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DR6427:
Sd. Kfz. 250/1 Neu
1/35
injection plastic kit with photo etch, metal width indicator poles and
decals
BACKGROUND
This is Dragon・s first release of a Premium Edition kit of the German
SdKdz 250 family of light armored half-tracks. In this release the Sd.Kdz
250/1 Neu, which is already an enjoyable kit to build, is enhanced with
improved tooling, photo etch and several extras. The Sd.Kfz 250 Neu
series was introduced in 1943 and featured a simplified armoured body
to reduce production costs and assembly time. Visually the Neu series
had larger flatter body panels than the earlier SdKfz 250 Alte series.
The Sd.Kfz 250/1 was the standard machine gun armed troop carrier version
of the series and accommodated 6 men including the driver and was often
issued to Panzer Divisions. The 2nd and 3rd companies of these unit・s
reconnaissance (aufklarung) battalion were officially equipped with
Sd.Kfz 250/1. The staff (stabs) battalions were also officially equipped
with several Sd.Kfz 250/1.
CONTENTS
For its size the kit has more than the usual number of pieces and is
based on the crisp tooling of the late 90s Dragon Sd.Kfz 250 Neu series.
I found this kit to be a rewarding model to build when I made it soon
after it was first released. This release has improved features to give
it that extra finesse. Some of the improvements are subtle and were
not obvious until I compared the old and new kits back to back, while
other improvements are quite noticeable.
New and upgraded parts include:
The
side armour on the lower hull has new tooling which captures the multi-layer
effect in depth. This will be most obvious around the front wheel well.
The previous three-part lower hull has been replaced by a single piece
slide molded hull. This will simplify assembly and remove a risk of
having the armoured body misaligned (if you are assembling the original
release use the centre bulkhead (part E35) as a brace when fitting the
lower hull sides).
New Magic Tracks, which come loose and have two parts one for the rubber
pad and the other the cast metal shoe. For most modelers these will
require no clean up and shall save time. When assembling them, being
sparing with the glue will allow the links to articulate a reasonable
bit when fitting them to the kit (if not using a slow setting glue will
give you time to fit them while flexible). As there are only 38 or so
links on each track assembly should be quick. I have found making a
simple jig out of cardboard can save time when assembling small two
part tracks.
Improved road wheels and sprockets. The road wheels have improved detail
on both faces while the sprockets have a multi-part construction offering
greater finesse. The front tyres are made from five layers, like with
the recent Sd.Kfz 234/2. Each layer provides part of the tyre・s tread
profile including the blocks extending onto the sidewall. The side wall
now has the Continenta(U) brand name.
A tarpaulin that extends over the rear of the fighting compartment made
from Dragon styrene has been added. This has the profile of being extended
over two hoops, has nice detail for the canvas folds, and has one flap
extend into the fighting compartment. Given such tarpaulins were often
seen in photos this will be a useful option for giving a kit a front
line look.
A Maybach engine is now included and features the engine block, radiator,
sump, fan, fan belt, filter gasket heads, piping etc. Overall it is
quite complete and opens up diorama potential. This engine has been
previously released in a set with mechanic figures.
Enhanced weld seam marks such as for the joins on the front upper hull
Revised hinges on the side stowage bins to improve accuracy. The bins
can be modelled open, such as in a diorama or a model of an abandoned
half-tack (plenty of photos for inspiration).
The forward MG and its shield have been improved. The MG42 is now Gen-2
tooling with improved detail such as the upper cooling vents and both
the front are rear mounts have been improved for accuracy and can traverse.
The newly tooled shield has a thinner more in-scale profile.
The two width indicator poles are provided with a choice of injection
plastic or turned brass poles
The interior fittings have been improved both in terms of completeness
and their finesse. The crew weapons (MP38/40 and grenades), many general
fittings (e.g. fire extinguisher) and personal effects such as gas mask
canisters and water bottles are now Gen-2 tooling. PE straps are provided
to secure many of the items to the sidewalls. This kit leaves you with
plenty of spare Gen-2 items for use with other kits or figures.
Two PE carry cases with PE straps, hinges and latch are included for
the scissor periscopes (not included). These cases are mounted in PE
racks.
The driver・s seat now has the spring coils cast onto the rear of the
back.
The screens for the vents above the engine are now PE, which is far
easy to use and looks better than the nylon mesh in the earlier release.
The 22 step gatefold instructions are clearly laid out. An accompanying
Inside Story sheet highlights some of the kit・s features.
DECALS & PAINTING GUIDE
This release includes painting decal options for noticeably more half-tracks
than the 1998 release and there are two Cartograph waterslide decal
sheets. The instruction sheet has 4 view profiles for each of seven
250/1 Neu and there is a colour side profile of each on the box.
A medium sized sheet has numerous individual digits for registration
plates and Wehrmacht ：WH； and Waffen SS prefixes (the runes are broken
into two parts) as wells as blank white plates (with and without black
outlines), which will allow modellers to depict any specific 250/1 with
these two forces.
The other sheet is unique to this kit and includes several sets of varying
Balkan Crosses, tactical numbers, shipping stencils and unit insignia.
The painting guide includes markings for the half-track on the box art,
which is tactical number 312 from the 3rd company of the 2nd Panzer
division・s Aufklarung (reconnaissance) battalion as deployed in Normandy
during the D-Day campaign. Photos of this vehicle show it had tarpaulin
like that provided in this kit over the rear of the fighting compartment.
Other vehicles are two from the Wiking Panzer Division on the Eastern
Front in 1945, two from Leibstandarte AH, an unidentified unit on the
Eastern Front in 1944, and the vehicle used by Obergruppenfuhrer von
Puckler-Berghaus in Bohemia 1945.
RECOMMENDATION
This Premium Edition release of Dragon・s Sd.Kfz 250/1 Neu should be
even more rewarding to build. The original kit was nicely tooled (and
one of my favourite models) and this release has added that extra finesse
to the tooling, while simplifying construction through the improved
lower hull and Magic Tracks. The inclusion of extra features such as
the PE, tarpaulin and engine all add to the kit・s appeal and value for
money. Definitely recommended.
-
Neville Lord
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