Feature Article with Dai Williams
Just before we get started, here’s a look at how it all turned out…
The Kit
While Dragon Models Limited has produced several kits of the later German eight-wheeled Sd.Kfz 234 armoured cars, AFV Club has concentrated on the earlier Sd.Kfz 232 and 233 armoured cars with several variants now available.
This kit is based on AFV Club’s earlier Sd.Kfz 232 with new parts for the 75mm KwK 37 L/24 gun and its mounting.
The kit parts are very finely moulded with the thin armour on the hull moulded almost to scale.
The base of the hull is a very important part of the kit and if this was in any way warped or damaged, assembly would be very difficult. Luckily it has some sturdy sprue supports keeping it in shape and it is protected in a vacuum formed plastic holder.
Something that may be unpopular with some modellers is that the tyres are moulded in vinyl rather than injection moulded plastic. Tyres like these frequently cause me problems and the ones provided in this kit were no exception!
The instructions are clear and concise, though as may be seen in the photo this is a complex kit with many very small parts. This was definitely not going to be a quick project. Being an open topped vehicle, the build process is more complicated than a kit of a fully enclosed vehicle of a similar size would be.
I had to deviate from the instructions not only to get the main structural elements of the kit together before adding the smaller detail parts, but also to break down the model into manageable sub-assemblies in order to allow me to paint it more easily.
There are markings provided in the kit for two vehicles, both serving with the Afrika Korps in Tunisia. I probably made the job harder for myself by wanting to represent a vehicle that had been shipped to Africa in its early-war dark grey camouflage and having had just the exterior painted in a more appropriate sand-coloured camouflage after it arrived. I’m not sure whether or not this was how the German army actually treated these vehicles, but it seemed logical to me.
There is an etched brass fret provided in the kit for some of the more delicate parts. There are no plastic alternatives for these.
The chassis looked complicated, but was actually quite easy to assemble. AFV Club does not provide an engine (over and above what can be seen from the underside of the vehicle) which means that an after-market item will have to be obtained for anyone inclined to leave the hatches on the top of the rear deck or the ventilators on the sides open.
By itself the upper hull is rather fragile and alarmingly flexible though some structural strength is provided by a bulkhead. However, once the upper and lower halves are joined the assembly is actually quite strong.
The main armament is very well done and a metal barrel complete with rifling is provided.
