1:72 Sd. Kfz 234/3

The real subject

The Sd.Kfz. 234 was a German heavy armored reconnaissance car from the end of the Second World War. It stood on eight wheels, all of them driven and steered, and it had a second driver's station at the rear, so it could reverse as fast as it drove forward. That was useful on reconnaissance, where the crew pulls back more often than it fights through. The 234/3 version carried a short 7.5 cm gun in an open superstructure. The L/24 figure given for this weapon describes the barrel length in calibers, not the caliber. The short barrel gave a low muzzle velocity, but it fired well at soft targets and at firing positions.

What kind of kit it is

An unassembled plastic kit in 1:72 scale; the finished vehicle is roughly eight centimeters long. The parts sit on sprues: before building, cut them off, clean up the mating surfaces and dry-fit the main sections.

• 1:72 scale, the model about eight centimeters long
• the real subject is an eight-wheeled armored car with a short 7.5 cm gun
• parts on sprues, glued with cement for plastic
• supplied unassembled and unpainted

Building and painting tips

Eight wheels mean eight contact points, so set them up on a flat board to keep the model from sitting lopsided. You can see into the open superstructure, so it pays to finish the inside before you close it with the upper parts. The dirt belongs mainly on the wheels, the fenders and the lower hull.

Who it is for

For collectors of German ground vehicles in 1:72 scale and for builders of small dioramas. Paints, glue and putty are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.