Revell SdKfz 7 - a first look

Gentlemen,

I never have seen so much discusion about a Revell kit - positive and negative - so I decided to build one quick, for myself and for all of us, to see what really is about it.Please note, I am no expert specially about SdKfz 7, maybe I won't find all mistakes or will not discover all possibilitys to detail the parts, I hope You could help me during the modelling process with comments and advice.
The sprue shots with details of the wheels You could seen on a thread below, thanks for that !
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47210/message/1341255238/Revell+Sdkfz+7+sprue+shot
Here are some shots of the sprues in general:




Find some mor pictures (probably better ones) here:
http://www.plastik-modellbau.org/blog/revell-neuheiten-vorgestellt-sd-kfz-7-in-172/2012/
For me the parts look very well moulded, the texture of part 63 (tarpaulin) feels kind of raw, I think it may look very good after painting and weathering. Well done, Revell! The tracks looks fantastic, one of the best plastic track I ever had in my hands.There are three segments of it - probably to have one spare, if they brake during bending. We will see. If the installation will luck, You have one track segment left over - means for me:buy two Revell kits and you have an extra set of tracks for your old Hasegawa or Airfix vehicles - of course only if you think, that the Revell tracks are a little bit better.
Now I started assembling. So far passing is excellent. Attention! You have to use part 16 instead of part 14 and part 14 instead of part 16 , the instruction is not correct in this point. I decided to start with the suspension and tracks; almost all Revell-kits give us the possibility to build the chassis and the weels,to paint and weathering everything ( also the tracks ), and bring these together to the hull just right before finish the whole model.One note to the sprocked: I remember, detailing the Hasegawa SdKfz 7 years ago with the Eduard etched set, there was a part for the 'hub' of the sprocket, with many tiny bolts to glue all around it. Does anyone know, if the real vehicles had these hubs to, or just some of them?
Here the wheels and the tracks, at the beginning of painting process:


Now I started the lower hull. The assembling of the exhaust-parts (part 5) is a little bit tricky, but when You follow the instruction it should be no bigger problem. Actualy I think about modify the winch, to make the whole part thinner and use some wire as rope, hopefully I can tell You more soon.



Thanks for watching, comments more than welcome,



Cheers,

Christian