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1/35 Sd.Kfz. 251/17
Ausf. D w/2cm Schwebelafette (6292) |
Sd.Kfz. 251/17 Ausf. D w/2cm Schwebelafette
by Cookie Sewell
Summary
Stock Number and Description |
Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45
Series Kit No. 6292; Sd.Kfz. 251/17 Ausf. D w/2cm Schwebelafette |
Scale: |
1/35 |
Media and Contents: |
955 parts (636 in grey styrene, 264 "EZ
Track"; 36 etched brass, 8 clear styrene, 6 DS plastic in tan, 2 turned
brass, 2 silver paper, 1 turned aluminum) |
Price: |
price estimated at US $34-38 |
Review Type: |
First Look |
Advantages: |
First kit of this vehicle in this scale in
styrene; nicely done 2 cm mounting |
Disadvantages: |
Another variant of the 251 series may dull
modelers' interest in the subject |
Recommendation: |
Highly Recommended for all German fans |
FirstLook
While they had always had a
problem with the Soviet Il-2 in the East, the Germans began to run
into a problem with "Jabos" – Allied fighter-bombers – when they
lost air supremacy over Europe in the summer of 1944. As a result,
they began to make more and more modifications to standard vehicles
to carry light or medium caliber antiaircraft guns.
One of the most radical conversions was the Sd.Kfz. 251/17 Ausf. C,
as it required cutting away the side armor and adding new panels
that folded down in order to provide suitable traverse and operating
room for the crew. Prototypes came out in October 1943, using
obsolete Ausf. A and B chassis. But these were expensive and time
consuming conversions, and so a simpler method was sought.
The result was the /17 D model, which used a very compact mounting
that "drop fit" into a standard Sd.Kfz. 251/1 hull by removing the
forward pair of dismount seats and adding ammo racks. While cramped,
it did provide for a more rapid conversion. This mounting, the
so-called "Schwebelafette" or "Suspended Mount," boosted the 2 cm
gun up over the top of the armor so it could be used from under
armor protection, and also engage ground targets in a 360 degree
circle.
DML is now offering this as another one of their kits using either
the C or D model halftrack as a basis. It uses most of the standard
251 C or D sprues with two new plastic sprues (J/K) and three new
etched brass frets to provide for the 2 cm gun and mount.
As with all DML kits, the modeler has a wealth of options. The 2 cm
gun has a choice of either a solid styrene barrel or one with a
turned aluminum section; as it has to be cut to install it, DML has
also included a handy jig to get the barrel aligned correctly when
reattaching it to the breech. The breech itself can be displayed
either open for loading or closed for firing. 10 single magazines
and two racks are provided for the 2 cm gun.
The model has three different shield options as well: styrene,
etched brass, or preformed etched brass.
The modeler has a choice between early (sprues) or late (EZ Track)
tracks for the model, and etched plates can be glued to the chassis
pan with ACC for more details.
A DS plastic flexible driver figure and partial tarpaulin are also
included.
Finishing options include 8 different vehicles: one in Berlin 1944,
three unidentified vehicles in Germany 1944, Yugoslavia 1944, and
Belgium 1944, one Fuehrer Grenadier Brigade in Luxembourg 1944, one
12th SS Panzer Division, one 16th Panzer Division 1945, and one more
unidentified vehicle in Hungary 1945. The model comes with two
separate decal sheets, one for licenses and one for tactical
markings.
In summary, this is a nice kit and well executed, but there may be a
saturation point in the number of 251 halftrack kits being reached
that may dull the interest of modelers.
Highly Recommended
Thanks to
Freddie Leung for the review sample.
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