Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.D
Vol.3 Side Stowage boxes
ABER 1:35 Set #35 205
Review by Terry Ashley

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The set has two etched frets for the stowage boxes with crisp clean etchings and the usual engraved bending lines to help with the bending processes. There is also a short length of copper wire to use for the door hinges and using any of the available etched bending tools will help and soldering skills will come in handy during assembly.

The etched stowage boxes are straight replacements for the kit parts and have the outer box sections (faces) with separate inner floor sections and separate box frames and doors. The doors also have separate small latch recess boxes with separate latches, padlocks and small securing chains for the locks.

The door hinges can be made workable by bending the corresponding hinge extensions around the wire provided and then fitting the boxes and door sections together with the wire to form the workable hinge. This may be a little tricky to do with the instructions showing to form the hinges once the boxes are bent to shape but care will be needed no matter when you tackle to job.

Fitting the new stowage boxes to the kits shouldn't be a problem and if you are using the fenders from set #35 204 it would be best to attach these to the kit hull at the same time.

The instructions are the usual ABER exploded view drawings which are easy to follow as the assembly sequences here are not that challenging but soldering of the parts would be the preferable assembly method for added strength and ease when adding the hinge bends.

Download the instructions in .pdf format from the ABER Website

Conclusion:
Another fairly simple update set for the 251 kits but care will be needed when bending the thin outer frames but will add further nice detail definition especially if the doors are shown open.

Etched parts

ABER will be releasing 8 sets altogether for the AFV Club Sd.Kfz.251 Ausf.D and additional reviews will be posted as these sets become available.

They are:
Set #35 203 Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.D Vol.1 Basic Set
Set #35 204 Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.D Vol.2 Fenders
Set #35 205 Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.D Vol.3 Side Stowage boxes (this set)
Set #35 206 Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.D Vol.4 Front armour with vision ports & back doors
Set #35 207 Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.D Vol.5 Upper armour standard
Set #35 208 Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.D Vol.6 Floor
Set #35 209 Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.D Vol.7 Back seats& boxes
Set #35 210 Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.D Vol.8 Upper armour late

Thanks to ABER for the sample set.
Air Connection carry the full range of ABER update and barrels sets.

Page Created November 18, 2006