1928 Citroen C4 fourgonette van
In 1919 Citroën launched its small utility vehicles on the B14 chassis. Generally well accepted these were improved upon each year to create a steady bedrock for the idea of a commercial vehicle range. As the B14 aged gracefully the time came for a new Citroën passenger car. The Citroën C4 family car range was unveiled at the 1928 Paris motor show. Over the next four years around 120,000 C4 cars were produced across several passenger body styles and, once again, light utility versions. The C4 cars body styling was much updated and performance was significantly improved, along with comfort. Top speed of a C4 car was a touch over 90kph.
The undoubted increase in power was a most important factor, along with proven reliability, and was soon inspiring a new range of commercial vehicles upon the C4 chassis. Citroën C4 range of pick-up or van models soon became a C4 and C6 range of Commercial vehicles, Taxis, fire appliances and more.
The original C4 2-door and 4-door sedans, 4-door sedan delivery and 2-door utility coupe designs are considered heavily influenced by American ideas, particularly the Ford model A. For the man in the street though, it was just 'new'.
The traditional Citroën grill style was abandoned for a sleeker, flatter grill. The engine cover and wings were now more elegant than the B14 as well as more robust. The 4-cyl C4 had brilliant performance for the time but the 6-cyl C6 engine was used where more powerful vehicles were needed.
Citroën soon found they had a particularly popular commercial line. Consumers liked the build quality and robustness of the vehicles; and the competitive prices. Spacious interiors were a little bare but eminently functional for the era. Just like the numerous body styles, the commercial options were vast too. From drop-side wagon to baker's panel van, coach to fire engine.
Most notable, and the subject of our model, is the C4 3-Door Panel van (technically 4-doors as the rear opening has a 2-doors, but it is three openings). Capable of carrying loads of up to 500kg and three adults in comfort, it proved a very functional vehicle for town and country use.
The layout is the standard front engine, rear wheel drive system for a vehicle of up to 4,651mm in overall length on a wheelbase of 3,023mm.
1.3ltr and 1.6ltr straight 4-cylinder petrol engines could produce power outputs from 9hp to as much as 22hp. A 3-speed manual transmission passed drive via a shaft to the rear diff'.
Equipment and body styles were adapted to the needs of the owner with the C4 vans capable of carrying heavy loads of 500, 1000 or even 1200kg depending on the engine capacity.
The C4 series was produced at the Parc André Citroën, Quai de Javel, Vaugirard, facility in Paris between 1928 to 1934.
Heller produced the 1928-1930 Citroën C4 Waterman as kit #703, in 1/24th scale, as an all new tooling in 1982. It was re-released in 2018 and 2021 as kit No. 80703, and as a 'starter set' in 2022, kit #56703. Each time the box was slightly different and the kit is a plain commercial vehicle without the Waterman decals.
Two other vehicles, on the same C4 chassis, were released by Heller. Obviously also in 1/24th but with alternative parts. The Citroën C4 "Hotel Taxi", kit #713, was released in 1982 (with new parts), and re-released in 2018 with a new box entitled “Splendid Hôtel” as kit #80713. It was further released in 2020 as the same kit #80713, and as a 'starter set', kit # 56713, that same year. Secondly the Citroën C4 "Pompier", kit #733, was released in 1983 with alternative parts for the fire appliance. As far as we know, this kit has never been re-released and is certainly hard to find today. If you see one for sale; buy it!
This model was built by Rod early in the 1980s, straight from the box. It was all brush painted with Humbol enamels. Like some other Heller kits, this kit has some flimsy areas and imprecise fit issues. This proved to be the down fall of this particular model. A few years after finishing this model Rod was moving it to do some dusting in the cabinets. Something came loose and as he tried to grab it the whole model fell to the floor and became something of a plastic grenade. Bits went everywhere!
Once the parts were collected up they went into a polythene bag until a rebuild could be undertaken. With memories of the difficult build, and the trauma of the break up, Rod never undertook the rebuild and the parts languished in the bag for decades; literally.
In 2024, and 89 years old, Rod gave the bag of bits to Ian. “See if you can do anything with this”, says he. Ian looked at the almost completely disassembled 'model' and thought to himself “not much!”
Knowing that Rod always liked the look of the Waterman decals and the van shape, Ian had a good look at the bits, found some instructions on-line and set about assessing the contents of a now somewhat delicate bag. Needless to say not all the parts were there now but nothing was missing that couldn't be fabricated.
Not wanting to take away from the original heritage of the kit, Ian decided not to strip the whole model back to bare plastic, but to respect Rods work from the 1980s wherever possible. One area Rod hadn't done a lot of work in was the van interior, so Ian thought that he should add a little more life to the cargo area. He spent quite a while painting the wood panels and framing. Also the canvas roofing being grey on the inside and body colour on the exterior.
The rear doors were one of those flimsy areas and some parts were broken or missing. Rebuilding the door hinges took time and the sensible precaution seemed to secure them in an open position.
The rebuild is as if the model was straight from the box. All painting has been done with a brush, true to Rods original build. But the load area being open, needed a cargo. After a bit of research Ian found some period Waterman posters and logos and designed some boxes to build. Even down to a tiny ink bottle box. It may not be 100% correct but it does all add a little life to the model. Perhaps, one day, a couple of figures might be built and added.
