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

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

The instructions have you attach the steering wheel to the shaft and then the shaft to the chassis. There are a few problems if these steps are followed. Firstly, you will not have the option to paint a fully assembled cab interior separately. More importantly you are at risk of damaging these parts in subsequent steps where you are to handle and turn the whole assembly upside down to work on the front suspension. 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

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

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 as there is only one contact point each side. 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). Wait 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 building 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.