Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Armor Pro Series Kit No. 7315; Sd.Kfz. 251/7 Ausf. C w/2.8 cm sPzB 41 AT Gun; 181 parts (165 in grey stryene, 14 etched brass, 2 tan DS plastic tracks); price US$13.95
Advantages: another variant on the 251 C model hull; very nice additions to the kit to make it more flexible
Disadvantage: bridges appear pantographed down from 1/35 scale kit, may be too narrow; many very tiny (RP) parts
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German and "picks and shovels" modelers
F I R S T L O O K
DML has now released a kit of the C model engineer halftrack to joint the D model with Gerlich gun which they released in June 2007 (No.
7317) and upgrades the original C model "Stroke 7" (No. 7265) from April 2006.As with the previous kits in this series, the lower hull is a single piece pan, less the rear area, and the axles are molded on the lower hull. The running gear for each side consists of a rear (inside) wheel section, a center wheel section, three outer road wheels, and drivers. Once installed the connectors between the individual wheels on the inside and the center are not visible, so it helps speed up assembly while making it easier to get things aligned. Tracks are the gluable DS plastic, so you can also get them to settle down on top of the road wheels with some care.
The model comes with simplified interior fittings but they are quite tiny and will require a good deal of care. Interior bits include the various control levers, rifles, MP submachine guns, and other items. The hinge mechanisms for the doors are single pieces, but are non- operating types. They cement to the lower rear section, as the upper hull has the rear angular parts of the hull attached to it. The four front viewers are separate parts and can be cemented either open or closed as well, as is the hood assembly with two flaps. No engine or interior is provided for the engine bay.
The fenders are one-piece units, but the stowage bins are only offered as closed parts. The front MG 34 shield is offered as either a single piece of styrene or a three-piece etched brass option. Other parts include the "Notek" headlight and mount and the drum magazines for the two MG 34 machine guns (only one is used.) The seats are left out of the base kit and new seats on the E sprues are used instead, as well as bins for engineer kit (e.g. tools, blasting supplies, etc.) However, no filler is provided so the modeler is on his own to load them up.
The kit comes with two of the treadway bridges used by German engineers and which mark the unique silhouette of the "Stroke Seven" models. Comments on the internet indicate that the 1/35 scale ones were too long and too narrow, and it appears the same proportions were used on this kit. However, they do look the part and if installed their shortcomings should not be too apparent. This kit also includes the complete 2.8 cm Gehrlich gun and its fittings, so they will take up some of the barren features inside the hull. Note that the bore is "slide molded" and looks very convincing.
Etched brass parts now include optional seatbacks for the driver and commander, MG 34 gun shield, license plate holders, turn signals, and troop seat mounts.
The kit comes with a generic license plate decal sheets and markings, but only one suggested scheme is provided: our old friend "Unidentified Unit", Eastern Front 1942 (sand with a green hatch pattern overlay.)
Overall this is another variant on the basic C model and should be popular.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 32 251 C upper hull B 38 251 C/D interior and road wheels C 30 x 2 251 C front wheels and interior details D 2 DS plastic tracks E 9x2 251/7 footbridge assemblies G 16 2.8 cm Gerhlich gun and mounts I 1 251CD lower hull MA 12 etched brass MB 2 etched brass gun shields