In Box Review of Dragon 1/35th Scale
German Sd.Kfz.250/1 “Neu” APC
Kit no. 6100
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1998
I paid $23.98 back then at a local shop that went out of business.
Out of production, but available 2 places overseas on the web.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1998
I paid $23.98 back then at a local shop that went out of business.
Out of production, but available 2 places overseas on the web.
HISTORY:
The Sd.Kfz. 250 (German: Sonderkraftfahrzeug 250; 'special motor vehicle') was a light armoured halftrack, very similar in appearance to the larger Hanomag-designed Sd.Kfz. 251, and built by the DEMAG firm, for use by Nazi Germany in World War II. Most variants were open-topped and had a single access door in the rear.
The Sd. Kfz 250 was adopted in 1939 to supplement the standard halftrack. Production delays meant that the first vehicle did not appear until mid-1941.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Half-track armored personnel carrier
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1941–1945
Used by: Nazi Germany, Kingdom of Romania
Wars: World War II
Designer: Demag
Designed: 1939–1940
Manufacturer: Demag, Adlerwerke, Büssing-NAG, MWC
Unit cost: 20420 Reichmark
Produced: 1941–1945
No. built Approx: 6,628
Mass Load: 5,800 kg (12,800 lb)
Length: 4.56 m (15 ft 0 in)
Width: 1.945 m (6 ft 5 in)
Height: 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
Crew: 2 + 4
Armor: 5.5–14.5 mm (0.22–0.57 in)
Main armament: 1 or 2 x 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 34 machine guns
Engine: Maybach HL42 TRKM 6-cylinder, water-cooled petrol
100 PS (99 hp, 74 kW)
Power/weight: 17.2 hp/ton
Transmission: 7 + 3 speed Maybach VG 102128 H
Suspension: Overlapping torsion bar (track) Leaf spring (wheels)
Ground clearance: 28.5 cm (10 in)
Fuel capacity: 140 l (37 US gal)
Operational range: Road: 300–320 km (190–200 mi), Cross Country: 180–200 km (110–120 mi)
Maximum speed: Road: 76 km/h (47 mph)
The Sd.Kfz. 250 (German: Sonderkraftfahrzeug 250; 'special motor vehicle') was a light armoured halftrack, very similar in appearance to the larger Hanomag-designed Sd.Kfz. 251, and built by the DEMAG firm, for use by Nazi Germany in World War II. Most variants were open-topped and had a single access door in the rear.
The Sd. Kfz 250 was adopted in 1939 to supplement the standard halftrack. Production delays meant that the first vehicle did not appear until mid-1941.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Half-track armored personnel carrier
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1941–1945
Used by: Nazi Germany, Kingdom of Romania
Wars: World War II
Designer: Demag
Designed: 1939–1940
Manufacturer: Demag, Adlerwerke, Büssing-NAG, MWC
Unit cost: 20420 Reichmark
Produced: 1941–1945
No. built Approx: 6,628
Mass Load: 5,800 kg (12,800 lb)
Length: 4.56 m (15 ft 0 in)
Width: 1.945 m (6 ft 5 in)
Height: 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
Crew: 2 + 4
Armor: 5.5–14.5 mm (0.22–0.57 in)
Main armament: 1 or 2 x 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 34 machine guns
Engine: Maybach HL42 TRKM 6-cylinder, water-cooled petrol
100 PS (99 hp, 74 kW)
Power/weight: 17.2 hp/ton
Transmission: 7 + 3 speed Maybach VG 102128 H
Suspension: Overlapping torsion bar (track) Leaf spring (wheels)
Ground clearance: 28.5 cm (10 in)
Fuel capacity: 140 l (37 US gal)
Operational range: Road: 300–320 km (190–200 mi), Cross Country: 180–200 km (110–120 mi)
Maximum speed: Road: 76 km/h (47 mph)
THE KIT:
Dragon is an old prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped, tray and lid type box. The box is blousy and 3” too long, with a void that size at the end.
The box art shows a Sd.Kfz. 250/1 “Neu” (new version), on a cobble-stone paved city street, next to a house that has its door knocked down and its window shot out.
In the background there is a building with a sign on it that says “Café Monique”. Which is French, so I’m saying the scene is in France.
The half-track is in a base of tan with fading dark-green spot camouflage. It has the German cross and red number 312 outlined in white on its sides. It is firing its machine gun.
One side panel of the box has, in six languages, a 1-paragraph history of the half-track, over: This kit contains one model of a Sd.Kfz. 250/1 Neu. Paint and glue are not included. With instructions in 6 languages
Each language is labeled with a color illustration o the flag of the country that speaks the language.
There is also a CAUTION in the 6 languages that says: When using paint or cement, do not be near an open flame and be in a well ventilated room. Kit is for modelers age 10 and older. It is not suitable for children under 3 because of small parts.
Dragon is an old prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped, tray and lid type box. The box is blousy and 3” too long, with a void that size at the end.
The box art shows a Sd.Kfz. 250/1 “Neu” (new version), on a cobble-stone paved city street, next to a house that has its door knocked down and its window shot out.
In the background there is a building with a sign on it that says “Café Monique”. Which is French, so I’m saying the scene is in France.
The half-track is in a base of tan with fading dark-green spot camouflage. It has the German cross and red number 312 outlined in white on its sides. It is firing its machine gun.
One side panel of the box has, in six languages, a 1-paragraph history of the half-track, over: This kit contains one model of a Sd.Kfz. 250/1 Neu. Paint and glue are not included. With instructions in 6 languages
Each language is labeled with a color illustration o the flag of the country that speaks the language.
There is also a CAUTION in the 6 languages that says: When using paint or cement, do not be near an open flame and be in a well ventilated room. Kit is for modelers age 10 and older. It is not suitable for children under 3 because of small parts.
The other side panel has 4 color walk around photos of the model made up in just overall tan with the German cross on its sides. Two photos show its sides and the other 2 photos show its interior.
The copyright of the kit is 1998, over Dragon’s street address in Hong Kong, China and the kit was made there.
The copyright of the kit is 1998, over Dragon’s street address in Hong Kong, China and the kit was made there.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit contains 12 medium gray trees, decal sheet and black vinyl length of screen in 5 sealed clear cello bags and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 8 ¼” x 11” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the parts trees illustrations. Two parts on tree C have been blued –out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTION about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing of Gunze Sangyo and Italeri brands of hobby paints, in the 6 languages.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 7 gives a grand total of 22 assembly steps.
Page 8 is the painting and marking guide.
It shows a 5-view of the Sd.Kfz. 250/1 “Neu”. It carries the German cross and red no. 312 outlined in white on its sides, but then it varies. It is shown here as being all tan with no green camouflage spots. It also shows a white triangle painted on its nose with black license no. WH-1581673 on it. The 312 is repeated on its rear above the German cross.
It was with the 3rd Company 2nd Pz.Aukl-Battalion, 2nd Panzer Div., France 1944.
Below is a repeat of the kits copyright date of 1998 and decal application instructions in the 6 languages.
Trees are alphabetized.
Medium Gray letter A tree holds: the hull side walls and floor, drive sprockets, tie rods, front axle. Fender poles, leaf spring, tools, crew compartment floor etc. (41 parts)
The kit contains 12 medium gray trees, decal sheet and black vinyl length of screen in 5 sealed clear cello bags and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 8 ¼” x 11” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the parts trees illustrations. Two parts on tree C have been blued –out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTION about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing of Gunze Sangyo and Italeri brands of hobby paints, in the 6 languages.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 7 gives a grand total of 22 assembly steps.
Page 8 is the painting and marking guide.
It shows a 5-view of the Sd.Kfz. 250/1 “Neu”. It carries the German cross and red no. 312 outlined in white on its sides, but then it varies. It is shown here as being all tan with no green camouflage spots. It also shows a white triangle painted on its nose with black license no. WH-1581673 on it. The 312 is repeated on its rear above the German cross.
It was with the 3rd Company 2nd Pz.Aukl-Battalion, 2nd Panzer Div., France 1944.
Below is a repeat of the kits copyright date of 1998 and decal application instructions in the 6 languages.
Trees are alphabetized.
Medium Gray letter A tree holds: the hull side walls and floor, drive sprockets, tie rods, front axle. Fender poles, leaf spring, tools, crew compartment floor etc. (41 parts)
There are 4 identical medium gray letter B trees. They hold: road wheels, front tires, machine gun, Mauser rifle (21 parts ea.)
There are 4 identical medium gray letter F trees. They hold individual track links (40 parts ea.)
Trees B & F are co-joined.
Trees B & F are co-joined.
Medium gray letter C tree holds: steering wheel, shift lever, seats, driver’s compartment floor, machine gun shield etc. (40 parts)
There is no letter D tree.
There is no letter D tree.
Medium gray letter E tree holds: crew compartment side walls and front, dashboard, rear wall and doors, front axle etc. (35 parts)
Lettering jumps to medium gray letter Z tree. It holds the seated driver figure. He is divided in to full body, head and arms. (5 parts)
The sheet of black vinyl screen and the decal sheet complete the kit contents.
There are no clear parts. Detail inside and out is great.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.