four horses and possessed the capacity to provide meals for over 100 people with a single unit, the weight of the background held by this small model is conveyed all at once.

One of the interesting points of this kit is that the two-part structure of the front carriage called a limber and the trailer is firmly replicated. The limber has the driver's seat and storage space for ingredients, while the trailer side is equipped with a large cooking pot and a coffee pot. Since these two can be separated even after completion, expressions according to the scene, such as “state during transit” or “scene of setting up and cooking,” are possible. Rather than just assembling it, the fact that there is joy in thinking about how to arrange it is the deep part of this model. The details of the external appearance are also not to be missed. Wooden wheels, the characteristic chimney, and such—the figure of the field kitchen wagon of that time is carefully replicated, resulting in a sculpt that feels somehow warm despite being rugged. Because the atmosphere as a “tool for living” comes out strongly, distinct from combat equipment, the impression when completed is also highly unique. Despite being a military model, it becomes a finish that somehow lets you feel the presence of people.

The accompanying field kitchen crew figures are also crucial elements that bring out the charm of this set. The figure sitting on the driver's seat can be selected from two types, allowing you to produce different atmospheres with the figure gripping the reins and the figure holding a whip. Imaginations expand, such as “Are they moving right now?” or “Are they in a bit of a hurry?”, functioning as an existence that tells a story of the scene rather than being a mere accessory. The point that two towing horses are included is also a characteristic unique to this kit. Since different poses are prepared for each, an arrangement with movement is possible, enabling the expression of a sense of dynamism as if advancing forward despite being a static model. It is impressive that the sense of scale increases all at once with the addition of horses, making “the air of an era when humans and animals cooperated to operate things” feel realistic.

Accessories such as milk cans, buckets, and cooking containers are also substantial, and the atmosphere of the work changes greatly depending on how these are arranged. For example, a completely different story is born depending on whether you replicate the middle of preparations for soup kitchen distribution or express the quiet time after distribution has ended. The presence of such small items pulls the model up from a “mere object” to a “scene with a story.” The German Field Kitchen Set is a model that replicates equipment for living, rather than equipment for fighting. Therefore, the sense of satisfaction when completed lies not merely in precision, but in “a feeling like touching the lives of the soldiers of that time.” This kit, which lets you feel the daily life that certainly existed even amidst the tension of the battlefield, can be described as an existence that grants a new perspective to military models.