Sd.Kfz. 234/4 Panzerspaehwagenby Cookie Sewell
|
Stock Number and Description | Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6221; Sd.Kfz. 234/4 Panzerspaehwagen |
Scale: | 1/35 |
Media and Contents: | 536 parts (497 in grey styrene, 28 etched brass, 6 in clear styrene, 4 turned brass, 1 turned aluminum). CAD images of parts may be viewed on Dragon USA's website. |
Price: | price not known but estimated at US $38.00 |
Review Type: | First Look |
Advantages: | New, complete kit of this popular vehicle; complex driveline appears to be fully replicated |
Disadvantages: | Side bins and lower hull access doors molded in closed positions; engine bay will be difficult to open up; some large ejection pin marks in the base of the hull interior |
Recommendation: | Recommended for German armor and wheeled vehicle fans |
FirstLook
The four major combat powers in WWII
Europe - Germany, the USSR, Great Britain, and the United States –
all made use of heavy armored cars during the course of the war. But
whereas the Allies tended to use theirs primarily in simple scouting
roles, the Germans also used their later models for heavy fire
support as well, and provided many of them with the ability to deal
with enemy armor.
The Germans continued their prewar designs throughout the war, and
the Sd.Kfz. 231 heavy eight-wheeled armored car series was replaced
by the Sd.Kfz. 234 series beginning in September 1943. Four
different vehicles were produced in this series:
Sd.Kfz. 234/1 (Geraet 95) 200 built 2 cm cannon/7.92mm MG in
open turret
(built Jun 44 - Jan 45)
Sd.Kfz. 234/2 (Geraet 93) 101 built 5 cm gun/7.92mm MG in closed turret (also called the Puma) (built Sep 43 - Sep 44)
Sd.Kfz. 234/3 (Geraet 94) 88 built 7.5 cm L/24 in open mount
(built Jun 44 - Dec 44)
Sd.Kfz. 234/4 (Geraet 96) 89 built 7.5 cm Pak 40 in open mount
(built Dec 44 - Mar 45)
The first one to see service was the
Puma, as it entered production nine months ahead of the other
models. It was followed by the "stroke 1" and later the "stroke 3"
and finally the "stroke 4." The latter was purely a heavy tank
destroyer version, as by that time the Germans needed all of the
heavy (75mm and up) antitank guns they could muster. Both the 3 and
4 were similar, with the exception of the heavier gun in the 4, and
used the standard hull but with no turret and modified decking. A
fifth version was planned, mounting the 7.5 cm AK 7B84 in a turret
similar to the Puma, but the war ended before it could enter
production.
The 234 series was fast (80 kph/48 mph) and had a long range (900
km/560 miles). Armor provided proof against small arms of 7.62mm
caliber and shell fragments. Since its Tatra 103 engine was a
12-cylinder air-cooled diesel, it had a major advantage over other
nations' armored cars.
DML has now started on the 234 family, and their first release is
the "stroke 4" with the top half of DML's very nicely done PaK 40
included. 77 parts from this kit are included in the new package.
Also, some new "standard" DML sprues are added here as well: German
Tools sprues TF (fender guides and poles), TG (shovels and fire
extinguishers), TH (jack and light kits) and TJ (jack).
Note that due to the fact the parts are to be used for all four
vehicles through the run of these kits you have to check and open up
some assembly and mounting holes before beginning construction, but
as they are during the construction of the vehicle you have to look
close in the somewhat busy directions.
The undercarriage of this model is amazing in the complexity with
which DML has replicated it, and each suspension unit seems to
require no less than five parts for each wheel (note that a choice
in centers to replicate different numbers of cleanout holes is
provided), 11 parts for each paired set of axles, and five parts for
the tie rods plus six parts for the rocker springs. And I have to
think that Airfix did it 40 years ago with only 28 parts for the
entire assembly in 1/76!
The interior is provided and appears quite complete, but it is a
shame that the hull side doors are molded shut as once the gun goes
in it will be hard to see all of the details. Both driver's
positions are provided as well as the top of the transfer
case/transmission and the ammo bins with covers. Internal bracing is
provided along with clear styrene blocks for the vision ports.
There are optional choices for the vents at the rear – open or
closed – as well as for the view blocks.
The fenders are one style used on these vehicles with only two
stowage bins between the wheel pairs, and alas they are also molded
in place. These appear to be correct for the "stroke 4" but DML has
also included a flyer for a cyber-hobby.com upgrade set with the
earlier fender sets (four bins) and additional etched brass parts.
The etched brass provided covers mostly the inserts for the "jerry"
can centers (the crimped seam on the actual cans), tool mounts, and
the moving part of the Pak 40's gun shield.
The wheels are two-part moldings with only light tread patterns, but
as they are hard plastic many people will be happy as there is no
hard-to-remove vinyl seam.
Markings are provided on two decal sheets for two different
vehicles, both from unidentified units with one on the Western Front
and the other in Prague in 1945. Both use the late-war red-brown/Panzerbraun/green
scheme.
Overall this is a nice kit and seems to be a totally independent
effort, not piggybacked off the Italeri kits. The other three 234s
will follow over the course of the next year or so.
Recommended.
Thanks to
Freddie Leung for the review sample.