1:35 Sd.Kfz. 251 & 11 - Front Wheels Common Off-Road (Continental)

What the set is for

On a half-track vehicle the front wheels are the only part of the running gear that is seen whole and from both sides. In a kit they tend to be simplified: the tread is shallow, a mold seam has to be cleaned off around the circumference and the rim merges into the tire. Replacement wheels treat this exposed area as a separate part and carry the tread of one particular type of tire, in this case the common off-road tread carried under the Continental name.

The real subject

The Sd.Kfz. 251 is a medium half-track armored personnel carrier, the Sd.Kfz. 11 a half-track tractor; both vehicles come from a related chassis and have the same front axle layout. The front wheels are unpowered, the vehicle only steers with them, and braking one track helps in a sharper turn. The vehicles therefore ran with tires from various suppliers, and the choice of tread is one of the details that can set a model apart from the rest.

Building and painting tips

Cut the excess material away with a sharp blade a little way from the part and sand the remainder down carefully, so as not to damage the tread. Wash and degrease the wheels before painting; the way they are glued follows the material of the parts and the manufacturer's instructions. When seating them, make sure the wheels stand vertical, have the same steering angle and both sit down on the base. Do not paint the tire pure black, as a dark gray tone looks more truthful at this scale. Finally add dust to the lower part of the wheel and bring out the edges of the tread with a dry brush.

Terms of supply

What is supplied is an add-on set of front wheels. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.