DRAGON MODELS LIMITED

Product Specifications.

6466, Sd.Kfz.7 8t Half-Track Initial Production Smart Kit. 1/35th-scale injection-molded styrene/multimedia kit. Contains: 265 styrene parts (including six clear), two bags of Magic Tracks, 3 DS100 parts, one photo-etched brass fret, one length of braided metal wire, one sheet of self-adhesive masking material, five decal/marking schemes and six pages of instructions in 15 steps.

Introduction.

As DML began releasing German artillery kits, the wait immediately began for the hoped-for follow-up kits of the appropriate artillery tractor for the class of guns, the mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 8-ton Sd.Kfz.7. The first two kits based on the KMm 11 chassis were the Sd.Kfz.7/1 and /2, followed by the later production Sd.Kfz.7 tractor with wooden load-bed. Now, finally, DML has released the more-or-less standard metal-bodied Artillerie-Aufbau version, in what can be loosely termed as the initial production variant. Essentially what they have done is provide one entirely new sprue as well as a new deck/track-guard part upon which to base these new parts.

As expected, the bulk of the parts are from the previous releases, so much of this review will be based on previous comments. In that regard, I beg the readers indulgence.

Tracks.

Each Magic Track link consists of two parts, the metal core and the rubber pad. The parts themselves are in bags and are not attached to conventional sprues. This means that little clean-up is necessary; there are just some minor mold pips to remove. If the modeler wishes to go further, the very subtle ejector pin marks seen on each main link part can also be smoothed away. The tracks will articulate when completed. This considerably eases the attachment process and also allows for authentic track sag to be very easily achieved.

Suspension System.

The actual suspension system for the track-work is based on several leaf-spring bundles as well as separate swing-arms and idler wheel tensioning axle; several of these parts are created using slide-molds for enhanced detail and easier construction. Two-part final drive assemblies are topped-off by two-part drive sprockets that incorporate properly offset rollers. The step-ring on the drive sprocket hub is further embellished by an etched brass strip that wraps around the outside; in this way the non-skid texture can be properly represented. The road-wheels are conventionally-rendered as inner and outer halves, with superbly-crisp details.

The front wheels consist of a hard styrene hub as well as an inner tire segment. The major portion of the tire is produced using DS100 soft styrene. This material can be glued with standard styrene plastic cement, something actual vinyl will not allow. Furthermore, DS100 material, being flexible, can be pulled from a steel mold while still retaining detail that hard styrene will not allow. In this case, the tread detail on the tires contact surfaces can be rendered in almost precise detail; after-market tires are not necessary. The front wheels rest on a multi-part axle and leaf spring assembly, complimented by a separate part for the steering linkage. As designed, the wheels will not steer, but a clever modeler will be able to modify the parts to do so, if desired.

Chassis Frame, Engine and Drive Train.

The engine consists of multiple parts that represent the Maybach power plant quite well; of course, wires, pipes and hoses can be added by the detail-oriented modeler. It includes a complete exhaust system with pipes and muffler. A firewall plate is provided, which is embellished by various accessory items including a horn and structural members. An inner radiator face, air filters, more hose segments and braces finish the area. The transmission is a four-part assembly, while the winch and the power take-off shaft consist of another five parts. New for this kit is the cable and hook to finish the winch unit. A two-part fuel tank, air-brake cylinders, exhaust pipes and muffler, plus various other components complete the details in this area.

The chassis frame itself is based on a slide-molded main part to which all of the above details are mounted. The rear face of the frame is a separate multi-part affair, which includes articulating tow coupling, winch cable guide rollers, air brake connection and other detail parts. Above and behind this is a new rack for the spare wheel and tire; this is attached to the underside of the load-bed platform. A separate, slide-molded sub-frame completes the area

Superstructure and Drivers Compartment.

The nose section incorporates the front bumper/fender and wheel wells in a single, well-detailed slide-molded part. It includes the opening for an exhaust pipe on the starboard side wheel-well. A tow pintle, various fillets and width indicator stems are all separate parts, while the conventional head-lamps include clear parts for the lenses or black-out covers with slits. The optional Notek head-lamp is a two-part styrene assembly that gets fitted to an etched brass mounting bracket; if using the kit-provided markings, this is appropriate. The Notek head-lamp can be fitted to the front fender or the wheel well. The rear-mounted distance-keeping lamp is not provided, so if using the Notek head-lamp, this must be added from the spares box. Other etched brass parts are included to add non-skid plate details where appropriate.

The outer radiator grill has the manufacturers logo (Krauss-Maffei) molded in place while the water filler cap is separate. The hood (bonnet) panel is separate. The two side access panels include crisp cooling slot details molded in place on the outside; no cooling slot details are on the inner sides. Tiny, separate lift handles finish off the panels. The drivers wind-screen can be posed in the up or down position and is fitted with clear styrene for the glass panels, as well as separate windshield wipers and wiper motors. The glass is provided with pre-cut adhesive masking material to ease the painting stages.

The dashboard consists of two main panels and is mounted onto the rear face of the engine firewall panel. Braces, an auxiliary fuel tank, steering column and wheel, shift, brake and winch PTO levers, as well as a pair of foot pedals complete the section. No decals are provided for the instrument panel dial faces.

Heading further aft is the main load-bed. It is all-new and is comprised of the new parts in the box. The main side panels are separate, as is the rear panel and the top of the ammunition locker. Bench seats and rifle racks appropriate for this version are provided, as are the various transverse body panels. A pair of shovels, an axe and an engine starter crank are provided for stowage. This version had rod-type crew access handles on the sides, and is also embellished with a small search-light, marker lights and other small detail parts. The tool and accessory lockers at the rear can be depicted opened or closed. If open, there are proper shelves and interior latch detail for the separate access doors. The side-opening ammunition lockers have internal dividers, two-part doors and internal latch details for the opened position, or single-piece doors for the closed position. The upper deck over the ammunition lockers has a four-part baggage rack on its center, which I believe is appropriate for this version; the additional larger, rounded rack was quite probably a later provision, and is not included.

Molding, Fit and Engineering.

Molding is typical for current DML kits, which translates into excellent. No sink marks were noted and the few ejector pins seen will be completely invisible on the finished model. The modeler may or may not choose to address the very faint pin marks on the tracks. Mold seams are restrained and easily disposed of. Some of the smaller parts, particularly the rifle rack clamps are quite delicate and are surrounded by knock-out pin nodes. These must be removed with extreme care. The various body panels all fit very precisely, but care must be exercised as many item interlock, which means if one part of off, others will be as well. The modeler is strongly advised to test fit everything as he proceeds.

Accuracy and Details.

References indicate that there are no major accuracy issues and only one major omission. A minor accuracy issue is the inner side of the conventional front wheel hubs, which are molded semi-solid with a ridge on the inside edge of the spokes. The resulting depressions should be substantially deeper; some black paint in the (mostly-hidden) inner recesses will help the illusion here. Some small details can be added to certain parts such as the drive sprocket and the chassis frame simply by employing variously-sized drill bits. The addition of the cable and hook for the winch is quite welcome.

There are a number of omissions. The rear-mounted distance-keeping lamp is not provided, but should be as it was part of the black-out driving system. Another item in the same category is the missing pedal in the drivers compartment. The lack of the framework and any representation of the canvas foul weather cover is what I consider to be a major detriment to a basically excellent kit; the latter element would have been a perfect use for DS100 soft styrene. No rifles are given, so the spares box will need to be raided if the modeler wishes to have anything in the racks. Decals for the instrument panel dial faces would also have been welcome.

Instructions.

These are in the conventional line drawing style and are relatively easy to follow.

Decals and Markings Information.

The decal sheet is produced by DMLs usual source, Italys Cartograf. In typical fashion, this means that the printing is crisp with fine details and excellent registration. The carrier film is clear, matte and cut close to the individual designs. Markings for five vehicles are provided, as follows:

23.Panzer-Division, Ostfront 1942.
24.Panzer-Division, Ostfront 1941.
SS-Division Das Reich, Ostfront 1941-42.
Unidentified unit, Ostfront 1943-44.
Unidentified unit, Deutsches Afrika Korps, 1942.

Most of the markings are generic enough as to be of little concern regarding accuracy. In the case the time of deployment, the 24.P-D did not deploy to the Ostfront until June of 1942.

Conclusion.

This kit has been long-awaited, and in my opinion, the wait was certainly worth it. Aside from some small omissions, I do wonder why absolutely no provision was made for the foul weather tarp and its accompanying framework, especially if it was depicted in the closed position. I get the sense that others will view this aspect of the kit in a similar light, but will still wish to add it to their collection. Of course, we do have after-market manufacturers, whose specialty is taking care of such missteps by the base kits producers, but still

Recommended.

- Frank V. De Sisto