In Box Review of Dragon 1/35th Scale
Sd.Kfz. 251/17 Ausf. C
Kit no. 6395
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2007
Available at one location in the U.S. for $40.00 and 3 places overseas on the web.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2007
Available at one location in the U.S. for $40.00 and 3 places overseas on the web.
HISTORY:
The Sd.Kfz. 251 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251) half-track was a World War II German armored personnel carrier designed by the Hanomag company, based on its earlier, unarmored Sd.Kfz. 11 vehicle. The Sd.Kfz. 251 was designed to transport the Panzergrenadier (German mechanized infantry) into battle. Sd.Kfz. 251s were the most widely produced German half-tracks of the war, with at least 15,252 vehicles and variants produced by seven manufacturers.
Some sources state that the Sd.Kfz. 251 was commonly referred to simply as "Hanomags" by both German and Allied soldiers after the manufacture of the vehicle; this has been questioned, and may have been only a postwar label. German officers referred to them as SPW (Schützenpanzerwagen, or armored infantry vehicle) in their daily orders and memoirs.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Half-track armored personnel carrier
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1939–1945
Used by: Nazi Germany, Kingdom of Romania, Kingdom of Hungary, Italian Social Republic, French Army, Independent State of Croatia, Czechoslovak Army, Yugoslav People's Army
Wars: World War II
Designer: Hanomag
Designed: 1937–1938
Manufacturer: Hanomag, Adlerwerke, Horch, Škoda, Borgward
Unit cost: 22,560 ℛℳ
No. built: Approx. 15,252
Mass: 7.81 tonnes (8.61 short tons)
Length: 5.80 metres (19 ft 0 in)
Width: 2.10 metres (6 ft 11 in)
Height: 1.75 metres (5 ft 9 in)
Crew: 2 crew+10 passengers
Armor: 6–14.5 millimetres (0.24–0.57 in)
Main armament: MG 34/42
Engine: one Maybach HL42 6-cylinder petrol engine of 100 metric horsepower (99 hp)
Power/weight: 12.8 hp/tonne
Suspension: Overlapping torsion bar (track), leaf spring (wheels)
Operational range: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
Maximum speed: 52.5 kilometres per hour (32.6 mph)
The Sd.Kfz. 251 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251) half-track was a World War II German armored personnel carrier designed by the Hanomag company, based on its earlier, unarmored Sd.Kfz. 11 vehicle. The Sd.Kfz. 251 was designed to transport the Panzergrenadier (German mechanized infantry) into battle. Sd.Kfz. 251s were the most widely produced German half-tracks of the war, with at least 15,252 vehicles and variants produced by seven manufacturers.
Some sources state that the Sd.Kfz. 251 was commonly referred to simply as "Hanomags" by both German and Allied soldiers after the manufacture of the vehicle; this has been questioned, and may have been only a postwar label. German officers referred to them as SPW (Schützenpanzerwagen, or armored infantry vehicle) in their daily orders and memoirs.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Half-track armored personnel carrier
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1939–1945
Used by: Nazi Germany, Kingdom of Romania, Kingdom of Hungary, Italian Social Republic, French Army, Independent State of Croatia, Czechoslovak Army, Yugoslav People's Army
Wars: World War II
Designer: Hanomag
Designed: 1937–1938
Manufacturer: Hanomag, Adlerwerke, Horch, Škoda, Borgward
Unit cost: 22,560 ℛℳ
No. built: Approx. 15,252
Mass: 7.81 tonnes (8.61 short tons)
Length: 5.80 metres (19 ft 0 in)
Width: 2.10 metres (6 ft 11 in)
Height: 1.75 metres (5 ft 9 in)
Crew: 2 crew+10 passengers
Armor: 6–14.5 millimetres (0.24–0.57 in)
Main armament: MG 34/42
Engine: one Maybach HL42 6-cylinder petrol engine of 100 metric horsepower (99 hp)
Power/weight: 12.8 hp/tonne
Suspension: Overlapping torsion bar (track), leaf spring (wheels)
Operational range: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
Maximum speed: 52.5 kilometres per hour (32.6 mph)
THE KIT:
Dragon (sometimes called DML) is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The over art is a color illustration of a Sd.Kfz. 251/17 Ausf. C, parked on a grassy field that is surrounded by a forest.
It is overall Panzer-grey, with skeletal white German crosses on its sides and top of the hood.
The upper right corner of the box art says: Unassembled model kit. This kit contains over 700 parts. For modelers aged 10 and over. Box contains model of one vehicle and one figure.
One side panel of the box shows 3 side views of the halftrack.
The first one is in the box art scheme.
The second one is in a camouflage of a base of earth yellow with green bands. It has a black German cross outlined in white on its sides, followed by a black number 8.
The third one is overall earth-yellow with a black German cross outlined in white on its sides.
These are followed by a CATION: When using paint or cement do not be near an open flame and be in a well-ventilated room. In 6 languages, including English.
For modelers aged 10 and over. Not suitable for children under 3 because of small parts. In multiple languages, including English.
Copyright of the kit is 2007, over Dragon’s street and web addresses in Hong Kong, China and the kit was made there.
Dragon (sometimes called DML) is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The over art is a color illustration of a Sd.Kfz. 251/17 Ausf. C, parked on a grassy field that is surrounded by a forest.
It is overall Panzer-grey, with skeletal white German crosses on its sides and top of the hood.
The upper right corner of the box art says: Unassembled model kit. This kit contains over 700 parts. For modelers aged 10 and over. Box contains model of one vehicle and one figure.
One side panel of the box shows 3 side views of the halftrack.
The first one is in the box art scheme.
The second one is in a camouflage of a base of earth yellow with green bands. It has a black German cross outlined in white on its sides, followed by a black number 8.
The third one is overall earth-yellow with a black German cross outlined in white on its sides.
These are followed by a CATION: When using paint or cement do not be near an open flame and be in a well-ventilated room. In 6 languages, including English.
For modelers aged 10 and over. Not suitable for children under 3 because of small parts. In multiple languages, including English.
Copyright of the kit is 2007, over Dragon’s street and web addresses in Hong Kong, China and the kit was made there.
The other side panel and the bottom of the box are covered with black and white illustrations of features of the kit. This is something unique to Dragon kits.
The bottom of the box has drawings and photos of the kit parts such as the 2cm cannon, decals brass, etc.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
This kit holds 21 medium-grey parts trees, a medium-grey hull tub part, a clear tree, a tan tree, 2 decal sheets, 2 brass half-circles with mesh screen on their tops and silver stickers. In 15 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7 ½” x 11” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the parts trees illustrations. A lot of parts are shown blued-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
Page 2 begins with CAUTION about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a listing of GSI Creos and Model Master brands of hobby paints. In six languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2, through to page 7 gives a grand total of 18 assembly steps.
Page 8 is a painting and marking guide. It shows three 3-view illustrations.
All three Sd.Kfz. 251/17’s are with the “Herman Goring” Div. Flak Regiments.
One says it is with 6. Kp of the Division.
These 3 are repeats of the illustrations shown on the side panel of the box (already described above)
Below them is the decal application instructions in 6 languages. Including English.
The first medium-grey letter A tree holds: the hood, rear wall, side support panels etc. (27 parts) 13 parts are excess.
This kit holds 21 medium-grey parts trees, a medium-grey hull tub part, a clear tree, a tan tree, 2 decal sheets, 2 brass half-circles with mesh screen on their tops and silver stickers. In 15 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7 ½” x 11” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the parts trees illustrations. A lot of parts are shown blued-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
Page 2 begins with CAUTION about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a listing of GSI Creos and Model Master brands of hobby paints. In six languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2, through to page 7 gives a grand total of 18 assembly steps.
Page 8 is a painting and marking guide. It shows three 3-view illustrations.
All three Sd.Kfz. 251/17’s are with the “Herman Goring” Div. Flak Regiments.
One says it is with 6. Kp of the Division.
These 3 are repeats of the illustrations shown on the side panel of the box (already described above)
Below them is the decal application instructions in 6 languages. Including English.
The first medium-grey letter A tree holds: the hood, rear wall, side support panels etc. (27 parts) 13 parts are excess.
The second medium-grey letter A tree holds: more side support panels and main gun parts etc. (77 parts) 11 parts are excess.
Medium-grey letter B tree holds: fenders, another rear wall etc. (38 parts) 20 parts are excess.
The second Medium-grey Letter B tree contains the complete trailer for the 2cm cannon, tools, etc. (45 parts).
The second Medium-grey Letter B tree contains the complete trailer for the 2cm cannon, tools, etc. (45 parts).
Medium-grey letter C tree holds the front wheels suspension system, M.G. 34s steering wheel, engine access doors, etc. (50 parts) 12 parts are excess.
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter D trees that hold weapons etc. (38 parts ea.) 5 parts ea. are excess.
A smaller medium-grey 2nd letter D tree holds the bottom of the nose part (1 part)
There is one set of identical medium-grey letter E trees that hold road wheels etc. (139 parts ea.) 8 parts each are excess.
A second set of identical medium-grey letter E trees also hold idler wheels and drive sprockets (12 parts ea.)
Medium-grey letter F tree holds: the floor, gun base etc. (35 parts)
Two more identical trees are labeled letter F. They each hold parts for the side walls and interior parts (32 parts ea.).
Lettering jumps to the medium-grey letter J tree. It holds the gun barrel etc. (7 parts)
Lettering jumps to the medium-grey letter T tree. It holds the seats. (9 parts) 1 part is excess.
Lettering jumps again to the medium-grey letter X hull tub part (1 part)
Tree letter MA is a brass PE fret which contains the trim around the fold down side walls, hooks, etc. 28 parts.
Tree letter MB also is a brass PE fret for the gun shield, etc. 38 parts.
Tree letter MC is 2 brass parts for the brass catcher.
A driver figure is included (5 parts).
Tree letter MD is of half-circle parts (2 parts).
Letter ME parts are brass 2 curb feeler rods.
Letter M holds the clear parts for visors. (16 parts).
One decal sheet contains the Balkenkreuz, numbers, etc. The second sheet contains the blank license background, numbers and WL and WH to make any Sd.Kfz. 251.
The detail is excellent.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.