In Box Review of Dragon 1/35th Scale
German Sd.Kfz. 165 “Hummel” Initial Version
Kit no. 6150
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2003
Out of production
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2003
Out of production
HISTORY:
Hummel (German: "bumblebee") was a self-propelled gun based on the Geschützwagen III/IV chassis and armed with a 15 cm howitzer. It was used by the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War from early 1943 until the end of the war. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz 165.
The full name was Panzerfeldhaubitze 18M auf Geschützwagen III/IV (Sf) Hummel, Sd.Kfz. 165. On February 27, 1944, Hitler ordered the name Hummel to be dropped as it was deemed inappropriate for a fighting vehicle.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Self-propelled artillery
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service:V1943–1945
Wars: World War II
No. built: 714
Mass: 24 tonnes (52,910 lb)
Length: 7.17 m (23 ft 6 in)
Width : 2.97 m (9 ft 9 in)
Height: 2.81 m (9 ft 3 in)
Crew: 6 - Driver and 5 gun crew
Armor: 10–30 mm (.39 - 1.18 in)
Main armament: 1 × 15 cm sFH 18/1 L/30 with 18 rounds
Secondary armament: 1 × 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 with 600 rounds
Engine: Maybach HL120 TRM V-12 petrol of 300 PS (296 hp, 221 kW)
Power/weight: 12.5 PS/tonne
Suspension: Leaf spring
Operational range: 215 km (133 mi)
Maximum speed: 42 km/h (26 mph)
Hummel (German: "bumblebee") was a self-propelled gun based on the Geschützwagen III/IV chassis and armed with a 15 cm howitzer. It was used by the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War from early 1943 until the end of the war. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz 165.
The full name was Panzerfeldhaubitze 18M auf Geschützwagen III/IV (Sf) Hummel, Sd.Kfz. 165. On February 27, 1944, Hitler ordered the name Hummel to be dropped as it was deemed inappropriate for a fighting vehicle.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Self-propelled artillery
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service:V1943–1945
Wars: World War II
No. built: 714
Mass: 24 tonnes (52,910 lb)
Length: 7.17 m (23 ft 6 in)
Width : 2.97 m (9 ft 9 in)
Height: 2.81 m (9 ft 3 in)
Crew: 6 - Driver and 5 gun crew
Armor: 10–30 mm (.39 - 1.18 in)
Main armament: 1 × 15 cm sFH 18/1 L/30 with 18 rounds
Secondary armament: 1 × 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 with 600 rounds
Engine: Maybach HL120 TRM V-12 petrol of 300 PS (296 hp, 221 kW)
Power/weight: 12.5 PS/tonne
Suspension: Leaf spring
Operational range: 215 km (133 mi)
Maximum speed: 42 km/h (26 mph)
THE KIT:
Dragon (sometimes called DML) is an old prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a color illustration of a Hummel, that is parked on a snow-covered field next to a German “Nashorn” tank. Both tanks are overall earth yellow.The Hummel has a white tactical insignia on the left front of it’s gun shield and a small black and white German cross on its sides.
Crewmen are looking out of the tops of both vehicles. They both wear black Panzer uniforms.
One side panel of the box begins with a color illustration of the box art of Dragon’s kit no. 6166, a Sd.Kfz. 164 Nashorn. This is followed by a CAUTION: When using paint or cement do not be near an open flame and be in a well ventilated room. In 6 languages, including English.
Kit not suitable for children under 3 because of small parts. Importer for Europe is Italeri, with their address in Italy. In multiple languages, including English.
Copyright for the kit is 2003, over Dragon’s street, e-mail and web addresses in Hong Kong, China and kit was made there.
Dragon (sometimes called DML) is an old prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a color illustration of a Hummel, that is parked on a snow-covered field next to a German “Nashorn” tank. Both tanks are overall earth yellow.The Hummel has a white tactical insignia on the left front of it’s gun shield and a small black and white German cross on its sides.
Crewmen are looking out of the tops of both vehicles. They both wear black Panzer uniforms.
One side panel of the box begins with a color illustration of the box art of Dragon’s kit no. 6166, a Sd.Kfz. 164 Nashorn. This is followed by a CAUTION: When using paint or cement do not be near an open flame and be in a well ventilated room. In 6 languages, including English.
Kit not suitable for children under 3 because of small parts. Importer for Europe is Italeri, with their address in Italy. In multiple languages, including English.
Copyright for the kit is 2003, over Dragon’s street, e-mail and web addresses in Hong Kong, China and kit was made there.
The other side has three walk around photos of the completed model in the box art scheme,There is also a repeat of the contact information for Dragon Models Ltd.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX;
The kit holds 22 medium-grey parts trees, the medium-grey hull tub part and decal sheet in 10 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single sheet, printed in color, on slick-coated paper, that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 8 ¼” x 14” page format.
Page 1 begins with a color repeat of the box art, over the parts trees illustrations. Some parts are shown browned-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
Page 2 begins with a CAUTION about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing of GSI and Italeri brands of hobby paints, in 6 languages, including English.
Trees are alphabetized.
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter A trees. They hold: drive sprockets etc. (31 parts ea.) One part is excess.
The kit holds 22 medium-grey parts trees, the medium-grey hull tub part and decal sheet in 10 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single sheet, printed in color, on slick-coated paper, that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 8 ¼” x 14” page format.
Page 1 begins with a color repeat of the box art, over the parts trees illustrations. Some parts are shown browned-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
Page 2 begins with a CAUTION about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing of GSI and Italeri brands of hobby paints, in 6 languages, including English.
Trees are alphabetized.
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter A trees. They hold: drive sprockets etc. (31 parts ea.) One part is excess.
Medium-grey letter B tree holds: sides, top, shield, fenders etc. (46 parts)
Lettering jumps to the 4 identical medium-grey letter E trees. It holds road wheels etc. (19 parts ea.) 7 parts are excess.
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter F trees. They hold idler wheels and final transfer covers etc. (7 parts ea.) 4 parts are excess.
Lettering jumps again to the letter Q tree. It holds small wheels (12 parts) 3 parts are excess. These trees are all co-joined.
Medium-grey lower-case letter f holds the gun parts, ammo etc. (62 parts) 2 parts are excess.
There are 3 identical medium-grey letter G trees. They hold individual track links. (86 parts)
Medium-grey letter H tree holds the gun shield, rear plate, etc. (37 parts) A whopping 29 are excess.
Medium-grey letter I is the hull tub part.
Lettering jumps again to the medium-grey letter N tree. It holds: floor, shield, ammo locker, etc. (35 parts)
There are two identical medium-grey letter O trees. They hold bins etc. (20 parts each)
A single tree is also labeled as letter O. It holds idler wheels etc. (12 parts)
A single tree is also labeled as letter O. It holds idler wheels etc. (12 parts)
There is a set of 4 figures included in the kit. The tree that they are on says kit no. 6016 on it. Which is Dragon’s kit of a self-propelled gun crew.
This tree is medium-grey and holds: the four figures (divided into separate heads, torsos, arms and legs) also a jerry can, 3 cloth field caps with bills, 4 ammo rounds and headphones. (37 parts) A single sheet, printed in color on slick paper on one-side is the painting and assembly instructions for this tree of figures.
This tree is medium-grey and holds: the four figures (divided into separate heads, torsos, arms and legs) also a jerry can, 3 cloth field caps with bills, 4 ammo rounds and headphones. (37 parts) A single sheet, printed in color on slick paper on one-side is the painting and assembly instructions for this tree of figures.
There is a small un-alphabetized medium-grey tree shown illustrated in the parts trees drawings that holds 2 98K carbines, a bazooka and 2 MP36 submachine guns. (5 parts) 3 parts are excess.
There also is included a small steel PE fret with ear phone straps etc. on it (7 parts) It says it’s from the DML kit no.6014, their Waffen SS tank crew, 1944-45.
The decal sheet completes the kit's contents.
Detail is very nice.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.