Building the 8 ton Sd.Kfz. 7 Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen Chapter 6: Dragon kit painting

 

Before I committed to priming the model, some more paraphernalia including tarps were added to the cargo and cab areas. The cab bench received some crew gear along with some rope and a canteen lid. The engine bay also received some rags and cloths to give the impression the engine had been worked on before it was abandoned.

Primer coat.

The whole model received a primer coat of Mr Surfacer 1500 black. Any imperfections were dealt with and then it was time to decide on a base coat. Unlike the strangely coloured box art all these late war vehicles would have left the factory in plain Dark yellow (Dunkelgelb). Any camouflage would then have been applied in the field. 

 

 

Building the 8 ton Sd.Kfz. 7 Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen Chapter 5: Trumpeter vs Dragon kit comparison and reworking some inaccuracies

An introduction to modelling the Sd.Kfz.7 can be found here

The pics below were taken before the Trumpeter kit was painted so we can compare them side by side. The most striking difference is the height of the tilt frame! The Trumpeter tilt looks far too low, and this seems to be confirmed in period images. 

The next thing to notice is how soft the Trumpeter kit’s details look. The Radiator housing fins being a prime example. The front fender profile difference is also clear to see here. The Dragon kit has the correct one. The Trumpeter model's running gear and front wheels also sit a little lower on the chassis.

 

Building the 8 ton Sd.Kfz. 7 Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen Chapter 4: Dragon kit brief build history

 

I started this build in around 2015 and the main components have already been assembled. The only aftermarket parts I used was a set of 'Quick wheel' front wheels. These come in two parts so they can be presented minus the rim and tyre as I have presented on this build. To construct them the star shaped spokes simply 'click and turn' into the rim and tyre section. I built the kit up in sub sections to make painting easier but unlike my Trumpeter kit build, on this occasion I had already attached the cab to the chassis. This means that some areas I would have liked to improve on will have to remain. 

 

Schwerer Wehrmachtschlepper (sWS) armoured cargo version. Chapter 3: Primer, base coating and the hairspray technique

 

Fully primed in red oxide.

 

 

 

Building the 8 ton Sd.Kfz. 7 Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen Chapter 3: Dragon Kit 6562

 

 

Continuing on from the introduction

 

Apart from the Trumpeter kit #01507, Trumpeter kit build the only other Sd.Kfz.7 Holzpritsche version currently on the market in 1/35 is by Dragon. Their kit #6562 was released in 2009.