3.7 cm FlaK 43 auf Sd.Kfz. 7/2 -
Smart Kit

Dragon, 1/35 scale

Reviewed by Cookie Sewell

Summary

FirstLook

Nearly two years after DML released the FlaK 37 armed version of the Sd.Kfz. 7/2 semi-armored halftrack, they have now combined it with the FlaK 43 version of the gun in a new kit with a lot of options - either wooden or mesh side bodies and two different armored cabs, albeit only one is covered in the directions. There are some 267 new or changed parts to this kit as well including two new frets of etched brass.

Ass with their earlier Sd.Kfz. 7/2 kits DML has provided a very thorough kit with a complete engine and undercarriage to include the winch and all associated parts, as well as the flatbed body with etched brass mesh panels for the fold-out sides. Some things remain the same – for example, the two-piece “Magic Track” halftrack tracks are included, but as often noted are very small and DML could have made many modelers happy by molding them as one-piece runs in DS plastic. Also, as the kits are “Smart Kits” they make use of slide molding and other tricks to avoid needless small parts assemblies and minimize the use of brass.

As before it comes with the complete engine and transfer case, fuel tank, four-part winch drum, and complete towhook installation that form part of the chassis. The drivers are two-piece with suitable rollers represented and also add etched brass centers for scale appearance.

The front tires are DS plastic outers and treads combined with a styrene inner section. While presumably the fit will be good since it is on the inside it should not be a problem, and the result is a nice diamond-pattern tread all the way around with no seams. Another complete tire unit is included as the spare for under the cargo bed.

While DML left the radiator grille solid, as this one has an armored plate oveer the front of the vehicle it becomes a moot point. The hood comes with separate side panels which can be left of as per the originals.

The kit offers either the the standard platform body with fold-down sides fitted with mesh gratings (as based on a museum vehicle) as well as the more common wooden fold-down sides. Either one may be installed in either travel or combat positions.

The 3.7 cm FlaK 43 is borrowed from the “Ostwind” kit and uses nearly all of those parts complete plus a lower carriage from the separate FlaK 43 kit. Like its predecessors the gun uses a slide molded barrel and flash hider. With care this gun may be assembled to provide both elevation and traverse and may be posed in any position the modeler chooses unlike previous efforts which only offered fixed options. It comes with four clips of 8 rounds each plus ammo boxes on the sides.

The gun shield is only offered in brass, and will require some “origami” skills to assemble. There are 29 etched brass and four plastic parts to the shield, and either a “combat” or “travel” position must be chosen.

As noted two different armored cabs are included, but the kit only proffers the 7/2 dedicated variant.

Research and technical assistance were provided by Dan Graves, Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.

Two different finishing options are offered with a small sheet of Cartograf decals, but it also provides a license plate “number jungle”. The variants which can be modeled are: Unidentified Unit, Germany 1945 (sand with two-color “ribbon” camouflage; no number plate shown); and Unidentified Unit, Germany 1945 (sand overall, WL-xxxxxx registration plates).

This completes the Sd.Kfz. 7 armed variants from DML and should be a popular kit.

Sprue Layout:

B 55 8 ton - Underframe details - winch, drivers, front axle, subframe, muffler
C 44x2 8 ton - road wheels, front wheel backs, body details
C 24 Ostwind - gun mount components
D 72 8 ton - engine, hood, radiator, standard passenger body components less sides
G 37 Sd.Kfz. 7/2 - armored cab, bench seat
H 6 8 ton - clear styrene
J 28 Sd.Kfz. 7/1 - armored cab components
K 3 DS plastic tires
L 33 Sd.Kfz. 7 - rear body (two bases), sides, fittings
M 37 FlaK 43 - Lower carriage/mount
Q 57 Ostwind - FlaK 43 carriage
Q 1 Ostwind - FlaK 43 barrel assembly
R 4 Clear styrene
W 1 8 ton - chassis
Y 108 “Magic Track” track pads
Z 108 “Magic Track” track links
MA 10 Etched brass
MB 3 Etched brass
MC 3 Etched brass
MD 43 Etched brass

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.