1:35 Armoured personnel carrier Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf. D - vol. 8 - additional set - upper armour, late

The real subject

The Sd.Kfz. 251 was a German half-track armored personnel carrier of the Second World War. It carried infantry behind the advancing tanks and served in dozens of derived versions. The Ausf. D form is the late simplified variant, which you can tell by the shape of the hull sides and the different arrangement of the rear; the shape came about to speed up production. The designation 251/1 belongs to the basic transport form.

What the set contains

This is an add-on photo-etched set, part 8 of the range for this vehicle. It is focused on the upper armor in its late form, that is, on the surfaces that are made of thin sheet on the real vehicle and cannot be thinned down on a plastic part. Photo-etched metal gives the edges the right thickness and adds small features that cannot be molded in plastic. The set is prepared for a particular kit, and you will find that detail in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building tips

Separate the parts with a sharp scalpel on a hard surface rather than breaking them out, because a bent photo-etched part is hard to straighten. Make the bends on a bending tool or against a hard edge, and work in several passes so that the bend comes out sharp and in the right place. They are glued with cyanoacrylate glue applied in minute drops, and a pin is handy for dosing them. Before painting, degrease the photo-etched parts and give them a coat of primer, otherwise the finish will rub off during further handling.

Terms of supply

The photo-etched set is supplied on its own. The kit, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.