Sd. Kfz. 7/2 - 1:72 MaCo Plastic Model Kits

[Paul A H]

Sd. Kfz. 7/2

1:72 MaCo Plastic Model Kits

The Sonderkraftfahrzeug (Sd. Kfz.) 7 was the product of a development programme started by the Heereswaffenamt (German Army Weapons Agency) in the 1920s. The aim of the programme was to standardise the production of military half-track vehicles into three types; light, medium and heavy, weighing five, eight and twelve tons respectively. The eight ton model was the first to enter service and was given the designation Sd. Kfz. 7. The vehicle was designed by Krauss-Maffei of Munich, who went on to manufacture over half of the 12,000 vehicles that were produced by the end of the war.

The Sd. Kfz. 7 was powered by a Maybach 6-cylinder petrol engine which was capable of developing 138 hp. The vehicle was originally fitted with simple leaf spring suspension, but this was replaced by a torsion bar system mid-way through the production run. It was capable of speeds of up to 31mph and could carry up to twelve crew. It was initially employed by the Wehrmacht for towing artillery pieces, but the Sd. Kfz. 7 was so useful that it ended up being used for a myriad of different tasks. The Sd. Kfz. 7/2 was a dedicated anti-aircraft variant, fitted with either a single 3.7cm Flak 36. 123 examples were adapted in this way by the end of the war.

Whilst it may not have grabbed the headlines in the same way as their recent 1:32 'super kits', Revells new Sd. Kfz. 7 remains one of the best kits to have emerged from the German manufacturer in recent years. Produced in collaboration with Matthias Conrad's MaCo, the kit combines high quality moulding and rich detail in superb style. Now MaCo have released this new variant by bringing together Revell's plastic and their own 3.7cm flak 43 in one box. The kit is comprised of three sprues of caramel coloured plastic (the Revell sprues), a sprue of cream coloured plastic (the MaCo Flak 36) and a small decal sheet. The kit is made up of 123 parts and the sprues are very well moulded. Apart from the colour of the plastic, there is no discernible difference between the original Revell parts and the MaCo additions.

Construction starts with the suspension and running gear. The suspension is of the leaf spring type found on earlier Sd. Kfz. 7s and is moulded in place along with the axles for the road wheels. This will help make sure that all of the road wheels are in contact with the ground at the same time. The detail on these parts looks nice and sharp too. The wheels themselves are nicely moulded. The inner two runs are all moulded together in a single part for each side, with the third run joined by small links which will be hidden by the separate outer run. The front wheel assembly is made up of the wheels themselves, leaf spring suspension, solid axle and steering rack.

As was the case with the Revell boxings of this kit, the tracks are neither link and length nor vinyl. Instead, they are comprised of two long runs moulded in the same polystyrene as the rest of the kit. This is the same method that Revell employed for their recent Leopard and T-90 MBT kits. The idea is that the tracks are moulded in a way that makes them flexible enough to wrap around the road wheels, gluing the ends as they meet. Apparently this system works well, with the added benefit that the tracks are thin and beautifully detailed.

Turning back to the chassis, everything but an engine is provided, including the fuel tanks and exhaust system. The drivers armoured cab is nicely detailed, with a steering wheel, grab handle, handbrake and gear lever. It would be a shame not to show this detail off, and happily the cab has been designed so that the doors and roof hatches can be posed in the open position. The rear compartment is comprised of a flat platform with a folding wooden bench for the crew at the front end. The sides of the fighting compartment can be fixed in the travelling position or in the lowered position, meaning you can finish your model the way you want it.

The quadruple 3.7 cm Flak 43 mounting is made up of no fewer than 46 of parts, including half a dozen ammunition clips. There a fine details a-plenty, such as a flash suppressor which features fine recesses to represent the holes on the real thing. Everything is nicely moulded and this sub-assembly pretty much constitutes a model in its own right. Perhaps this should be no surprise as MaCo have previously released this sprue, along with a trailer, as a separate kit. In keeping with the rest of the kit, the gun can be finished in either travelling or deployed position. The rest of the kit is fairly straightforward, with a few details such as the headlamps and pioneer tools (moulded separately) to finish everything off.

Two options are provided for on the tiny decal sheet:
Sd. Kfz. 7/2 of Flak-Abteilung 1, 1. Pz.Div. "LSSAH" Ardenne, Winter 1944-5, finished in a yellow, green and brown camouflage; and
Sd. Kfz. 7/1 of Fallschirm-Pz.Div. 1, Fallschirm-Panzerkorps "HG", Bautzen/Sachsen, April 1945, finished in green and yellow camouflage.
The decal sheet itself is nicely printed.

Conclusion

This kit has already had a couple of outings, both in Revell and MaCo boxes, but it never fails to impress me. There is more than enough to keep even the most demanding small scale modellers happy and the engineering is very good too. The kit is very well thought out and the option to build it in road going or fighting configuration is most welcome. Highly recommended.

Review sample courtesy of MaCo Plastic Model Kits

[robw_uk]

oh man.. if only my fingers could handle the fiddly size of this kit... i keep seeing all these 1/72 and wondering whether i should get a good old one (Revell/Matchbox for the base or maybe Airfix) and relive my youth...

[Sgt.Squarehead]

Rob, just do it.....The engineering of modern Braille kits is superb, they don't fight back the way they used to, even the tracks are a doddle these days!

[Sgt.Squarehead]

This kit will be out in a Revell box shortly.....This boxing will I believe, include the same munitions trailer found in the Revell Sd.Kfz.7/1.

The sidepanels of the flak-bed are more than a bit iffy and need replacing for a truly accurate model.....Personally I shall try to hide them with camo-netting and clutter!