Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale =9139-=9145 Series Kit No.
6316; Sd.Kfz. 250/9 Neu 2 cm Reconnaissance - Premium Edition; 548 parts (331 in grey styrene, 168 =93Magic Track=94 two-piece links, 39 etched brass, 8 clear styrene, 2 turned brass); retail price US$49.95Advantages: 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 next release in DML=92s =93Premium Edition=94 upgrades to older kits i= s the Sd.Kfz. 250/9 Neu 2 cm reconnaissance halftrack, following on the Sd.Kfz. 250/1 Neu =93Premium Edition=94 kit (No. 6427) and the recent Sd.Kfz. 250/8 with the L/24 infantry support gun (No. 6425).
As with the first two this kit retains all of the upgrades from its immediate predecessor but drops the small arms weapons sets for selected sprues from their Sd.Kfz. 234/1 heavy armored car and from the Pzkw. 38(t) Ausf. G kits. As before, the biggest single item is the presence of a one-piece =93slide molded=94 lower hull replacing three parts in the original 1999 series kits. The suspension arms have been redone and also the drive sprocket mounts. The engine from the original add-on kit is now included, which is a nice touch; this kit also includes the transmission. Both these items were actually left out of the directions, so a supplemental errata sheet is included to show where they go in the model.
DML still has not switched to their DS plastic for tracks for these kits. 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 =93Premium Edition=94 kit DML really ehould 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.)
The interior in this kit is greatly changed as it mounts the complete
234/1 turret and as such DML has provided a great deal of parts; it nearly forces the modeler to leave the viewers and rear door open to show them off.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.
Two sets of etched brass are included, one for the Sd.Kfz. 234/1 turret and one for the Sd.Kfz. 250 host vehicle. Most of the etched brass provides the straps and mounts for this kit inside the lower hull of the model.
Technical assistance and work on this kit was provided by Hirohisa Takada, Minoru Igarashi, Dan Graves, Tom Cockle, Thomas Anderson, and Gary Edmundson.
The model comes with five finishing options: 116th Panzer Division. France 1944 (tircolor, black 146); Pz.Aufkl.Abt.2, 2nd Panzer Division, France 1944 (tricolor, black 283); Pz.Aufkl.Abt.2, 2nd Panzer Division, France 1944 (tricolor, =93Vonbenke=94); Pz.Aufkl.Abt.6,
6th Panzer Division, 1944 (tricolor, white 133); and Pz.Aufkl.Abt.26, 26th Panzer Division, Italy 1944 (tricolor, black 25). The kit provides a generic sheet of markings for license plates and stenciling and a targeted sheet from Cartograf.Overall this is another nicely upgraded kit.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell