MEDIA: Styrene and P.E.

 

OVERVIEW: Possibly one of the most famous of all German WWII half tracks, the Sd.Kfz. 7 was a true work horse. Built primarily as the towing tractor for the 8.8cm FlaK and 15cm heavy howitzers, its utility and versatility saw it being used as anything from a recovery vehicle to a Self Propelled Anti Aircraft gun. This kit is Trumpeter’s fifth kit based on the Sd.Kfz. 7 with three Anti Aircraft versions (#1523, #1526 and #1527) and one towing tractor (the Sd.Kfz. 7 early production #1514) proceeding it.

 

KIT CONTENTS: It seems that every few years Trumpeter change the format of the boxes that their kits are packaged in. This is the fourth different style I have seen and I cannot say I am a fan of this trend. Just when I get used to spotting a Trumpeter package they go and change it on you. Oh well, packed into this rather large box is a lot of plastic and a book. I’m not kidding about the book as the instructions are 24 pages comprising of 33 steps. Yeah, that’s a lot. There are a lot of plastic parts too, 16 sprues worth to be exact and although the tracks make up six of them, that’s a lot of sprues. Plus there are 2 P.E. frets and several other pieces. Here is the list:

 

Instruction Book

 

 

 

 Color Guide

 

 

 

A – Suspension and Engine parts

 

 

B – Road wheels and Suspension parts x2

 

 

D – Suspension and Engine parts

 

 

E – Engine parts

 

 

WA – Cabin parts and Pioneer Tools

 

 

WB – Road wheels and parts for the Engine Bonnet

 

 

WC – Rear Cargo Bed parts

 

 

WD – Cabin parts and Pioneer Tools

 

 

WE – Frame for rear cargo bed canvas cover

 

 

TR – Tracks x6

 

 

Plastic Canvas Cover

 

 

PE-WA – Photo Etch

PE-WB – Photo Etch

 

 

Film – Windshield

Decals

 

 

Tire – x3

 

String – for winch cable

Wire – for winch cable guide

 

 

     The parts are well molded in light grey plastic with overall sharp detail apart from some exceptions as I’ll point out. I did notice some flash on a few pieces but nothing to be alarmed about. There are quite a few ejector pin marks that will need to be filled and sanded smooth. Some notes on a few of the kit particulars:

 

 

1.    Road wheels/Front Tires and Tracks: The road wheels are the late type which had a different hub than the earlier type (the Dragon 7 late kit has the earlier style) and the detail is quite good. The front wheels are nicely done and the back sides are correctly hollowed out (unlike the Dragon ones). The tires are the late pattern in vinyl with good definition but I do not like vinyl tires so A.M. parts may be on the way. The tracks are styrene link to link with two pieces per link. The track pad holds the links together making them workable (so it seems) and again are the late pattern with two lightening holes per link vice the 6 per link on the early pattern.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.   Engine and Transmission: very nicely done and anyone who wishes to show the engine only needs to add fan belts (did Trumpeter intend for us to scratch these or is lack of them an oversight?) and some wiring and you are good to go. But one question, where is the radiator (see front grill below)? 

 

 

3.    Cargo/Crew Compartment: The wood grain detail is in my opinion over done. Be honest here, who really thinks you are going to see wood grain on painted wood in 1/35 scale. You can barely see it in 1/1 scale if at all. But if you like heavy wood grain on your models then this kit will make you happy. If you choose to model the vehicle without the canvas cover but with the frame installed you are going to have some work cut out for you as there are some real nasty knock out pin marks here. 

 

 

 

     Not only that, but to me the frame’s peak looks a bit shallow on both the frame and plastic canvas cover. I’m sure that if this is fact an after market company will come to the rescue in short order.

 

4.    Front Cab area: A quick note on the fenders, it looks like this part is the same one that came in all the other earlier kits with the inaccurate bolt detail and overall shape. The bolt heads are easy enough to remove but the shape I do not think can be easily corrected.  The detail on the bonnet sides could have been better if the side cooling slots had gone all the way through. Those thing that look like the securing clasp are in fact just the location points for the separate parts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

     The front grill is actually quite disappointing and would have been much better if the rods actually went from the top to the bottom and you could see through it to the radiator like the real vehicle. 

 

 

5.    The P.E. is especially nice. The parts have some decent separation making removal easy. I cut a few pieces off to test removal and smoothing. The removal was very easy and my Tamiya P.E. sander easily removed the burs with just a couple of swipes. Super glue held the parts firmly together.

 

 

 

CONCLUSION: Overall this kit appears to be nicely done. The one major let down for me thus far is the lack of a radiator and the lackluster front grill. There is a very nice engine and transmission but wheres the radiator? Once I get the build complete (I’m well on my way already) I can give a much better description and a complete recommendation. Another thing, although I do own the Dragon Sd.Kfz,. 7 “Late Production” kit, I will not be comparing the two except on a few occasions as I have already done. I will simply base this kit on its own merits and not how it compares to another. I am quite positive however that Terry Ashley at PMMS will be doing an excellent comparison review in the near future and those wishing to read a comparison review before purchasing a kit will probably not have to wait long.

 

Thanks toStevens International for the Review kit.