Kit Review: cyber-hobby.com 1/35 scale Kit No. 68 (Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale =9139-=9145 Series Kit No. 6630); Sd.Kfz. 10 Ausf. A
1940 Production - Smart Kit; 541 parts (321 in grey styrene, 192 =93Magic Track=94 two-part links, 24 etched brass, 4 clear styrene); pre- order price US$46.99 from Dragon USA OnlineAdvantages: first release of the cargo version of this vehicle in this scale in styrene; uses proven DML parts from previous kits
Disadvantages: more than past time for a set of DS Plastic tracks for this suspension
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German halftrack fans
The Demag D7 was the smallest of the pre-war German halftracks, rated at one metric ton cargo capacity and able to carry eight personnel and their basic kit. But as it was quite flexible, over the course of the war it was adapted to carry out many different tasks. The basic vehicle came in two versions =96 the Ausf. A which was the initial production variant, and the Ausf. B. which differed in that it an air compressor for using air brakes on heavier towed loads.
Over 14,000 total chassis were built by seven different factories. The original version was designed to tow light weapons like the 3.7 cm antitank guns or the 7.5 cm infantry howitzer, but the later B model was also used for 5 cm and 7.5 cm antitank guns and even the 10.5 cm howitzers.
This kit follows the earlier Sd.Kfz. 10/5 self-propelled 2 cm gun and the converted 3.7 cm antitank gun carrier. Oddly enough, while there are a total of 137 new parts added to the sprues from the previous kits, all of them, are labeled =93Sd.Kfz. 10/5" which they are NOT.
This kit uses many of the previous Sd.Kfz. 10/5 sprues with the sole Sd.Kfz. 250 kit holdover of the basic drivers and the =93Magic Link=94 tracks. The kit retains the new hull pan with individual torsion bars for the suspension and a complete engine and transmission assembly. The modeler only has a choice of the =93street=94 tires (two part types) in this kit. The first eight steps of construction cover the chassis and engine components.
The hood and grille are impressive as all vanes and louvers are molded open and clear, with the ones on the hood being very petite and neatly done (be careful as I would bet a thick coat of paint would block them up and ruin the effect). Racks for eight Kar 98K rifles mount inside the rear body but only four rifles are still included.
The new body comes in multiple parts with what appear to be working sides/seat backs (F1/F2) as they snap in to mounts on the sides of the body. The seats are fixed and installed in Step 14. No top or any bows are provided with this kit.
As before cyber-hobby/DML have stuck with the tiny Magic Track links of two parts each. While they are nicely done and accurate, they are smaller than many 1/72 scale kits and very tedious to assemble.
Technical consultants on this kit were Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.
Two different finishing options are included: Unidentified Unit, Eastern Front 1941 (grey with plate WH-687535) and Unidentified Unit, North Africa 1941 (sand with no plate number given). A =93number jungle=94 with plates is provided from Cartograf; also, four masks for the windshield are provided with the kit.
Overall this kit should be popular as a prime mover for the lighter artillery pieces.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample
Cookie Sewell