In the mid 1980’s Volvo developed a new medium sized lorry, the FL6 and a slightly lighter counterpart the FL4. the FL6 cab is quite a familiar shape and many were produced as Fire engines. For a long while I have been aware that BW models do a kit for the FL6 with a curtain side body and on hearing that they are planning to wind down the business in 2014 I ordered one.
Previously white metal road vehicle kits I have built have been very good. With the likes of ABS, Doug Roseman and Langley Models all setting the standard quite high. Sadly the same cannot be said for this kit. 
This is the kit as supplied. The parts all fit reasonably well although there’s a lot of flash to be tidied up and some parts (main floor and roof) need to be bent back to shape. I replaced the front axle with a straight piece of bar as it sat too low as supplied. I soldered the kit together.
Close up of the cab. While the bumper is pretty cleanly cast the cab itself is pretty awful as can be seen. I decided the best approach was to assemble the kit and then set to work on tidying it all up rather than to try and work on separate parts.
The canvas is not much better with a load of imperfections in the kit. To be fair to the manufacturer I did nt contact them with regard to replacing the parts I was not happy with so I don’t know what their customer service would be like in this regard. The side is held in place with blue tag for the picture. Options are to replace it with adapted sides from the Hornby Curtain sided van (which you can tell is how the master was produced) or do a solid sided version.
I am a qualified transport manager and well remember the FL series being introduced, basically the L means low, as in a low window version of the F6, F10 & F12 range that was out at the time.
The rear end looks better, but the makers have nothing to be proud of with this kit. Such a shame .
Looking forward to seeing what you do with this Jim.
Other than the obvious “blobs” lower rear of the curtain Jim, I think they’ve actually captured it quite well.
The vertical “ribs” would be where it was folded when open (often strapped open when travelling empty to reduce side wind effect) and the horizontal marking seem to coincide with the pallets of a double stacked load.
I too look forward to seeing what you do with it.
Hi Jim,
That is a tall order to produce something up to your usual standard from the pictured kit.
The chassis looks half-reasonable, but spending valuable time making improvements to the lorry’s superstructure might be like ‘putting lipstick on a pig’ – as they say!
All the best,
Colin