CYBERHOBBY
6296, Sd.Kfz.234 w/2cm Schwebelafette Fgst. Sd.Kfz.234/3. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit. Contains 550 styrene parts (including 12 clear), two etched brass frets, four turned brass parts, one water-slide decal marking scheme and 10 pages of instructions in 26 steps.
Introduction.
Based on the very well-received DML Sd.Kfz.234 (8-Rad) armored car kits, this Cyberhobby limited edition release will allow the modeler to create a unique vehicle seen at war’s end after it was surrendered to US forces. This kit includes the 2cm Schwebelafette (suspension mount) parts from DML’s Sd.Kfz.251/17 Ausf.D for the gun, its mount and ammunition stowage, as well as a modest amount of new styrene and etched brass parts for the armored parapet seen around the roof opening. Naturally, new markings are also provided along with revised instructions.
This angled front view shows the major parts in place as well as the 2cm Schwebelafette in place minus the gun’s shield and the superstructure parapet.
Wheels.
The tires 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 unit is also provided to mount on the rear of the hull/superstructure.
An angled rear view of the partially-assembled kit.
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 some of the ‘234 kits that have parts to enable this feature to be movable, while also providing pre-formed metal wire brake lines.
Hull.
The hull is also the product of a slide mold and 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 as well as a multi-part fuel tank for the rear section, which is mounted to a separate firewall. A radio set with mounting bracket is complimented with separate junction boxes.
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 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. A nice rod antenna with base is provided but is not shown mounted; additionally, it is marked as not for use. Since this vehicle was apparently based on an Sd.Kfz.234/3, I’d mount it in the position seen on that vehicle, which is in place already.
Gun and Mount.
The assembled 2cm Schwebelafette removed from the hull. Note the new mounting girders, the revised floor plate and the shield.
The 2cm KwK38/FlaK38 on the compact, fully-rotating Schwebelaffette (pivoting mount) comes direct from the DML Sd.Kfz.251/17 Ausf.D kit. The mount itself is exquisitely well-done with some very small parts. There are separate ten-round ammo magazines from a slide mold that feature sharply-defined details such as the visible 2cm round at the opening. Several parts can be replaced by etched brass, but as the entire gun demands care in assembly, I would recommend that the modeler stick with the styrene parts. Also notable is the extremely well-represented 2cm gun tube, which has a flash suppressor with a pre-bored muzzle as well as the very tiny holes around the cone. The assembly is rather complex and it is recommended that it be done in stages to allow sub-assemblies to dry completely before the gun is completed; alignment of the parts is critical. Two large racks containing molded-on ten-round magazines are included; these can also be replaced with etched brass parts and the previously-mentioned slide-molded ammunition magazines. A pair of I-beams are provided on the new sprue in order to connect the gun mount base to the hull floor; these are accompanied by a new section of non-skid tread-plate.
This photo shows the new parts to construct the parapet on the superstructure roof, as well as the main ammunition magazine racks for the interior. Note the separate slide-molded ten-round ammunition magazines.
In addition, there are two Gen2 machine-guns, an MG34 and an MG42. Both are provided with a folded or extended bipod and a separate receiver cover, but neither has any belted ammunition or magazine. Finally, the original kit’s conventionally-molded MG42 is also included as is an anti-aircraft mount pintle, both marked as not for use. These items are essentially accessory parts and can be used as the modeler sees fit.
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. The jerry cans are over-complicated by etched brass center inserts that compromise fit and that also make their assembly more difficult than is needed. There are no ejector pin marks visible anywhere, to include the inner hatch lid surfaces, and there are no shrink marks anywhere. Of course, the usual nodes are attached to many parts requiring extra clean-up; this is the price that must be paid if the modeler does not wish to have to clean and fill ejector pin marks on the parts themselves. Details are crisp and the small parts are especially finely-rendered
Accuracy.
The kit appears to match scale plans published in reference number 1, below, quite well. In addition, reference number 2 indicates that the 2cm Schwebelaffette is also accurate. Of course information on this particular vehicle is scarce and limited to a few photos and a written description by a US Army Technical Intelligence Team. This means that the interior is in some places conjectural; I won’t be losing any sleep over this.
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 gun and 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 in the form of two styles of Balkenkreuze national insignia are provided for one vehicle of 20.Panzer-Division, which was captured in Czechoslovakia in 1945.
Two etched brass frets, turned brass width indicator staffs and a water-slide decal sheet are included in the box.
Conclusion.
Cyberhobby continues to fulfill their mandate to release very unusual AFVs based largely on combinations of previously-released DML parts, with a small amount of new kit-specific parts. This saves the interested modeler from having to purchase two (or more) kits, or a separate after-market conversion set to model an unusual one-off type. And, since these are limited production items, if the modeler wishes to have one of these in his collection, timely action on his part is required.
Highly recommended.
Frank V. Curly Stooge De Sisto
References consulted included, but were not limited to the following titles:
1. Panzerspähwagen; Panzer Tracts 13, by T. Jentz & H. Doyle.
2. Mittlerer Schuetzenpanzerwagen (Sd.Kfz.251) Ausf.C & D; Panzer Tracts 15-3, by T. Jentz & H. Doyle.
3. Schwerer Panzerspähwagen (Sd.Kfz.234); Darlington Productions Museum Ordnance Special 24, by T. Jentz.
4. Tech Intell, Vol.2; Darlington Productions, by J. McKaughan.
5. Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Revised Edition; by P. Chamberlain, H. Doyle & T. Jentz.
6. German Armoured Cars and Reconnaissance Half-Tracks 1939-45; Osprey Vanguard 25, by B. Perrett & B. Culver.
7. Panzerspähwagen in Action; Squadron Armor in Action 4, by U. Feist & M. Dario.
8. German Armoured Cars; AFV Weapons Profile 33, by Maj.Gen. N.W. Duncan.
9. Strassenpanzer, the German Scout Cars; Aero-Armor 5, by W. Spielberger and U. Feist.
10. Niemieckie Samochody Pancerne 1905-1945; Pegaz-Bis, by M. Skotnicki.
11. Panzerwrecks 4, German Armour 1944-45; Panzerwrecks, by L. Archer & W. Auerbach.
12. Panzers in the Gunsights 1; Concord 7055, by S. Zaloga.
13. Panzer in the Gunsights 2; Concord 7057, by S. Zaloga.
Reviewer’s note: Since May of 2005, I have been working on books for Concord Publications, a sister company to Cyberhobby. The reader may wish to take this into consideration. For my part, I will attempt to maintain an objective viewpoint when writing these reviews.
Cyberhobby kits are available for a limited time, direct from the manufacturer. For information and images see their web-site at: www.cyber-hobby.com.
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