Kit, DML 6257, Sd.Kfz.234/3 schwere Panzerspähwagen (7.5cm)

DRAGON MODELS LIMITED


Product Specifications.

6257, Sd.Kfz.234/3 schwere Panzerspähwagen (7.5cm). 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit containing 545 styrene parts (including 22 clear), 18 photo-etched brass parts, four turned brass parts, three water-slide decal marking schemes and 10 pages of instructions in 28 steps.


Introduction.

With this release, DML has completed the schwere Panzerspähwagen Sd.Kfz.234 family; they have previously given modelers the /1, /2 and /4. Based on very well-done base kit parts, this kit includes new parts for the 7.5cm K51 gun and mount as well as optional tires with a different tread pattern. Naturally, new markings are also provided.


Wheels.

The first three ‘234 kits included tires 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. New for this release is a set of three complete wheels that consist of six disks each. They are “laminated” during assembly, which allows for the tread details on the tire faces; this is the same solution used on the tires for DML’s 8.8cm FlaK36 kit. With care in assembly and painting, these will look quite convincing when finished. As photos show ‘234s with mixed tire arrangements, this option is certainly quite useful. A complete spare to tire/rim/hub unit is also 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 Cyberhobby markets upgrades for the /1, /2 and /4 that have parts to enable this feature to be movable, while also providing pre-formed metal wire brake lines.


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 re-tooled 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 head-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 box, jack 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 styrene 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.


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.


Casemate, Gun and Mount.

This is the only really “new” segment of the kit and it is very well-done. The base plate for the universal Kanone 51 mount is placed over the re-tooled upper hull half. It is accompanied by commendably thin side and front shields, and new rear plate, as well as armored cover and gun tube sleeve. The finished assembly will elevate and traverse.


The 7.5cm KwK itself is based on a one-piece slide-molded gun tube with fine rifling at the pre-bored muzzle’s end. It includes completely new parts as well as other parts from the recent Cyberhobby Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.F “Vorpanzer” Smart Kit. On the inside, the gun is fully detailed to include: recoil cylinders, recoil guard, empty shell catcher, hand-wheels, clear slide-molded Sfl.Z.F.1b sight, breech block and separate wedge. The co-axial MG42 is a “Gen2” item, so it has a pre-opened muzzle, complete cooling jacket detail and a separate receiver cover; the entire unit mounts on a separate tray. It is not supplied with any ammunition feed or magazines. In addition, there is also a “Gen2” MG34 of a similar configuration. It is provided with an anti-aircraft pintle mount and travel lock, but again has no ammunition magazine. Finally, the original kit’s conventionally-molded MG42 is also included.


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.


It is in the area of omissions where this kit can be criticized. Ammunition stowage for the 7.5cm KwK (50 rounds according to Reference 1) is insufficient. A single, six-round ready rack is given as well as what I believe is a closed bin; together these could account for 12-14 rounds, leaving approximately 36-38 unaccounted for. No ammo stowage for the 7.92mm MG42 (1,950 rounds) and no stowage of 9mm MP ammo (192 rounds) is provided. On the other hand, the cited references do not show where these things go, or what their configuration was, so DML’s designers and consultants are not entirely responsible for this “oversight”.


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 three vehicles:

• 116.Panzer-Division, Normandy 1944.
• Unidentified unit, Normandy 1944.
• Division Ullrich von Hutten, Germany 1945.

All are base-painted in Dunkelgelb, with variations of the Olivgrün and Rotbraun disruptive pattern system on two of them; the remaining vehicle remains in the base color only. Where I could confirm the markings in the references I have available, those provided for the two Normandy vehicles appear to be accurate, but incomplete. Modelers should note that the decal sheets provide blank registration plates to which individual numbers are to be overlaid. Therefore, all three vehicles depicted have the same registration numbers shown in their drawings. To complete the “unidentified” Normandy vehicle, photos show one with the numbers WH-1751008. The photo of the 116.P-D vehicle I referenced does not show a registration number; however, it does appear that the divisional insignia is in the place shown on the kit’s instructions.


Conclusion.

DML has now completed the ‘234 family. So, fans of this series in particular will be quite pleased, while modelers who like wheeled vehicles will also be pleased. Likewise, modelers who are simply looking for the experience of building a well-designed, detailed and accurate kit, need go no further.

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. “German Armoured Cars and Reconnaissance Half-Tracks 1939-45”, Osprey Vanguard 25, by B. Perrett & B. Culver.
6. “Panzerspähwagen in Action”, Squadron Armor in Action 4, by U. Feist & M. Dario.
7. “German Armoured Cars”, AFV Weapons Profile 33, by Maj.Gen. N.W. Duncan.
8. “Strassenpanzer, the German Scout Cars”, Aero-Armor 5, by W. Spielberger and U. Feist.
9. “Niemieckie Samochody Pancerne 1905-1945”, Pegaz-Bis, by M. Skotnicki.


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.


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