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DRAGON MODELS LIMITED
Product Specifications.
6256, Sd.Kfz.234/2 Puma. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit containing 506 styrene parts, 23 photo-etched brass parts, four turned brass parts, four water-slide decal marking schemes and 10 pages of instructions in 25 steps.
Introduction.
As they are doing with various other AFVs, DML is marketing complete “families” of vehicle types, in this case, the schwere Panzerspähwagen Sd.Kfz.234 heavy, eight-wheeled armored car. They have previously given modelers the /4 and /1; now they have produced probably the sleekest and most desirable of all, the /2 “Puma”. I suppose now that modelers who have one in the “stash” can lay the fine old Italeri kit to rest.
Wheels.
These are molded in the usual two halves, which trap the rim between them. They are then fitted to separate inner hub/brake drums and capped by an outer hub. The latter comes in two versions: one type has five openings around the rim, the other has two. A complete spare to tire/rim/hub is provided to mount on the rear of the hull/superstructure.
Suspension System.
The suspension system is beautifully-rendered in almost complete detail. Separate swing arms and mounts, steering linkages, drive axles, leaf springs and many other smaller parts are fitted to a completely-detailed (slide-molded) belly frame. Slight modifications of some of the parts (B-4, D-18 and D-19) will allow the wheels to be permanently positioned in the “steered” mode. It should be noted that DML will provide a Cyberhobby upgrade that will have parts to enable this feature to be movable (as they did for the ‘234/2 kit), while also providing pre-formed metal wire brake lines. Stay tuned to ToT for further information…
Regardless of what’s to come, the parts in the box will offer a superb amount of detail as they are, so there is no real “need” to wait for the upgrade.
Hull.
The lower hull is also the product of a slide mold and also includes some molded-on interior detail. The hatch lids on either side are molded in place and are also detailed inside and out to include separate opening levers, while there is flange and bolt detail in various locations on the outer surfaces. The lower bow and stern plates are also part of this molding.
There is a great deal of interior detail to include both the front and rear driver’s stations; these are replete with seats, non-skid panels, foot and hand controls and steering wheels. Only the forward driver has an instrument panel, which is finished with decals for the dial faces. Other details include the transmission housing, various bins, fairings and component housings and a multi-part fuel tank for the rear section, which is mounted to a separate firewall.
Superstructure.
The interior of this part has nicely-rendered panel and gusset details and also includes detail on the underside of the roof plates, to include head-pads, junction boxes and MP40 stowage. The hatch lid up front is separate with detailed hinges and bolt patterns. Every view-port has separate outer lids and complete internal details to include clear vision block inserts, levers and pads.
The outer surfaces have weld bead details (including the plate interlocks seen at the bow/glacis joint) and bolt details, where appropriate. The engine deck has well-done molded-on access hatch lids as well as separate air intake and exhaust grill flaps. These come in two versions: one opened, the other closed. The separate upper stern plate has crisply molded hatch lid and bolt details. A number of smaller detail parts, including lift rings, festoon the outer surfaces.
The fender/stowage locker units both come from a slide mold and have a fine seam that must be removed from their outer surfaces. To these are fitted all tools, OVM items, stowage boxes (one of which can be used in place of two jerry cans), jacks and jerry cans. The latter are made up of two styrene halves with an etched brass center section and are topped off by separate pour caps and lifting handles; they also have separate racks. They are devoid of the usually-seen embossed lettering, but I am not certain if this is “normal” for what may be diesel fuel-specific cans, this being one of the few (only?) German-designed AFVs to be diesel-powered. A multi-part 5cm ammunition box (with etched brass frames) as well as a 7.92mm ammo can is also given as external stowage.
A Sternantenna (star antenna) mast and “star” is provided in styrene for the Fu 12 radio set; the “star” can be replaced by an etched brass item. This mounts on a separate insulator and base on the port side of the superstructure roof plate, just forward of the engine deck. Modelers should note that reference 2 indicates that not all vehicles were fitted with this device.
The front and rear ends also get mud-flap details, tow hooks and either styrene or turned brass width indicator poles. Up front there is a tubular bumper as well as a horn and a pair of multi-part Bosch head-lamps, while the rear end features a choice of configurations for the tail-lamp/convoy distance-keeping device. Five-part exhaust pipe/muffler units complete the area, with the one to starboard giving a choice of exit pipe directions. A multi-part rack for the previously-mentioned spare wheel unit as well as other etched and styrene details complete this area.
Turret.
This is the only really “new” segment of the kit and it is very well-done indeed. The outside is based on a one-piece slide-molded shell with a separate base/turret race part; this is not “keyed” to stay attached to the superstructure roof, something I like better since it is more true-to-life than the typical “bayonet mount” tabs and slots. The two hatch lids are separate and completely detailed inside and out, to include clear periscope heads. A small MP-Stopfen (armored pistol port lid) is included as a separate part for the turret rear face; it can be shown opened or closed. The smaller rotating T.Rb1.F.3 observation periscope seen on the starboard side of the roof plate comes as a clear part, with the option of an extended or retracted version.
Multi-part, triple-tube Nebelwurfgerät (smoke candle dischargers) are provided for either side of the turret front edges. The tubes themselves have the proper grooves at the bore ends, while there are separate rounds to be fitted within. The final items for the turret is a roof-mounted rod antenna with base for the Funkesprechgerät “f” radio and lifting hooks.
The 5cm KwK L/60 is based on a one-piece gun tube with a three-piece, slide-molded muzzle brake. The outer cast Topfblende (pot mantlet) is nicely-textured and includes the proper casting (NOT weld) seam. The inner mantlet has proper attachment details, while the front section of the co-axial MG42 is a separate part. On the inside, the gun and breech is fully detailed to include: recoil cylinders, recoil guard, breech block and separate wedge. There is no inner detail for the co-axial MG42, although one is provided from the previous iteration of the kit, labeled as “not for use”. It can be modified to give a more complete appearance to this area, if the modeler so desires. Otherwise, there is no other detail inside the turret.
Molding, Fit and Engineering.
A basic fit check of the major components showed no problems, with the “usual” exception of the superstructure (part A-2) to the hull (part F), where there is a noticeable gap that will need attention. There are no ejector pin marks visible anywhere, to include the inner hatch lid surfaces, and there are no shrink marks anywhere.
Accuracy.
The kit appears to match scale plans published in reference number 1, below, quite well. However, the cylindrical front segment of the 5cm gun mantlet is a bit “thin” in comparison to the drawings.
In the area of “omissions”, I would say that since there is a gun breech for the 5cm KwK main gun, the complete co-axial MG42 and mount should also have been given as well as the gunner’s sight. Other omissions are more problematic, since they involve the lack of some major components such as the Fu 12 radio fit, ammunition stowage for the KwK (55 rounds according to Reference 1, 51 rounds according to reference 3; the latter notes locations of the stowage bins) and MG (2,850 rounds). The turret interior is particularly bare missing crew seats, elevation and traverse gear as well as Funkesprechgerät “f” radio with rack. Since much of the interior is given, some may wonder if these items should have been included as well. Personally, I am undecided…
Instructions.
These are typical for DML and are clearly-rendered (but VERY busy) line drawings. Many steps have “sub-steps”, so the modeler certainly needs to pay attention. This is a relatively complex kit, especially where the suspension is concerned, so proceed with caution.
Decals and Markings Information.
The water-slide decals are from Cartograf and are crisply printed, in excellent registration and well-saturated. Carrier film is thin and cropped close to the edges of the designs. Markings are provided for the following four vehicles:
• Black/white 022, 20.Panzer-Division, Bohemia 1945.
• White 21, 130.Panzer-Lehr-Division, Normandy 1944.
• 2.Panzer-Division, Normandy 1944.
• Black/white 415, unidentified unit, France 1944.
All are base-painted in Dunkelgelb, with variations of the Olivgrün and Rotbraun disruptive pattern system. Where I could confirm the markings in the references I have available, they are accurate.
As an aside, modelers should note that reference 2 states that 100 Sd.Kfz.234/2 were built, with 25 each issued to 2. and 130.Panzer-Divisionen, both to 1.Kompanie of their respective Panzer-Aufkläung-Abteilungen. In April 1944, 16 each were issued to 1.SS- and 20.Panzer-Divisionen, and six to the 7.Panzer-Division. The remainder went to training units and Wa Prüf for testing. It can be surmised that “415”, from the “unidentified unit France 1944”, could POSSIBLY belong to the 1.SS-Panzer-Division, since all other reported facts “fit” this theory.
Conclusion.
More than likely, this is the version of the Sd.Kfz.234-series that most modelers desire, therefore it’s nice to see that it has been released. Its overall level of detail and accuracy certainly surpasses what has come before; this ought to please those who may have been “holding their breath”.
Highly recommended.
Frank V. De Sisto
References consulted included, but were not limited to the following titles:
1. “Panzerspähwagen”, Panzer Tracts 13, by T. Jentz & H. Doyle.
2. “Schwerer Panzerspähwagen (Sd.Kfz.234)”, Darlington Productions Museum Ordnance Special 24, by T. Jentz.
3. “Tech Intell, Vol.2”, Darlington Productions, by J. McKaughan.
4. “Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Revised Edition”, by P. Chamberlain, H. Doyle & T. Jentz.
5. “The Eastern Front, Armor Camouflage and Markings 1941-45”, Squadron 6102, by S. Zaloga & J. Grandsen.
6. “German Armoured Cars and Reconnaissance Half-Tracks 1939-45”, Osprey Vanguard 25, by B. Perrett & B. Culver.
7. “D-Day to Berlin”, Squadron 6026, by T. wise
8. “Panzerspähwagen in Action”, Squadron Armor in Action 4, by U. Feist & M. Dario.
9. “German Armoured Cars”, AFV Weapons Profile 33, by Maj.Gen. N.W. Duncan.
10. “Strassenpanzer, the German Scout Cars”, Aero-Armor 5, by W. Spielberger and U. Feist.
11. Photographs down-loaded from various internet sites.
Reviewer’s note: Since May of 2005, I have been working on books for Concord Publications, a sister company to DML. The reader may wish to take this into consideration. For my part, I will attempt to maintain an objective viewpoint when writing these reviews.
DML kits are available from retail and on-line shops; for details visit their web site at: www.dragonmodelsltd.com.
