Sd.Kfz.7/2. 3.7cm Flak 43 auf Selbstfahrlafette; Painting the Trumpeter 1/35 kit#01527 and aftermarket trailer

 

3.7cm Flak 43 auf Selbstfahrlafette (Sd. Kfz.7/2) and Sd.Ah.56/57 ammo trailer

 

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

Tracks:                Kit tracks
Barrel:                 ABER
Photo Etch:         Kit supplied etch
Wheels:               QuickWheel QWX-027
Start date            March 2015

 

This Sd.Kfz.7 SP Flak kit was purchased and work commenced many moons ago. As of Jan 2023 99% of construction work had been completed. These are the only pics I have from the build stage.

 

Like all Trumpeter's 8Ton series these kits can be somewhat challenging to build. Accuracy issues aside, the main chassis is a multi-part affair, and although well detailed once built up many of the part location points are not well defined. Smaller parts often require plenty of test fitting and judicious amounts of clean up to avoid missaligning assemblies. There are also a few places where crude moulding hampers construction, making swift progress somewhat frustrating. Another problem is the instruction to fix many fragile parts way too early in the construction steps, makes damage all the more likely. Once you realise that a fair amount of pre-planning, clean up, and test fitting is required at almost every stage, you have to be prepared to put the time in to rectify these issues. If you do the final result can be rewarding.

 

This is Perth Military Modelling's review conclusion of this Trumpeter kit when it was released.

 

'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'