In Box review of the
Dragon 1/35th Scale Sd.Kfz. 250/9 Neu 2cm Reconnaissance Half-track
39-45 Series kit no, 6106
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1999
Out of production
I paid $24.00 for my kit back then when it was reduced from $27.00 at the Toy Fair store that went out of business at the local mall.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1999
Out of production
I paid $24.00 for my kit back then when it was reduced from $27.00 at the Toy Fair store that went out of business at the local mall.
HISTORY:
The vehicle that was to become the Sd.Kfz. 250 leichter Schutzenpanzerwagen series had its beginning in the same operational requirement produced during the mid-30's that led to the Sd.Kfz. 251 series. It was intended that there would be both 1-ton and 3-ton half-tracks to provide mobility for the infantry and other units operating with the Panzer divisions, and the 1-ton vehicle became the Sd.Kfz. 250.
The Sd.Kfz. 250 was first produced by Demag AG of Wetter, in the Ruhr, although later other companies were also involved in its manufacture. The vehicle was based on the chassis of the Sd.Kfz. 10 Leichter Zugkraftwagen 1-ton vehicle, but featured an armored hull with an open top to accommodate the crew of five men...plus the driver.
The first examples were produced during 1939, and the Sd.Kfz. 250 first went into action during the May 1940 invasion of France.
Compared to its larger counterpart, the Sd.Kfz. 251, the Sd.Kfz. 250 was built and used on a much smaller scale. The type's total production run was impressive enough (5,900 were built between 1942 and 1944) and by the time the war ended it was made into no less than 14 official variants (plus the usual crop of unofficial variants).
From 1943 onwards production modifications were introduced to the hull shape to assist manufacturing, while at the same time cutting down on the amount of precious raw materials required. The armor thickness ranged from 6 to 14.5mm (0.24 to 0.57in).
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: 20,420 Reichsmarks
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 of 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 vehicle that was to become the Sd.Kfz. 250 leichter Schutzenpanzerwagen series had its beginning in the same operational requirement produced during the mid-30's that led to the Sd.Kfz. 251 series. It was intended that there would be both 1-ton and 3-ton half-tracks to provide mobility for the infantry and other units operating with the Panzer divisions, and the 1-ton vehicle became the Sd.Kfz. 250.
The Sd.Kfz. 250 was first produced by Demag AG of Wetter, in the Ruhr, although later other companies were also involved in its manufacture. The vehicle was based on the chassis of the Sd.Kfz. 10 Leichter Zugkraftwagen 1-ton vehicle, but featured an armored hull with an open top to accommodate the crew of five men...plus the driver.
The first examples were produced during 1939, and the Sd.Kfz. 250 first went into action during the May 1940 invasion of France.
Compared to its larger counterpart, the Sd.Kfz. 251, the Sd.Kfz. 250 was built and used on a much smaller scale. The type's total production run was impressive enough (5,900 were built between 1942 and 1944) and by the time the war ended it was made into no less than 14 official variants (plus the usual crop of unofficial variants).
From 1943 onwards production modifications were introduced to the hull shape to assist manufacturing, while at the same time cutting down on the amount of precious raw materials required. The armor thickness ranged from 6 to 14.5mm (0.24 to 0.57in).
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: 20,420 Reichsmarks
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 of 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 blousy tray and lid type box. It is 4” too long
The box art shows a Sd.Kfz. 250/9 NEU 2cm Reconnaissance half-track parked on a dirt road in farmland. It is in a wave pattern camouflage of sand, dark-green and red-brown blotches. Underneath a red number 146 outlined in white It has a black German cross outlined in white on its sides and rear. Above the cross on the rear there is another white skeletal type German cross above the black one. To the right on the rear there is a white division insignia over a white tactical symbol
The commander of the half-track is standing and looking out of the top at a Fw-190 that is firing rockets and destroying houses in the background. He wears an all black uniform.
One corner of the box says: Unassembled model kit. Kit contains 370 parts. For modelers age 10 and over. Box contains one model and one figure.
One side-panel of the box has one-paragraph histories of the half-track in Japanese, French, English, Italian, German and Chinese. Each language is labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
This is followed by: Kit is not suitable for children under 3 due to small parts. For modelers age 10 and above. In multiple languages, including English. Followed by a warning that says: when you use cement or paint do not use them near an open flame and be in a well ventilated room, in 6 languages, including English.
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 blousy tray and lid type box. It is 4” too long
The box art shows a Sd.Kfz. 250/9 NEU 2cm Reconnaissance half-track parked on a dirt road in farmland. It is in a wave pattern camouflage of sand, dark-green and red-brown blotches. Underneath a red number 146 outlined in white It has a black German cross outlined in white on its sides and rear. Above the cross on the rear there is another white skeletal type German cross above the black one. To the right on the rear there is a white division insignia over a white tactical symbol
The commander of the half-track is standing and looking out of the top at a Fw-190 that is firing rockets and destroying houses in the background. He wears an all black uniform.
One corner of the box says: Unassembled model kit. Kit contains 370 parts. For modelers age 10 and over. Box contains one model and one figure.
One side-panel of the box has one-paragraph histories of the half-track in Japanese, French, English, Italian, German and Chinese. Each language is labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
This is followed by: Kit is not suitable for children under 3 due to small parts. For modelers age 10 and above. In multiple languages, including English. Followed by a warning that says: when you use cement or paint do not use them near an open flame and be in a well ventilated room, in 6 languages, including English.
The other side panel has 4 color walk-around type photos of the model made up in the box art scheme. Followed by the copyright of 1999 for the kit, over Dragon’s street address in Hong Kong, China and the kit was made there.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX::
I have reviewed several previous versions of DML's 250 halftrack series in the past. The 250/11 appeared in April of 2000 and the 250/3 "Greif" appeared in July 2000. DML also has a 250/1 "Neu" APC, the 250/8 "Neu" w/7.5 KwK 37(L/24), the 250/9 "Neu" w/2cm gun reconnaissance version, and the 250/1 "Alte". These were all done on Internet Modeler side.
So, by now, you have probably guessed that this new kit shares common trees with the earlier kits. Yes it does!
The differences in this new version are the extensive radio gear, crow's foot antenna, and periscope and binocular devices for observation purposes.
There are 14 trees of medium gray parts, in 9 sealed clear cello bags. Two pieces of nylon mesh screening is provided for the engine air intake, a decal sheet, and the instructions.
The instructions are a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into eight pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¼” page format.
Page one shows a black and white repeat of the box art over the parts tree drawings. Some parts are blued-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model. Years ago, when I got this kit, I removed all the excess parts from their trees and put them into my spare parts storage box.
True to DML's line of kits....and one of my pet peeves...is that there is no history of the vehicle in the kit...so you will have to hit your reference library. This is probably the weak point in their kits...but the molding cannot be faulted.
The top of page two gives ATTENTION about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested listing of Gunze Sangyo or italeri brands of hobby paints listing.
From the bottom of page two to page seven there are a whopping 31 assembly steps.
Page eight is the painting and marking instructions for the box art scheme. Already described above. It is a 5-view of it and further shows a license plate no. WH-1581673 on its nose.
It was with the 116th Panzer Div., France 1944.
The bottom of the page repeats the copyright of 1999 for the kit, over decal application instructions in 6 languages, including English.
Large medium-gray letter "A" tree gives us the bottom and sides of the vehicle's hull, drive sprockets, steering column, suspension parts, tow hooks, axle, notek lamp, tools etc. (40 parts)
I have reviewed several previous versions of DML's 250 halftrack series in the past. The 250/11 appeared in April of 2000 and the 250/3 "Greif" appeared in July 2000. DML also has a 250/1 "Neu" APC, the 250/8 "Neu" w/7.5 KwK 37(L/24), the 250/9 "Neu" w/2cm gun reconnaissance version, and the 250/1 "Alte". These were all done on Internet Modeler side.
So, by now, you have probably guessed that this new kit shares common trees with the earlier kits. Yes it does!
The differences in this new version are the extensive radio gear, crow's foot antenna, and periscope and binocular devices for observation purposes.
There are 14 trees of medium gray parts, in 9 sealed clear cello bags. Two pieces of nylon mesh screening is provided for the engine air intake, a decal sheet, and the instructions.
The instructions are a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into eight pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¼” page format.
Page one shows a black and white repeat of the box art over the parts tree drawings. Some parts are blued-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model. Years ago, when I got this kit, I removed all the excess parts from their trees and put them into my spare parts storage box.
True to DML's line of kits....and one of my pet peeves...is that there is no history of the vehicle in the kit...so you will have to hit your reference library. This is probably the weak point in their kits...but the molding cannot be faulted.
The top of page two gives ATTENTION about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested listing of Gunze Sangyo or italeri brands of hobby paints listing.
From the bottom of page two to page seven there are a whopping 31 assembly steps.
Page eight is the painting and marking instructions for the box art scheme. Already described above. It is a 5-view of it and further shows a license plate no. WH-1581673 on its nose.
It was with the 116th Panzer Div., France 1944.
The bottom of the page repeats the copyright of 1999 for the kit, over decal application instructions in 6 languages, including English.
Large medium-gray letter "A" tree gives us the bottom and sides of the vehicle's hull, drive sprockets, steering column, suspension parts, tow hooks, axle, notek lamp, tools etc. (40 parts)
Four identical, medium-gray, medium- sized, letter "B" trees give us the road wheels, rifles, machine guns (you wind up with extras of these for your spares box), rear tail light etc. (80 total parts on these trees)
Four identical medium-gray letter "F" trees hold: the individual track links and their separate rubber pads. I like this way of doing them as it will be easier to paint the tracks and links. The "F" trees are all co-joined to all of the four "B" trees. (there are a total of 160 parts on these "F" trees)
Large medium-gray letter "C" tree holds: the vehicle's upper decking, driver's compartment floor, driver and co-driver's seats, transmission cover, steering wheel, machine gun shield etc. Five parts on this tree are blued out on the instructions as being excess. (total parts here is 31)
There is NO letter "D" tree.
There is NO letter "D" tree.
Large letter "E" tree holds the vehicle's sloped side panels, nose plate, rear hull wall and door, instrument panel, side lockers, machine gun mounts, fenders, axle, muffler etc. One part on this tree is blued out as excess. (36 parts )
In the last cello bag is the small medium-gray trees "Y" and "Z" plus a piece of black nylon mesh to do the screening for the air intakes. "Y" tree holds two pieces which are the transmission halves. "Z" is the five piece seated driver figure.
The decal sheet completes the kit contents.
Having acquired all of the earlier kits of the 250 series, that DML makes, I bought this new one to complete my collection of the various types. Does DML plan to do more on this chassis? Who knows? But, in this day and age...with the skyrocketing price of cutting new kit molds....it makes sense to recycle molds and milk what you have for more money.
This is another great kit from DML. As said, above, I wish DML would start printing histories of stuff in their kits. Also, the box art by Valsted shows some pretty neat figures....wish those were in the kit.....sigh. DML does have to come out with a kit that is a 250 crew...to fit in any one of their kit series on this vehicle. Maybe they will in the future.
Very highly recommended.
This is another great kit from DML. As said, above, I wish DML would start printing histories of stuff in their kits. Also, the box art by Valsted shows some pretty neat figures....wish those were in the kit.....sigh. DML does have to come out with a kit that is a 250 crew...to fit in any one of their kit series on this vehicle. Maybe they will in the future.
Very highly recommended.