sWS with 20mm Flakvierling (For GWH kit)

[Mike]

sWS with 20mm Flakvierling (For GWH kit)

1:35 Eduard (36195)

The GWH kit of the half-track sWS is well regarded, and having built the Searchlight variant myself, it does build up into a good likeness with good detail. The 20mm Flakvierling variant combines the armoured cab of the battlefield version with the flatbed of the transport model. On top of the flat-bed is mounted a quad-barrelled 20mm flak cannon for anti-aircraft duties.

The set arrives in Eduard's usual flat-style packaging, making for easy storage within the kit's box until it's time to build. Inside the pack are two sheets of Photo-Etched (PE) brass, both 7cm tall. The larger sheet is 14cm wide, and the smaller one just under 10cm. A small sheet of clear film is also included for the instrument dials, and the instruction sheet is sandwiched between the two protective card sheets.

The Eduard set covers additional details not included in the kit, or moulded a little overscale due to the constraints of injection moulding. The kit already comes with a small fret of PE details for the droppable mesh sides of the flat-bed, but this set takes it much further. Most of the parts deal with upgrades to existing parts, such as a chain for the towing hitches, and a more scale set of foot pedals for the driver, but the radio set is almost completely overhauled, retaining just the centre section and covering it up with a new highly detailed front and film instrument faces. The driver's instrument panel is given a new detailed skin and film instruments, and a number of control levers are provided in PE. The crew self-defence weapon is an MP-40, and this is shrouded by a safety mount to stop it rattling about the cab over rough terrain. A magazine satchel is also made up from the thin brass sheet, and is mounted on the cabin wall beneath the MP-40's attachment point.

The engine starter-handle hole at the front of the engine compartment has a plastic cover, which replaced by a thinner brass item, and all the pioneer tools receive a full set of realistically thin and detailed tie-downs, which is always a big improvement on any AFV kit. The front mounted exhaust that protrudes from under the large fenders on the port side has a small angled bracket holding it steady under the fenders, which is omitted from the kit, but provided in the set. The convoy light at the rear is overhauled with extra detail and PE covers, and the number plate holder is replaced by another PE part.

The Flak gun is a nicely detailed section of the kit, which takes up over three pages of the instructions to complete, but some additional detail is added, improving the sight detailing, two large circular panels at the heart of the emplacement, tie-down shackles, and plenty of additional detail parts to refine the gun shroud itself, and the small v-shaped shroud that protects the gunner behind the sight. The gunner's foot controls are also improved with PE pedals and base plate, as are various sections around his "office". The magazine racks are replaced with fully PE rendered parts, which will need a fair amount of precise corner folding and the removal of the moulded into the base plate of the gun. The kit supplies four ammo boxes and two spare barrel carriers, but these are mostly made from styrene, so can be improved. These parts are replaced in the Eduard set, and the ammo boxes are given posable lids and additional handle detail. The barrel boxes are quite large and made up from one large sheet that is folded into a long rectangular box, with strengthening ribs running end to end made by pressing a ball-point pen into the recesses on the opposite side. This is a very effective way of representing this detail, which is then able to be distressed in a realistic way. Hinges, locks and carry/drag handles are separate parts, and should result in some nicely detailed replicas. The originals can then be consigned to the spares box, or used as "extras" in the background of the main model.

Conclusion

A nice set that gives the additional detail that almost any modeller can appreciate. It's the small things that make a model, and these extra parts should really improve the overall look of the kit. The addition of the ammo and barrel boxes lends itself to the diorama, or depiction of a crew after action, or at rest using the boxes are makeshift seating.

Recommended.

Review sample courtesy of