Cyber-hobby 1/35 SdKfz.7 Flatbed with 2cm Flakvierling 38

Development of the SdKfz 7 can be traced back to a 1934 requirement for an eight-tonne (7.87 tons) half-track. The vehicle first appeared in 1938 and was destined to be used mainly as the tractor for the 8.8 cm FlaK gun and the 15 cm sFH 18 150mm howitzer. The vehicle could carry gun crews of up to 12 men in theatre-type seats. The rear of the vehicle was an enclosed compartment for storage of ammunition. The tractor could tow loads up to 8,000 kg (17,600 lb) in weight. Most were fitted with a winch.

The use of half-tracked prime movers for artillery was common in the German forces but not elsewhere. Compared to wheeled vehicles, half-tracks are more difficult to maintain and slower on roads. However, they may have superior off-road mobility.

Some Sdkfz-7 were pressed into service by the Allies during and after the Second World War. An Italian-manufactured variant was also built, and is easily recognized by its longer hood and right-hand-drive steering.

Often mounted on this chassis was a quad-mounted 2 cm Flak 38 AA guns with collapsing seats, folding handles, and ammunition racks. The tracker traversed and elevated the mount manually using two hand wheels. The gun was fired by a set of two foot pedals—each of which fired two diametrically opposite Flak 38s—and could be operated either automatically or semi-automatically. When raised, the weapon measured 307 cm (10 feet 1 inch) high.

Each of the four mounted guns fired from a 20-round magazine at a maximum combined rate of fire of 1,400 rounds per minute (reduced to 800 rounds per minute for combat use). The guns could be fired in pairs (diagonally opposite) or simultaneously, in either semi-automatic or fully automatic mode. Its effective vertical range was 2200 meters. It was also used just as effectively against ground targets as it was against low-flying aircraft.

Cyber-hobby, a branch of Dragon models, is making good use of extant kits and sprues to bring you another one time release of an interesting armor vehicle. Unlike the previous Dragon kit of early last year, this one has a wooden bed and drop-down sides. As the war progressed, steel became a somewhat rare commodity and so anything that could be duplicated in wood was. The result is a very nice kit with enough parts to keep one busy for quite some time. As usual, I'll let the Dragon PR material hit on the highlights of this fine kit.

As you can see, the 500 plus parts will make up into a most impressive and detailed kit. Dragon's molding is top rate with many of the parts executed with Dragon's slide molding technology. The DS tires are particularly well done and without that seam that is frequently seen down the centerline of the tread. Having the tires separate from the wheels makes for easier painting as well. I hope that Dragon continues this sort of technology into other wheeled vehicles.

Instructions are well done and get rather complex towards the end of the build. As this is not a curbside, you have to pay particular attention to what goes where when assembling this one. There are a lot of small detail drawings to help out along the way. Markings are for two vehicles. One is overall panzer yellow and the other has green and brown scribbles.

This is a fine kit with tons of detail. The LHS sold out of the Dragon version of this kit rather quickly so I suggest you get yours while the getting is good.

http://en.wikipedia.org

May 2010

My thanks to www.dragonmodelsusa.com for the preview kit. Get yours today at your local retailer or on-line store.

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