Sd.Kfz.2 Kettenkraftrad
w/ Infantry Cart & Goliath Demolition Vehicle
1:48 Scale - Kit No.32502
First Look by Terry Ashley
The kit has 88 parts moulded in light tan plastic with the usual high standard of crisp mouldings from Tamiya with virtually no pin marks or blemishes and has the base Kettenkraftrad plus the Goliath on its transport trailer as well as an Infantry trailer with an assortment of equipment to fill this.
The Kettenkraftrad:
The kit has a mixture of features from early and late vehicles such as the
early stepped side panels, the flat non slanted instrument panel and lights
on the front fenders and with later features such as the filled in side guards
on the rear seats, the rounded tail cooler cover and a head light as well
as NOTEK light and no towing shackles on the front body above the fenders.
Photos of Kettenrkads do exist with a combination of these features and the
kit probably best represents a mid production vehicle so it’s best
to check references on the vehicle you are building.
The breakdown of the kit is fairly simple with a lower hull panel having a rudimentary gearbox included with the two separate side panels attached along with the hull top panel incorporating the side sponsons, instrument panel, driver’s seat, engine cover (with solid screens) and rear troop set with separate backrest.
No driver’s gear levers are provided but the front forks are in five parts with quite nice details while the front wheel isn’t steerable after assembly.
The suspension units have the drive sprocket, centre two road wheels, idler wheel and track moulded as one part with the details quite well defined except for the track pads being a bit basic but is probably acceptable in this scale. Separate inner and outer road wheels with nice stamping details but are flat with no dishing of the wheels which would be only minor in this scale but would have been nice to see and the completed suspension units attach directly to the hull sides.
Included is the figure sprue from the aircraft kits with Luftwaffe crews plus a new upper body, arms and head for the Wehrmacht driver figure with nicely animated uniform details and is used with the lower body from the original figures.
The Goliath Demolition Vehicle:
This is very simple with centre hull in upper and lower parts with separate
side panels incorporating the suspension and track plus a front bump bar,
the details are quite crisp and would be adequate for this scale.
The Goliath trailer has the basic frame with separate axle springs and wheels
and you can choose to fit the Goliath to the trailer or show separate with
the trailer fitting directly to the tow shackle on the back of the Kettenrkad.
Infantry Equipment Cart:
This again is fairly simple but has well defined details due to the cart having
the floor and all four sides as separate parts with a separate top railing,
trailer connecting bar and wheels which have nice hub details.
One thing to watch is the rear Kettenrkad towing pintle has to be altered to
take the Infantry cart towing arm so you have to make a choice of using the
Goliath
or Infantry cart, although it wouldn’t be too difficult to alter the
parts so they can be interchanged.
There is a good selection of weapons and equipment to fill the trailer including two Kar-98K rifles (mounted on the rear of the Kettenrkad), two Panzerfaust 30s and two Panzerfaust 60s plus three jerry cans with separate grab handles, four MG42 ammo boxes, a hand grenade carrying case and one large fuel drum which won’t fit into the trailer but can be used in any setting.
Decals:
The decal sheet is typical Tamiya with good colour register but thickish
carrier film and has markings for seven Kettenrkads plus some stencilling for
the
Panzerfausts and Goliath. The box top has colour illustrations of two vehicles
and paint numbers to help with the painting.
The only units identified on the instruction sheet are;
The Sprues
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Figures
Faded parts not used with this kit.
Conclusion:
For the small scale this is a well detailed kit and should look good when finished
and the inclusion of the Goliath and Infantry cart with a good selection
of gear gives a nice choice in finishing the kit. It still remains to be
seen if Tamiya will produce any new kits in this 1:48th series after
the Kübelwagen and this recycled kit?
Recommended
References:
| Kettenkrad in detail Special Museum Line No. 22 Wings & Wheels Publications  |
The Kettenkrad Schiffer Military History Vol.38 ISBN 3-7909-0219-5  |
| Ground Power
No.120 GALILEO Publishing Co.,Ltd  |
Allied & Axis
No.2 Ampersand Publishing kleines Kettenkraftrad Sd.Kfz.2  |
Page created 13 July 2004