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.
1/35 scale models available as of the beginning of 2026:
- Gun crew vehicles are available by all three kit makers in initial, early, and late production types
- Wooden bodied (Holzpritsche) were simplified versions produced in the last years of the war and currently offered by Dragon & Trumpeter
- All three kit makers offer a variety of self-propelled flak versions. These carried four main weapons and were manufactured with both the early open cab, and later armoured version. Vehicles armed with the Flakvierling 38 were designated 7/1. Three variants designated 7/2 were armed with the Flak 37, the Flak 41, and the Flak 43.
- Two variants that only one manufacturer offer is Trumpeter‘s 7/3 Feuerleitpanzer version, which was used specifically at Rocket sites, and Dragon offer the very specific 1943 HL m11 version of the artillery crew vehicle.
- Cyber Hobby (Dragon) released an early Flakvierling 38 variant in 2011, but I have no idea if that differs from the Dragon boxed #6525 kit of the same name that was released in 2009.
A timeline of all plastic 1/35 8-ton kit releases can be found here: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/trumpeter-01514-sdkfz-7-mittlerer-zugkraftwagen-8t--106046/timeline
An early artillery gun crew 8-tonner in Italy
Two companies were responsible for manufacturing. Borgward vehicles were designated HL and Krauss Maffei designated KM with early vehicles displaying their own emblem on the top of the radiator housing.
One iteration that is still missing from the kit makers range is the earliest iteration of the wooden cargo bodied (Holzpritsche) ammunition carrier. These simplified wooden bodies were first attached to the 1943 Typ HL m11 which retained the old-style metal cab.
The wooden bodied vehicles were a solution to save on limited and ever dwindling Nazi supplies of raw materials. The first Holzpritsche vehicles built of the final m11 design were installed by the manufacturer Saurer as early as November 1943.
An early Holzpritsche model that retained the metal cab and rounded track guards
This is a variant I would very much like to build and would entail kit bashing both the Dragon & Trumpeter kits. With both of these kit makers only offering the final versions which included the revised and larger wooden cab, I will likely have to combine elements of both which will entail a fair amount of scratch building. It would be made far simpler if just one manufacturer got things right, but alas, both do suffer from their own inaccuracies and issues. To this end I am going to first begin by building both the final Holzpritche versions to see what will work best. Once completed I will attempt to create the early version with the best of what both manufacturers offer.
I will also be building the Dragon kit but for now, let’s have a look at the final version offered by Trumpeter
Kit #01507 was released in 2009, and they simply branded it a KM m11 (late version). Having built this kit not long after I returned to the hobby, I recall a fair few issues that made it a less than pleasurable build in places, so let’s do a quick recap before I start this new build.
My first attempt at this kit built back in 2012
The main build issue concerns the sprockets. First up, they look a little odd. That is because they have bevelled groves on the main face which were never present on the real thing. Trumpeter don’t even show them in their own painting guide or box art, so something was at odds! The biggest problem however is that building them up as per the instructions means the tracks will not fit over the sprockets without leaving a nasty gap! The kit engineering lacks the important left- and right-handed drive sprocket roller offset (seen on many German running gear designs of the period) and inside the box you are offered identical designed sprockets! To make things worse the kit part containing the outer roller detail is engineered to be fitted so all the detail is hidden on the reverse side! In essence Trumpeter omitted to engineer a left and right sprocket so the track teeth will not engage between the rollers resulting in each track link ‘hovering’ over each sprocket pad. Not a good look and frustrating if you leave the track fitment until last.
The good news is there is an easy fix, and one that Terry Ashley came up with and illustrated on his Perth Military Modelling Site (PMMS) not long after kit release. Alas, his site is no longer available, but the surgery required is not overly complex. I will illustrate and explain the fix at the sprocket build stage. It is also worth mentioning if you want the sprocket to resemble the real thing aesthetically then the groves on the face will need to be filled. For 100% accuracy the track pad inner fitting plates and bolts will also need adding.
Better still, try and locate a correctly engineered and accurate pair of 3D printed sprockets to fit on this kit. I'm positive somebody will provide a file before too long.
Another major kit fail is the omission of the wooden equipment rack in the load area. Although the real equipment rack was designed for rapid removal to convert the vehicle into a flatbed, the rack is a vital element of this variant so why it is missing is a mystery. Trumpeter do offer some additional internal planking, but it is not something you see fitted on period images. They do however offer a nice tilt cover for both the cab and load area, so a full cover up remains an option!
Another distinct anomaly if you are familiar with this vehicle is the cab layout. Trumpeter have given us (likely due to existing moulds) a flak only type cab bench. This had an angled cut out on the passenger side. In addition, the real driver seat cushions were much deeper with the horizontal framework cut down to accommodate. The Panzer Tracts 22-4 book quite clearly illustrates these details which also shows a battery box instead of the two exposed batteries that the kit offers. So, there’s a fair amount of extra work to do here if you want to portray an accurate representation.
Comparing the kit dimensionally with the Panzer Tracts book the overall length is a smidgen long compared to the drawings and the profile of the front fenders is slightly out. Neither warrants the amount of work required to correct these efficiently in my opinion. So, with the major fitment issue, the missing part exposed, and a dodgy cab seating arrangement, what else can we look forward to?
Well, some ‘interesting’ engineering and odd step sequencing is worth highlighting. Trumpeter have opted to engineer a multi-part chassis design which, although quite detailed, is overly complex. So, rather than a nice strong, square, one-piece moulding that all the Dragon 8-ton kits offer, all these parts will need to be judiciously cleaned up and then carefully aligned together for subsequent parts to fit well. Personally, I believe this will result in a fair percentage of modellers opting for the Dragon version instead! I guess Trumpeter never embraced slide moulding technology like Dragon did!
To muddy the waters further the instructions have you add some of the most fragile parts in the very first steps! Considering the amount of handling still required this is a recipe for disaster. This is most definitely not recommended a starter kit!
Kit content and sprue shots.
To save myself a whole bunch of work they are all conveniently available to view here: http://www.trumpeter-china.com/index.php?g=home&m=product&a=show&id=1250&l=en
Kit manufacturer comparisons
Compared to Dragon kit #6562 the detail can be a little ‘chunky’ in places and although there was no flash present on my kit there are a fair few pin holes to contend with. Not so much in visible locations, but they are in places where it hinders mating surfaces. The biggest issue with many of the parts is too much mould offset, so clean-up can be tricky, especially on small or fragile parts which will result in obliterating detail and highlighting imprecise fitment! The Dragon kit also has a one piece main chassis moulding which saves hours of build time. The Trumpeter multi part chassis might provide more detail but almost all of it is covered up once the cab and body are fitted.
You won’t find Tamiya levels of precision fit here but it will be pretty good as long as you test fit and are prepared to devote time to cleaning every part you fit!
Unlike the Dragon kit the chassis to body bracing is accurate as is the later full width instrument panel. It also comes with a nicely moulded set of vinyl tyres. Both kits have their failings and with the majority being in different areas a kit bash would make an interesting proposition.
Abandoned example pictured in a field dump
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