Building the 8 ton Sd.Kfz. 7 Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen variants Chapter 1: Introduction

I have always been a sucker for WWII halftracks and soft skins ever since I returned to the hobby, with Axis vehicles being a particular favourite. Over the last couple of years I have built a fair few Sd.Kfz.7 8 ton variants. Although Tamiya offer a selection they are pretty crude by modern standards so Dragon (D) and Trumpeter (T) are the only manufacturers to offer newer mouldings of this vehicle in 1/35 scale. They currently offer around eleven different versions between them. At last count both manufacturers offer twenty-six kits with both producing early and late towing vehicles as well as Flak variants. Both offer the same models with the odd variant being produced by just one. Dragon also offers combo packs including artillery pieces.

 

Sd.Kfz 171 Panther Ausf A (Dragon kit 6168MT)

 

 

 

Kit:                                          Dragon 1/35 #6168/6244 Panther A
Tracks:                                    Masterclub MTL35001
Barrel:                                     RB Model 35B06D
Photo Etch:                             Voyager PE35084
Cables:                                    Eureka XXL ER-3514
Damaged road wheel set:      ET Model ER35-036
Resin Zimmerit                       Atak 35021



This kit is the 2004 Normandy anniversary edition with the slightly odd colored photo instruction sheet. The kit review can be found here

 
I was informed some of these initially released kits were offered with a metal barrel but unfortunately the two I purchased didn't!  Both mine came with rubber tracks. A later addition of this kit (@6168MT) was released in 2017 with magic tracks. 

The build was straight forward but the Zimmerit application was a bit challenging. My set was slightly vertically short on one hull side and also on one side of the turret. I used My Hobby's excellent but extremely pungent Mr Surfacer 1500 to fill any gaps. Once complete the Zimmeret was roughed up in places with an electric burr to show wear and tear and then the whole model was sprayed with Halfords (UK automotive brand) primer

Dragon Pz.IV Ausf J kit #6575: Instruction errors, kit anomalies & omissions, and construction fixes

 

Having read through both the kit instructions and the Panzer-tracts book, I thought it might be useful to highlight all the instruction errors; it is a DML kit after all 😊 and list all the anomalies, oddities and fit issues I found along the way. I also created a point of note list and will add my own build tips. These I will list in construction step order. Not only will this aid you build a more accurate representation but also highlights what additional upgrades might be necessary and serves to eliminate potential issues before messy mistakes could happen. I know I appreciate being aware of these things in advance. Accuracy might not be a high priority, but a trouble-free construction journey always makes for a pleasurable build.

Cold & weary Opel Blitz

1/35 Cyber Hobby Opel Blitz (early type),

This is a first attempt at a winter whitewash. Using Cyber Hobby's 'early' six stud pattern wheeled Opel Blitz as a testbed.

 

3D Printed Sd.Ah 56/57 Ammunition Trailer

The single axle 1.5ton trailer was used to carry ammunition for self-propelled flak guns and were typically towed by late war vehicles such as the Sd.Kfz 7/2, Mercedes 4500 and Bussing NAG 4500. Special trailers Sd.Ah.56-57

Having already built the only available 1/35 kit of the Sd.Ah 56/57 Flak ammo trailer made by Wiener Modellbau, a new 3D printed version is now available.

 

Schwerer Wehrmachtschlepper (sWS) armoured cargo version. Chapter 2: Construction

 

The kit chassis is a one piece item

Schwerer Wehrmachtschlepper (Armoured sWS) Chapter 1: Whats in the box?

 

 

This is the 2016 ‘2in1’ Bronco kit #CB35214. It was the last release of a series of sWS variants, that were based on the original Great Wall Hobby mouldings stretching back to 2009.

Trumpeter 1/35 3.7cm Flak 43 auf Selbstfahrlafette (Sd. Kfz.7/2) and 3D printed Sd.Ah 56/57 trailer

 

3.7cm Flak 43 auf Selbstfahrlafette (Sd. Kfz.7/2)

 

 

 

 

 

Kit                       Trumpeter (Sd.Kfz.7/2) #01527
Trailer:                WM resin replaced with 3D printed 

Tracks:                Kit tracks
Barrel:                 ABER
Photo Etch:         Kit supplied etch
Wheels:               QuickWheel QWX-027

Start date            March 2015

 
 

The Sd.Kfz.7 was purchased many moons ago and as of Jan 2023 both the Sd.Kfz.7 and trailer have been 99% completed. 

 

This is the excellent Perth Military Modelling's review conclusion of the Trumpeter kit:

 
'While this kit again carries over some accuracy issues from earlier versions such as the drive sprocket roller offset, the chassis length and fender profile it also includes excellent details in the engine/gearbox assemblies as the full compliment of driver’s pedals and decals for the instrument panel. But as with the Flak 37 kit what makes this very attractive is the inclusion of the later style road wheels, front wheel hubs, the later style track links and the ”mid” style instrument to allow you to build a correctly configured late model 8ton. The new 3.7 Flak 43 mounting again has some nice details and is overall better done than the Flak 37 in the previous kit. The only real issue being the missing crew seat but as with any kit there is scope for additional detail enhancement to lift the final appearance. The mix-up of trailer features is unfortunate and detracts a little from the overall appeal but the kit still has many pluses to offset some of the minuses'

For the full write up and fixes see perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews

 

Modelling a 1/35 Pz.IV Ausf J. Which one is best? Dragon #6575 or Border Models #BT-008

After finally tracking down Dragon’s elusive #6575 Ausf J kit last year I was curious to know how this well-respected 2012 kit stood up to a much more recent release in Border Models 2019 kit #BT-008. This came out around the same time RFM and Miniart both released Ausf J's, and although manufacturer's moved the 1/35 armour game on to StuG kits in 2021, I thought it would be interesting to do a side-by-side build comparison.

I’ve built a few Dragon Pz.IV variants over the years and although it appears I was fortunate, I have since discovered many turn out to be less than enjoyable to build. Dragon's heyday is very much perceived to be in the mid noughties where they offered not only great value, but produced some of their most accurate and well-engineered kits. Sadly, releases have been thin on the ground since, with what they do offer being re-packaged kits, often with a much-depleted parts count. The rest of the industry has since moved the game on but as we will see there are an alarmingly number of similarities that are proof that the Dragon recipe still remains the gold standard in many departments.