In Box Review of Italeri 1/35th Scale
German Sd.Kfz. 232-6 Rad
Kit no. 6433
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2004
Available at Hobbylinc for $33.69 or at Sprue Brothers for $39.99 or at 1001 Hobbies for both $34.99 or S45.83 and at Kit Linx for $39.99 or from one individual in the U.S.A. on the web for $30.00 and at two locations overseas on the web.
I paid $38.00 for this kit.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2004
Available at Hobbylinc for $33.69 or at Sprue Brothers for $39.99 or at 1001 Hobbies for both $34.99 or S45.83 and at Kit Linx for $39.99 or from one individual in the U.S.A. on the web for $30.00 and at two locations overseas on the web.
I paid $38.00 for this kit.
HISTORY:
The term Schwerer Panzerspähwagen (German for heavy armoured reconnaissance vehicle), covers the six- and eight-wheeled armoured cars Germany used during the Second World War.
In the German Army, armoured cars were intended for the traditional cavalry missions of reconnaissance and screening. They scouted ahead and to the flank of advancing mechanized units to assess enemy location, strength and intention. Their primary role was reconnaissance, but they would engage similar or light units and at times attempt to capture enemy patrols.
The heavy Panzerspähwagen was a large but very fast and highly versatile addition to the German Army. The original 6-Rad (six wheel) versions were based on a 6x4 truck with an armoured body, but by 1937 they were being replaced by 8-Rad versions. During the replacement phase, the Sd.Kfz. (Sonderkraftfahrzeug, 'special vehicle') numbers were carried directly over; differentiation was made by the inclusion of 6-Rad or 8-Rad in the vehicle's name.
These vehicles were used throughout the war in various guises and first saw combat in the campaign against Poland and in the Battle of France. Later, they saw use in both the USSR and North Africa campaigns. Extreme climatic conditions in both these areas proved too severe for the vehicle. In the USSR, adverse ground conditions immobilized 150 Sd.Kfz 232s during the first wet season of the campaign.[citation needed] The speed of the eight-wheeled cars made them the best scouting vehicles that Rommel had for long-range reconnaissance across the wide desert territory.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Armoured car
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1930-1945
Used by: Nazi Germany
Wars: World War II
Unit cost: V 57,290 Reichsmarks
Produced: 1930–1936 (6-rad), 1937–1943 (8-rad), 1943–1945 (234)
No. built: 6-rad: about 130, 8-rad: 947, 234 family: 478
Mass: 8.3 tons
Length: 5.9 m (19 ft 4 in)
Width: 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)
Height: 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Crew: 4 (commander, gunner, driver, secondary driver)
Armor; 8–15 mm (0.31–0.59 in)
Main armament: 2 cm KwK 30 L/55
Secondary armament: 7.92 mm MG34 MG
Engine: 8-cyl petrol of 155 PS (114 kW)
Suspension: 6 or 8 wheels
Operational range: 300 km (190 mi)
Maximum speed: 85 km/h (53 mph) (on road) / 31 km/h (19 mph) (off road)
The term Schwerer Panzerspähwagen (German for heavy armoured reconnaissance vehicle), covers the six- and eight-wheeled armoured cars Germany used during the Second World War.
In the German Army, armoured cars were intended for the traditional cavalry missions of reconnaissance and screening. They scouted ahead and to the flank of advancing mechanized units to assess enemy location, strength and intention. Their primary role was reconnaissance, but they would engage similar or light units and at times attempt to capture enemy patrols.
The heavy Panzerspähwagen was a large but very fast and highly versatile addition to the German Army. The original 6-Rad (six wheel) versions were based on a 6x4 truck with an armoured body, but by 1937 they were being replaced by 8-Rad versions. During the replacement phase, the Sd.Kfz. (Sonderkraftfahrzeug, 'special vehicle') numbers were carried directly over; differentiation was made by the inclusion of 6-Rad or 8-Rad in the vehicle's name.
These vehicles were used throughout the war in various guises and first saw combat in the campaign against Poland and in the Battle of France. Later, they saw use in both the USSR and North Africa campaigns. Extreme climatic conditions in both these areas proved too severe for the vehicle. In the USSR, adverse ground conditions immobilized 150 Sd.Kfz 232s during the first wet season of the campaign.[citation needed] The speed of the eight-wheeled cars made them the best scouting vehicles that Rommel had for long-range reconnaissance across the wide desert territory.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Armoured car
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1930-1945
Used by: Nazi Germany
Wars: World War II
Unit cost: V 57,290 Reichsmarks
Produced: 1930–1936 (6-rad), 1937–1943 (8-rad), 1943–1945 (234)
No. built: 6-rad: about 130, 8-rad: 947, 234 family: 478
Mass: 8.3 tons
Length: 5.9 m (19 ft 4 in)
Width: 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)
Height: 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Crew: 4 (commander, gunner, driver, secondary driver)
Armor; 8–15 mm (0.31–0.59 in)
Main armament: 2 cm KwK 30 L/55
Secondary armament: 7.92 mm MG34 MG
Engine: 8-cyl petrol of 155 PS (114 kW)
Suspension: 6 or 8 wheels
Operational range: 300 km (190 mi)
Maximum speed: 85 km/h (53 mph) (on road) / 31 km/h (19 mph) (off road)
THE KIT:
Italeri is an old prolific manufacturer of plastic model kits, based in Italy.
The 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 cover art shows a color illustration of an Sd.Kfz. 232-6 Rad on a grassy field, passing a tree and a burning vehicle that had a canvas roof supported by metal rods.
The armored car is overall Panzer-gray, with a large white skeletal German cross on its sides, a large white letter G on the front end of the side of the nose, a white license plate with black WH-83607 on it on the front bumper.
The driver is looking out the top hatch of the turret. He wears a black beret on his head.
One side panel begins with: MADE IN ITALY, over Italari's street and web addresses in Bologna, Italy. Model makes up to be 17.5cm in length (almost 7”). Followed by one-paragraph histories in 6 languages, including English. Each language is labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
Italeri is an old prolific manufacturer of plastic model kits, based in Italy.
The 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 cover art shows a color illustration of an Sd.Kfz. 232-6 Rad on a grassy field, passing a tree and a burning vehicle that had a canvas roof supported by metal rods.
The armored car is overall Panzer-gray, with a large white skeletal German cross on its sides, a large white letter G on the front end of the side of the nose, a white license plate with black WH-83607 on it on the front bumper.
The driver is looking out the top hatch of the turret. He wears a black beret on his head.
One side panel begins with: MADE IN ITALY, over Italari's street and web addresses in Bologna, Italy. Model makes up to be 17.5cm in length (almost 7”). Followed by one-paragraph histories in 6 languages, including English. Each language is labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
The other side panel repeats the addresses. Followed by: Box contains an unassembled plastic model kit. Cement and paint to finish the model as shown are not included. Multilingual instruction sheet with drawing and decal sheet included. Suitable for children age 10 and over.
Copyright of kit is 2004. Followed by a listing of Model Master brand of hobby paints and 3 color walk-around type photos of the model made up in the box art scheme.
Copyright of kit is 2004. Followed by a listing of Model Master brand of hobby paints and 3 color walk-around type photos of the model made up in the box art scheme.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 4 dark-gray parts trees, the decal sheet and instructions.
Nothing is cello bagged.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 10 pages in 7 ¾” x 13” page format.
Page 1 begins with one-paragraph histories of the Sd.Kfz.232-6 Rad, in 6 languages, including English. Over ATTENTION about the kit in 11 languages, including English.
Part 2 is the part-trees illustrations.
Page 3 on through to page 7 gives a grand total of 11 assembly steps.
Pages 8 & 9 are painting and marking guides.
Page 8 shows two 4-views. Both are overall Panzer Gray.
The first one is overall Panzer-gray and has a skeletal white German cross on its sides and license no. WH-83607 on the front and twice on the rear (this is the box art subject)
It was with the German Army, 2nd Panzer Division, France 1940.
The second one is also overall Panzer gray, with a white skeletal German cross on its sides and license no. WH-290314 on the front and twice on the rear.
It was with the German Army, 3rd Panzer Division, France 1940.
The bottom of the page gives decal application instructions in 9 languages, including English.
Page 9 gives two more 4-views.
Again, both are overall Panzer-gray.
The 1st one has a solid white German cross on its sides. It has license no. WH-10232 on the front and twice on the rear.
It was with the German Army, unknown unit, Poland 1939.
The second one only has license no. WH-39391 on the front and twice on the rear
It was with the German Army, unknown-unit of training, Germany 1937.
Page 10 gives IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE KIT in 20 languages, including English, over a customer service coupon.
Trees are alphabetized.
Dark-gray tree letter A holds: the bottom and top halves of the car, turret parts etc. (17 parts)
This kit holds 4 dark-gray parts trees, the decal sheet and instructions.
Nothing is cello bagged.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 10 pages in 7 ¾” x 13” page format.
Page 1 begins with one-paragraph histories of the Sd.Kfz.232-6 Rad, in 6 languages, including English. Over ATTENTION about the kit in 11 languages, including English.
Part 2 is the part-trees illustrations.
Page 3 on through to page 7 gives a grand total of 11 assembly steps.
Pages 8 & 9 are painting and marking guides.
Page 8 shows two 4-views. Both are overall Panzer Gray.
The first one is overall Panzer-gray and has a skeletal white German cross on its sides and license no. WH-83607 on the front and twice on the rear (this is the box art subject)
It was with the German Army, 2nd Panzer Division, France 1940.
The second one is also overall Panzer gray, with a white skeletal German cross on its sides and license no. WH-290314 on the front and twice on the rear.
It was with the German Army, 3rd Panzer Division, France 1940.
The bottom of the page gives decal application instructions in 9 languages, including English.
Page 9 gives two more 4-views.
Again, both are overall Panzer-gray.
The 1st one has a solid white German cross on its sides. It has license no. WH-10232 on the front and twice on the rear.
It was with the German Army, unknown unit, Poland 1939.
The second one only has license no. WH-39391 on the front and twice on the rear
It was with the German Army, unknown-unit of training, Germany 1937.
Page 10 gives IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE KIT in 20 languages, including English, over a customer service coupon.
Trees are alphabetized.
Dark-gray tree letter A holds: the bottom and top halves of the car, turret parts etc. (17 parts)
Dark-gray letter B tree holds: the large radio antenna, drive shaft, radiator, etc. (69 parts)
There are two identical dark-gray letter C trees. They hold wheels etc. (36 part's ea.)
The decal sheet completes the contents of the kit.
There are no clear parts of figures included or any internal details. Externally, the detail is very nice.
Recommended.
Recommended.