8-ton, Sd.Kfz.7 Step by step build of Trumpeter kit #01507. Build steps 9 to 13

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Step nine concerns fitment of the steering box, shaft and steering wheel, and the stub axles. This is where you can cut a few corners if you do not wish to show the engine off and close up the removeable engine bay side panels.

The instructions have you attach the steering wheel to the shaft and then the shaft to the chassis so if you follow these steps, you will not have the option to paint the cab separately. Even if you do follow the instructions at this point you are still to turn it upside down to work on the front suspension in subsequent steps, so it is asking for trouble to add it at this stage. At the very least I would advise waiting to fit it, along with the steering linkages (D6, D45 & D50) just before you add the cab assembly in step sixteen.

I like to keep sub-assemblies separate, if at all possible, to aid airbrushing so adding the steering shaft and wheel as early as step nine makes painting the whole chassis rather difficult. If you want to keep both chassis and bodywork separate, then keep both the steering shaft and steering wheel loose until you do finally add the bodywork to the chassis.

Steering shaft and wheel alongside the idler axle assemblies

8-ton, Sd.Kfz.7 Step by step build of Trumpeter kit #01507. Build steps 1 to 8

Build time

Previous chapter

As already mentioned, I already built this kit many moons ago along with other 8-ton Trumpeter variants since, so I have gradually adopted a more linear approach which has improved the build experience. Therefore, I will occasionally deviate from the instructed build sequence.

Let’s commence with step one. The gearbox. This is instructed to be immediately fixed in place between the two built up chassis legs. I would strongly advise against fixing it in place at this point. The only connection points at this stage are on either side of the front end and rely on the tiny and imprecise ends of part A7. So, unless orientated correctly whilst the glue dries the weight of the gearbox assembly will make it sag rearward without any support. I would also recommend at this early step against adding the photo etch and plastic cab levers (parts D13, D38 and D54) until you are ready to attach the cab floor assembly to the chassis. They are far too vulnerable to further handing and are easily damaged.

 The gearbox assembly minus the cab levers

 

mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 8-ton, Sd.Kfz.7 Chapter 1: Introduction

 

I have always enjoyed specialized AFV's used during WWII ever since I returned to the hobby, with Axis vehicles being a particular favourite to build. Over the last couple of years, I have attempted quite a few 8-ton semi-tracked prime mover builds of which there are a huge number of different variants offered in most popular scales. Used by all branches of the German army in WWII these were produced as special purpose vehicles ‘Sonderkraftfahrzeu’ abbreviated to ‘Sd.Kfz’ with their official title being mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 8t, Sd.Kfz. 7, roughly translating to ‘medium towing motor vehicle of 8-tons’

Kit makers Dragon, Trumpeter, and Tamiya all offer this vehicle in 1/35 scale and between them they currently cover around eleven different iterations. As of writing thirty-three kits have been released, including early and late gun crew and ammunition carriers, as well as different self-propelled flak variants. Some variants have been offered by all three manufacturers with the odd variant being produced by just one. Dragon also offers combo packs including towed artillery pieces.