1:35 Sd.Kfz 234 Road wheels (Continental Gelande) for Mini Art kits

The real subject

The Sd.Kfz. 234 is a German heavy armored car of the Second World War, built on an eight-wheeled chassis with drive to all wheels. The vehicle came about for long-range reconnaissance, it had a long range and it moved in terrain thanks to its large wheels with a coarse pattern. The name of the set gives the tires as Continental Gelande, that is in the off-road form.

Why replace the wheels

On an eight-wheeled vehicle the tires are a large part of the silhouette and nothing covers them. A plastic wheel from a kit usually has a shallower pattern and a mark left by production across the tread, which has to be filled and sanded down; with eight wheels that is a whole evening's work. A replacement set replaces the whole wheel at once and all eight hold the same shape. According to the name it is intended for MiniArt kits, so it should fit their mounting without modification.

Building and painting tips

Cut the excess material off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the remainder in small pieces, so that the outline stays round. If the parts are not of polystyrene, ordinary cement for plastic models will not hold on them and you should reach for super glue. Wash and degrease the wheels before painting. Instead of black use dark gray, apply dust according to the terrain into the pattern of the tread and at the end check that the model stands on all its wheels on the base.

Who it is for

For builders of German reconnaissance equipment and for dioramas where a vehicle is seen from the side. The model, paints, glue and tools are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.