6562-Sd.Kfz.7 8t Late Production

DML 6562: Sd.Kfz. 7 Late Production
1/35 injection plastic kit with decals and photo etch

The Sd.Kfz 7 was one of the larger WWII half-tracks and was used by the Germanys, and is well known to modelers for its role in towing the 88mm Flaks and the 150mm sFH 18 field howitzer. Used throughout the war, the Sd.Kfz 7’s design was significantly simplified mid-war with the introduction of a wooden rear compartment with opposing wooden bench seating for the gun crew and repositioned ammunition stowage. Other changes included more squared off fenders and driver’s cab sheet metal including around the crew exits.

This is the first 1/35 kit of a late war Sd.Kfz 7 and will provide a good companion to Dragon’s later war 88mm Flaks with limbers and their sFH 18. The kit includes new tooling for the rear wooden platform, the crew seating and the large stowage compartment. As expected chassis and forward cabin parts are based on Dragon’s Sd.kfz 7/1 and 7/2 releases, while this kit also includes accessories from the sFH 18 field howitzer. All parts are tooled to the latest standards, ensuring that an impressive model can be built out of the box. This model is on the popular Smart Kit format and includes Magic Tracks, a full engine and masks for the windscreen to make painting easier...

Photo etch is provided for the flange on the sprocket wheels, clamps for the hand-tools, anti-skid between the fenders, mounting for the Notek light and windscreen wipers. The gatefold instructions have 16 steps of line drawings that are clearly laid out. As the parts are crisply cast and the few injection marks are hidden out of sight, clean up should be very quick.

NEW CREW & STORAGE PLATFORM

The new parts for the rear platform, wooden storage rack, bench seats and wooden side panels all feature sharp detail such as wood grain effect, metal brackets and bolt heads. The fittings are mounted on a flat platform (single piece) made of wooden planks which has wooden side panels which can be lowered to model a vehicle displaying the ammunition storage and thus offer increased potential for dioramas. The three wooden side panels are new tooling and each panel has the metal bracing with bolt heads integrated into the main part. Varying small fittings such as locking mechanisms and handles are attached to the body.

The crew bench seats have good detail for the bolts on the cross planks, frame and the angled plates which anchored it onto the platform. The multi-level stowage frame/ammunition locker is carefully designed to ensure that the parts will align well for most modellers. The lower three levels are for ammunition storage and have fillets to separate the shells (150mm ammunition included). The top level is an open stowage area which could be filled with the DS mats for the field howitzer (included) or assorted items from your spare parts bin. On one side of the frame is a six gun rifle racks for which a pair of Gen-2 Kar 98K carbines are included.

Parts are provided for the frames which supported the tarpaulin (not included). The frames have been designed recognizing the mix of wood and metal used in their construction.

CHASSIS & CAB

The cab and chassis tooling has new parts to reflect the change seen on a late production Sd.kfz 7 such as the new squared of panels for the driver’s compartment and removal of the side doors (narrow opening instead). As expected these new cab panels have crisp detail. As there is no cab roof, the driving compartment is very much a feature with its multi-part dash, steering wheel, hand levers, anti-skid floor, and a seat with creases on the fabric. The windshield can be modelled up or down and has PE wipers (paint masks are provided and you may want to add the PE after painting to ensure clean results.

The engine compartments body panels, most of which are new have detail on both faces including bolts, structural braces and the smaller late production vents (I had too look twice to see how the vents had been simplified for production). The engine bay includes the Maybach 6-cylinder engine with separate parts for the sump, fan, fan belt, manifold, etc. PE antiskid goes between the fenders, ad fittings include tools with PE clamps on the bonnet, a Notek light with PE mount, and front headlamps with clear plastic lenses.

The chassis is built around a single piece ladder frame which is slide molded with considerable small detail such as bolt heads and ribbing cast on. Slide molding is also used for the sub-frame of the impressive muffler and exhaust-pipe assembly with numerous structural elements such as the lightening holes and angled plates. Other features include the transmission shaft, drive, steering mechanism, fuel tank, compressed-air tank and gearbox. The winch system includes the spool connecting rods, accentuator and the tow hook. Reflecting experience in Russia the late production model had a cold-weather starter-connection on both sides of the tow hook.

The front tires are Dragon Styrene to capture the tread pattern and ribbing on the sidewalls. A spare tyre is stored below the cargo/crew platform.

The rear suspension includes a PE flange around the drive sprockets which like the road wheels are detailed on both faces. The suspension arms and springs are separate, which combined with the Magic Tracks gives the option of displaying the kit on an uneven basis. The Magic Tracks come loose and have one part for the pad and another for the metal shoe.

ACCESSORIES

The kit includes some useful accessories previously included with Dragon’s SFH 18 field howitzer. In Dragon Styrene (DS) there is a pair of wicker ground mats which were placed underneath the wheels of artillery when in position, and four wicker cases for protecting the ammunition. The DS is effective in capturing the uneven appearance of the wicker. In injection plastic, there are five Gr 19 (high explosive fragmenting) and five Gr 19 Schwere Betongranate concrete penetrating rounds, along with ten propellant casings and five propellant covers.

DECALS

The painting guide suggests three halftracks each of which has 3 view profiles on the instruction sheet and is supported by a colour side profile on the box. These all from the Wehrmacht (regular army) are a solid dark grey Sd.kfz 7 from the Eastern Front 1944 (box art), solid dark yellow vehicle from the Western Front in 1945 and a dark yellow vehicle with green camouflage from the Western Front in 1944.

Decals are from Cartograf and comprise a set of generic registration marking to build your own number plate with prefixes for the Luftwaffe (WL), regular army (WH) and Waffen SS (two part runes).

RECOMMENDATION

The late production Sd.Kfz 7 is another impressive addition to Dragon’ new range of 8 ton half-tracks. Having the late war features gives it a distinctive appearance and makes it an excellent companion to Dragon’s matching towed artillery and late war Panzers. The combination of the Smart Kit format and use of varying mediums, such as Magic Tracks, PE and paint masks, will ensure it appeals to a broad range of modelers. Highly recommended.

- Neville Lord