In Box Review of Dragon Premium Edition 1/35th Scale
German Sd.Kfz. 250/1 Neu Half-track
Kit no. 6427
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2007
I bought my kit at the Valparaiso Hobby Shop, in my son’s home town, when it was going out of business, on 3-12-2013, for $21.00. When they marked it down ½ price from $41.99.
Kit is available 2 places overseas on the web.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2007
I bought my kit at the Valparaiso Hobby Shop, in my son’s home town, when it was going out of business, on 3-12-2013, for $21.00. When they marked it down ½ price from $41.99.
Kit is available 2 places overseas on the web.
HISTORY:
The Sd.Kfz. 250 (German: Sonderkraftfahrzeug 250; 'special motor vehicle') was a light armored half-track, 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 half-track. 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, Adler Werke, Büssing-NAG, MWC
Unit cost: 20,420 ℛℳ
Produced: 1941–1945
No. built: Approx. 6,628
Specifications: (Sd.Kfz. 250/1 Ausf. A)
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
Armour: 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 Sd.Kfz. 250 (German: Sonderkraftfahrzeug 250; 'special motor vehicle') was a light armored half-track, 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 half-track. 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, Adler Werke, Büssing-NAG, MWC
Unit cost: 20,420 ℛℳ
Produced: 1941–1945
No. built: Approx. 6,628
Specifications: (Sd.Kfz. 250/1 Ausf. A)
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
Armour: 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 (sometimes named DML) is an old prolific plastic model manufacturer, based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
The kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The cover art shows a color illustration of a Sd.Kfz. 250/1 Neu, that is parked on a city street.
It is in a camouflage of a base of sand-yellow, with dark green blotches. It has a black and white German cross on the sides and a red 312, that is outlined in white at the rear end of the sides. It has a medium-grey canvas roof.
The driver is standing and looking out the top. He is dressed in a black uniform with a cloth side-cap.
The lower left hand corner of the box art says: Unassembled model kit. This kit contains over 440 parts. For skilled modeler age 14 and older. Box contains a model of one armored vehicle.
One side-panel of the box shows 7 side view illustrations of the Sd.Kfz. 250 in 7 different paint schemes (more about this later in this review). Followed by an illustration of the brass PE fret and one of the decal sheets that are included in the kit. There is a CAUTION that says: When you use glue or paint, do not use near open flame, and be in a well-ventilated room.
For modelers aged 14 and older. Not suitable for children under 3, because of small parts. Dragon’s office address in Graz, Austria is provided. (in multiple languages, including English).
Dragon (sometimes named DML) is an old prolific plastic model manufacturer, based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
The kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The cover art shows a color illustration of a Sd.Kfz. 250/1 Neu, that is parked on a city street.
It is in a camouflage of a base of sand-yellow, with dark green blotches. It has a black and white German cross on the sides and a red 312, that is outlined in white at the rear end of the sides. It has a medium-grey canvas roof.
The driver is standing and looking out the top. He is dressed in a black uniform with a cloth side-cap.
The lower left hand corner of the box art says: Unassembled model kit. This kit contains over 440 parts. For skilled modeler age 14 and older. Box contains a model of one armored vehicle.
One side-panel of the box shows 7 side view illustrations of the Sd.Kfz. 250 in 7 different paint schemes (more about this later in this review). Followed by an illustration of the brass PE fret and one of the decal sheets that are included in the kit. There is a CAUTION that says: When you use glue or paint, do not use near open flame, and be in a well-ventilated room.
For modelers aged 14 and older. Not suitable for children under 3, because of small parts. Dragon’s office address in Graz, Austria is provided. (in multiple languages, including English).
The other side panel of the box and it’s bottom are covered with with illustrations, against black backgrounds of features in the kit. This is a practice of Dragon on a lot of their model kits.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 11 medium-grey trees, a clear tree, a brass PE fret, 2 decal sheets, Magic individual track links in 11 sealed clear cello bags. Some items are sealed inside a large cello bag, that is attached to a card.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet, that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 8 ½” x 11’ page format.
This kit holds 11 medium-grey trees, a clear tree, a brass PE fret, 2 decal sheets, Magic individual track links in 11 sealed clear cello bags. Some items are sealed inside a large cello bag, that is attached to a card.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet, that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 8 ½” x 11’ page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art. Over the parts trees illustrations. Some parts are shown blued-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTION about the model, over international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing of GSI and Model Master brands of hobby paints in the 6 languages.
The bottom of page 2 on through to page 7 gives a grand total of 22 assembly steps.
Page 8 is a painting and marking guide, that shows 7 four-views of the Sd.Kfz. 250 (the ones shown on the side-panel of the box)
The first scheme is the box art subject (already described above).
It was with 3/Pz. Aufkl.Btl. , 2 Pz. Div. France 1944.
The second scheme is overall sand-yellow, with black and white German cross on its sides and a white license-plate outlined in black with black no. SS-146513 on it. With a black circle with a white swastika on it, to the left above the license plate.
It was with 5 Pz. Div. ”Wiking”, Hungary, Eastern Front 1945.
The third scheme is a base of yellow, with wide vertical dark-green bands on it. It has a license plate on the front, with no. SS 1432311 on it and the black circle with the white swastika on it above to the left.
It was with the same unit as the second scheme.
The fourth scheme is a base of sand-yellow, with wave bands of dark-green on it. It has a black and white German cross on the sides of the hull. An insignia of a white outlined shield, with a key on it, over some leaves, on the left front of the nose.
It was with 1 Pz. Div. ”LAH”, Podolsk 1944.
The fifth scheme is a base of sand-yellow, with a heavy squiggle of dark-green on it. License plate on the front with SS 133452 on it.
It was with Obergruppenfuhrer von Pucker-Berghaus, Orlik-Cemilice, Bohemia 1945.
The sixth scheme is a base of sand-yellow with very narrow lines of dark-green on it. With the narrow lined white shield with the key on it (like the fourth scheme above)
It was with Pz. Aufk. Btl. 1 Pz. Div. “LAH”, 1944.
The seventh (and last) scheme is a base of sand-yellow with a heavy dark-green blotch on it. It has a white maintenance information rectangle on the sides of the hull, along with a white skeletal German cross. A license no. WH -683295 on the front, with a line drawing of half a circle that is divided into halves.
It was with an unidentified unit, Eastern Front, 1944.
Trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A parts tree holds : hull tub and side panels, drive sprockets etc. (40 parts) 11 parts are excess.
There is no letter B tree.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTION about the model, over international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing of GSI and Model Master brands of hobby paints in the 6 languages.
The bottom of page 2 on through to page 7 gives a grand total of 22 assembly steps.
Page 8 is a painting and marking guide, that shows 7 four-views of the Sd.Kfz. 250 (the ones shown on the side-panel of the box)
The first scheme is the box art subject (already described above).
It was with 3/Pz. Aufkl.Btl. , 2 Pz. Div. France 1944.
The second scheme is overall sand-yellow, with black and white German cross on its sides and a white license-plate outlined in black with black no. SS-146513 on it. With a black circle with a white swastika on it, to the left above the license plate.
It was with 5 Pz. Div. ”Wiking”, Hungary, Eastern Front 1945.
The third scheme is a base of yellow, with wide vertical dark-green bands on it. It has a license plate on the front, with no. SS 1432311 on it and the black circle with the white swastika on it above to the left.
It was with the same unit as the second scheme.
The fourth scheme is a base of sand-yellow, with wave bands of dark-green on it. It has a black and white German cross on the sides of the hull. An insignia of a white outlined shield, with a key on it, over some leaves, on the left front of the nose.
It was with 1 Pz. Div. ”LAH”, Podolsk 1944.
The fifth scheme is a base of sand-yellow, with a heavy squiggle of dark-green on it. License plate on the front with SS 133452 on it.
It was with Obergruppenfuhrer von Pucker-Berghaus, Orlik-Cemilice, Bohemia 1945.
The sixth scheme is a base of sand-yellow with very narrow lines of dark-green on it. With the narrow lined white shield with the key on it (like the fourth scheme above)
It was with Pz. Aufk. Btl. 1 Pz. Div. “LAH”, 1944.
The seventh (and last) scheme is a base of sand-yellow with a heavy dark-green blotch on it. It has a white maintenance information rectangle on the sides of the hull, along with a white skeletal German cross. A license no. WH -683295 on the front, with a line drawing of half a circle that is divided into halves.
It was with an unidentified unit, Eastern Front, 1944.
Trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A parts tree holds : hull tub and side panels, drive sprockets etc. (40 parts) 11 parts are excess.
There is no letter B tree.
Medium-grey letter C tree holds the top etc. (27 parts) 4 parts are excess.
There is no letter D tree.
There is no letter D tree.
Medium-grey letter E tree holds: side panels, rear wall etc. (32 parts) 4 parts are excess.
Letter F tree is the Magic Trax, individual track links (28 parts)
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter G trees. They hold road wheels etc. (28 parts ea.)
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter GA trees. They hold: steel helmets, canteens, shovels etc. (28 parts ea.)
Medium-grey letter GC holds rods (14 parts) 10 parts are excess.
Medium-grey letter H tree holds: drive sprockets, idler wheels etc. (6 parts)
Letter MA is the brass PE fret and holds screens, straps, boxes and frames, etc.(55 parts)
Letter MB is 2 metal width indicator rods.
Lettering jumps to the Medium-grey letter W tree. It holds vision flaps glass. (8 Parts)
Medium-grey letter WA tree holds weapons (8 parts)
A second Medium-grey tree is also lettered as WA. It too holds weapons (18 parts)
Medium-grey letter WC also holds more weapons (18 parts)
Medium-grey letter Y is the hull tub part.
Tan vinyl tree letter Z is the canvas roof part.
Medium-grey letter X holds the parts for the engine
The decal sheet and catalog complete the kit contents.
This is the 3rd or 4th variant of the Sd.Kfz. 250 that I have done reviews on previously. This kit shares a few trees with the earlier kits, but has the most parts and is quite different.
The detail is great.
Recommended.
The detail is great.
Recommended.