Sd.Kfz. 251 Ausf. D
Manufacturer: Hasegawa
This is a fantastic seriesof kits, and I consider these half-tracks to be some of the bestsmall-scale kits available today. The German halftracks haveactually been under-represented in 1/72d scale until this series.ESCI produced the Ausf. C version of this Sd.Kfz. 251 (althoughit has some flaws) and the "Alte" version of theSd.Kfz. 250. The "Neu" versions of both the 250 and 251were produced in large numbers during the war, and it issurprising that it has taken this long to see one in plastic(Al.By sells a couple versions in resin). The Sd.Kfz. 250 Neu isstill non-existant (although I've heard rumors of a resin kitsoon to be released).
The Sd.Kfz. 251 Ausf. Dwas produced in many versions throughout the later part of thewar, and Hasegawa has given us the three most numerous types. Thebase model, the 251/1, is the infantry-carrier, and any of thesethree kits can build into this version, if the modeler sodesires. So if you want to build a 251/1, but the only kit on thehobby shop shelves is the /9 or /22, go ahead and buy it. Infact, I would recommend doing this anyway, so that you can havethe spare cannon parts to use with other projects.
In the scans below, I haveplaced two identical sprues next to each other to show both thefront and back sides, but of course, only one of each sprue(except D) is included with each kit.
Sprue A contains theprimarly hull components, and some smaller details. Themachinegun shield is a little thick, and has some ejection pinmarks in the inner surface, but both problems can easily be takencare of with some sandpaper. The rear fighting compartmenthatches are molded as a single piece, and will need to beseparated if you want to model them open. The latching mechanismsare molded onto the inner surface of the doors, and would need tobe modified if posed open. The "Bosch" headlight isbeautiful, and the "Notek" light is also pretty decent.Notice the nice bolt detail around the rim of the oil pan underthe front of the hull.
This scan shows bothSprues B and F. Sprue F is NOT included with the base 251/1 kit, because the two parts on thesprue are blank visor covers for the cannon-armed versions ofthis half-track. The fighting compartment floor has recessedpanel lines, but no treadplate pattern. The instrument panel isnicely done, with a spare gas mask container attached. Thechassis is also very well done, although none of the detail willbe visible with the wheels and tracks attached. One of the bestdesign features of this kit is the fact that the wheel axles aremolded onto parts separate from the hull. This makes it very easyto build and paint the wheel and track sub-assemblies beforeattaching them to the hull. I wish all manufacturers would dothis (if possible).
Sprue C contains thesmaller details of the kit, including radio, pioneer tools (sortof), steering wheel and trailer hitch. The axe is molded as aseparate part, but for the pickaxe, Hasegawa molded the axe headdirectly onto the fender, with the handle as a separate piece. Itlooks good enough when built, but I'm not sure why they chose todo that. The radio is great, as is the hitch.
Two copies of Sprue D areincluded with each kit to provide all the necessary wheels andother details. It's not visible in this scan, but the driver'sseat has a very fine spring pattern molded onto its back surface.The backs of the bench seats should contain a rifle rack, whichis not included in this kit. The MG-42's are the first MG-42'sincluded in a plastic 1/72d scale kit, and are fairly well done.Their detail is good, but they are a little thick, and theirstocks could stand to get some attention from a piece ofsandpaper.
Sprue E contains the Pak40 cannon for the 251/22 version, and is included only in thatkit. The only other Pak 40 in 1/72d plastic is from ESCI, and theHasegawa gun is better than the ESCI attempt because the ESCI gunis actually molded in the recoil position, as though it had justfired. The Hasegawa gun is not. The Hasegawa gun shield is muchthinner than the ESCI kit's, but that's not necessarily a goodthing. The Pak 40 gun shield was actually two thin sheets ofmetal separated by a couple of inches. With the overly-thick ESCIgun shield, it was possible to carefully scribe a groove down theedge of the shield, to simulate the two pieces of metal. Thiscan't be done with the Hasegawa gun. Also, the ESCI kit includedsome details molded onto the inner face of the shield. Thesedetails were not real well done, but the Hasegawa gun doesn'tinclude them at all. It could use some extra detailing. Also, therecoil slide is molded as a solid piece, whereas there should bea very deep groove cut down its center. The rest of the gun andits mount are very well done.
I am not sure why Hasegawaskipped Sprues G, H and I. Perhaps more versions will bereleased? Sprue J (pictured here) is the cannon for the 251/9,and is not included in the other kits. The gun and its mount arefairly well done, although they could probably benefit from alittle more detail. There are some sinkmarks on the side armorplating from the interior support braces. The framework aroundthe gun breach is a little over-simplified, and could use somemore detail.
The tracks are singlepiece vinyl, but for once I am not going to criticize them. Thetrack is very flexible and detailed. It holds paint very well,the ends melted together with Tenax Plastic Welder glue, andsuperglue holds them to the tops of the bogie wheels nicely.Unlike the horrible tracks included in their Pz. IV kits, I actually like thesetracks very much.
The decals are typical ofHasegawa, i.e., well printed, good color and registration, butthe carrier film is too thick. As you can see, the markings areextensive. The painting guide in the instructions (which arefantastic, by the way) show a single marking option for each kit,but each set of decals gives many more options, each with threedifferent divisional markings, plus several styles ofbalkankreuz, and optional vehicle numbers. If it wasn't for theoverly-thick carrier film, these would be pretty sweet decals.
According to myreferences, this half-track is perfect 1/72d scale.
I have previously posted a construction review of the Sd.Kfz. 251/22.
References: SdKfz 251 , WydawnictwoMilitaria No. 12, by Janusz Ledwoch; SdKfz251 Half-Track, 1939-1945 , Osprey NewVanguard No. 25, by Bruce Culver and Jim Laurier; and Encyclopediaof German Tanks of World War Two byChamberlain, Doyle and Jentz.
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