Kit Review: cyber-hobby.com 1/35 scale Kit No. 45 (Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale =9139-=9145 Series Kit No. 6595); Sd.Kfz. 250/10 Neu w/
3.7 cm Pak - Smart Kit; 543 parts (346 in grey styrene, 168 =93Magic Track=94 two-piece links, 19 etched brass, 8 clear styrene, 2 turned brass); estimated price US$41-46Advantages: updates an older but still decent kit; lots of spare parts
Disadvantages: could have probably benefitted from DS plastic one- piece track runs
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German halftrack fans
The latest from DML affiliate cyber-hobby.com takes the=93Premium Edition=94 Sd.Kfz. 250 Neu kit and adds parts to create the Sd.Kfz.
25/10 mit 3.7 cm Pak 36. Basically this kit combines the proven sprues from the 250 series kits with the 3.7 cm sprue from the 251/10 platoon leader=92s kit (6139) and a set of generic German tool, kit and weapons sprues with a handful of new parts (5).As before this kit retains all of the upgrades from its immediate predecessor to include the one-piece slide molded lower hull and the engine, albeit with a new engine block. The suspension arms have been redone and also the drive sprocket mounts.
Once again the kit does not use DS plastic for tracks. Again, this kit uses the =93Magic Track=94 precut links with a separate pad for each link to =93trap=94 the pins of the next link. This is very tedious work as the tracks are about the same size as the average 1/72 scale model; again, for a =93Smart Kit=94 cyber-hobby.com and DML should consider DS Plastic molding techniques to make single-section track runs.
As with the =93Stroke 1", the tracks do mount on better detailed three- piece drivers, and the front wheels are now =93sandwich=94 moldings to create both proper tread pattern and tread depth (five parts per tire.)
This kit adds three new parts for the 3.7 ammo rack as well as two sets of generic German weapons for the racks inside the hull. The external stowage bins still have separate access panels, so all four can be displayed in the open position. The kit now again includes the Sd.Kfz. 251 clear styrene viewers, which can also be shown either open or closed.
Most of the etched brass provides the straps and mounts for this kit inside the lower hull of the model. The directions are pretty sketchy; while they do cover the placement and use of these items, you must pay close attention when working on the interior.
Technical assistance and work on this kit was provided by Hirohisa Takada, Minoru Igarashi, Dan Graves, Tom Cockle, and Gary Edmundson.
The model comes with but one finishing option: Unidentified Unit, Western Front, 1944 (tricolor with black 222). A =93number jungle=94 for the license plates and a tiny sheet for the hull.
Overall this is a better choice than some cyber-hobby.com kits and should prove popular with the fans of the =93little=94 halftrack.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell