Matador Models (formerly B.K. Modelcrafts)
1/76 German Field Bakery
by Jörg Schneider

This horsedrawn field oven of 1897 could bake 80 loafs of bread within 100 minutes. But before this, it had to be fired two hours long. Twelve vehicles formed a tactical supply unit, a field bakery convoy. From 1914 both these mobile ovens and mobile field kitchens (better known as Gulaschkanonen) played an important role in supplying an ever growing imperial German army in the field.

It is extremely difficult to find sharp pictures of these supply units. Helpful are: 1.)    Kit instructions from B.K. Modelcraft 2.)    An article that appeared in a German modelling magazine: Wolfgang Fleischer, Über Handkarren und Heeresfeldwagen, part 5, Modell-Fan 2/1994 3.)    Henry Hoppe, Tankograd Wehrmacht Special No 4001, German Military Vehicle Rarities (1), Imperial Army, Reichswehr and Wehrmacht 1914-1945, Erlangen 2004

The kit is made from resin and white metal parts (mainly wheels, shaft and chimney). Two horses and their harnesses are also supplied. So you have the choice of presenting the field oven on the march or in a stationary role. During the transport, the chimney had to be laid down. The oven hatch can be shown open or closed. I formed the smoke from cotton whool which I painted partially black. I built the wooden table using plastic sheet. The bread loafs were formed from Miliput. On contemporary photos I could see that they often had a round shape instead of the later rectangular shape.

The officer figure who is counting the bread loafs comes unchanged from Emhar. The two privates come from the old Airfix set "German infantry of WW1" (now HÄT) with minor changes. One soldier is now transporting the ready bread while his comrade is fetching some fresh water. The baker in his vest which is putting the new bread into the oven is a former WW2 gunner from  Revell with a new head.

Both horses which are now freed from their harnesses enjoy the break. A wooden rod and a tub full of fresh dough complete our small diorama.

This wonderful kit is easy to built and is charming everybody by the nostalgic of a by-gone age.