PMMS
AFV Club
Sd.Kfz.251/9 Ausf.D
"Kanonenwagen" Late Version
AFV Club Kit No. AF 35068
Review by Terry Ashley

AFV Club
Following closely on the heels of their first Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.D kit comes this kit of the Sd.Kfz.251/9 Ausf.D Kanonenwagen mounting the short barrelled 7.5cm KwK37 L/24 cannon.

The Kanonenwagen came into existence due to the need for additional infantry close support and with the Panzer IV switching to the longer barrelled guns this left many of the short L/24 guns available. The initial vehicles had a cut out in the front right superstructure for the gun with additional ammunition racks in place of the first two crew seats. The later version had the gun mounted higher inside an additional superstructure with from gun shield and is the subject of this kit.

The kit itself as you would imagine is the same as the first 251/1 Ausf.D with the only difference being there is only one of sprue X (weapons) plus a new sprue S with 48 parts for the 251/9, a new decal sheet and a small 7.5cm metal barrel.

Metal 7.5cm barrel
AFV Club

The First Edition of the kit will also include a bonus resin crew figure by Hobby Fan at no extra cost and I’m not sure how many of the first kits will include this figure but it is an incentive to pick the kit up early.

Bonus Figure
AFV Club

The suspension/tracks and hull assembly is as mentioned the same as the first kit with all the alterations on the inside and the upper superstructure.

The new upper front hull plate has a separate part for the underside with additional details while the two superstructure sides has detail on both sides an no pin parks to be seen while on the inside the right side vision block is eliminated and the visor cover fixed in place with the radio moved to the left hull wall.

The 7.5cm gun and mounting is very nicely detailed being made up of 23 parts which includes a separate breech block, main sight, traverse wheels, the large gun guard (which has a good sink mark to be filled) and the mounting for the co-ax MG-42 plus the metal 7.5cm barrel which has a hollowed out muzzle but no rifling which is quite common on metal barrels these days.
The gun can elevate and traverse if you are careful with the glue during assembly and there are ammo racks on the right cabin wall with separate 7.5cm rounds plus the large ammo storage box at the back of the compartment which has a separate door to show open if you wish.

Decal Sheet
AFV Club
AFV Club

Decals:
The decal sheet is well printed with thin carrier film and provides markings for two 20th Pz.Div vehicles;

A. Eastern Front, Summer 1944, 20th Pz.Div. in three colour Red Brown, Dark Green and Dark Yellow scheme.
B. Eastern Front, Summer 1944, 20th Pz.Div in three colour Red Brown, Dark Green and Dark Yellow scheme.

Conclusion:
This is an excellent representation of the late model Kanonenwagon and with all the excellent details from the first 251/1 kit will build into a good looking model and certainly wets the appetite for the next four kits in the series to follow later

Highly recommended.

Also see reviews of the two track sets AF35069 Sd.Kfz.251 Track Late model and AF35070 Sd.Kfz.251 Track Latest model and the Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.D

The Sprues:

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New Sd.Kfz.251/9 Parts
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References:
book
Sd.Kfz. 251/9 - Kanonenwagen
Nuts & Bolts Volume 21
WWP
Sd.Kfz.251/1 in detail
Special Museum Line No.37
Wings & Wheels Publications
ISBN 80-86416-50-X
Book
Sdkfz251 Ausf.C & D

Panzer Tracts N0.15-3
ISBN 0-9771643-5-7
Book
Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.D
Model Detail Photo
Monograph No.22
RossaGraph
ISBN : 83-89717-60-3
Book
Sd Kfz 251

Tank Power Vol.VI
Wydawnictwo Militaria No.215
ISBN: 83-7219-215-4
Book
Sd Kfz 251

Tank Power Vol.X
Wydawnictwo Militaria No.224
ISBN: 83-7219-224-3
Sd.Kfz.251
Schutzenpanzer (Armored Personnel Carrier)
Ryton Publications
ISBN: 1930571291
Book
Sdkfz251

Osprey New Vanguard 25
Book
SdKfz251 in action
Squadron Signal #2021

Thanks to AFV Club and the Australian distributors J.B Wholesalers for the review kit,



Page Created 21 June 2004

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