Introduction:
Following on from their recent kit of the
Sd.Kfz.251/20 “UHU” (kit
#
AF35116) with its large 60cm infra-red searchlight designed to illuminate
the night battlefield for other IR equipped vehicles such as the Panther
G and Sd.Kfz.251/1 “Falke”,
AFV Club have released this 3 in
1 kit limited edition kit with a selection of proposed IR equipped types.
The Night Fight Group kit has two complete Sd.Kfz.251
Ausf.D kits plus the
PaK40 Anti-Tank gun to give you the Sd.Kfz.251/1
Ausf.D “Falke” (Falcon),
the Sd.Kfz.251/22 Ausf.D “Pakwagen" and 7.5cm
PaK40 all with IR
equipment but of these only the “Falke” has a documented history.
There is no record as far as I am aware of the Sd.Kfz.251/22 IR proceeding
past the planning stage and there are only a couple of obscure references
to the PaK40 IR in some personal service accounts from late in the war.
But that aside given the advanced testing of the “UHU”, “Falke” and
Panther G IR as well as experimental MP44 with IR sights the Sd.Kfz.251/22 and PaK40 with IR gear was certainly a reasonable probability had the war
continued later into 1945/46.
The Kit:
As mentioned the kit provides the
PaK40 from kit #
AF35071, the full basic
Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.D starting back from kit #
AF35063 and the full
Sd.Kfz.251/22 (kit #
AF35083) with both these 251 kits having the updated main hull parts
from the
Sd.Kfz.251/20 “UHU” (kit #
AF35116) as well as including
a newly tooled late Ausf.D hull with the rearward opening bay door to use
with the
Sd.Kfz.251/22 as numerous photos show these built on this later
hull.
The standard of moulding is again excellent overall with virtually no
pin marks to be seen which is especially noticeable on the hull sides,
the real hull panel and doors which have details on both sides but not
one pin mark to be seen. There are a number of small plastic ‘nodes’ on
some parts to be carefully removed but these help to reduce pin marks and
a few minor sink marks most notable on the front lower hull extensions
plus the odd bit of minor flash but nothing to get excited about and are
easy to deal with as are the normal mould seam lines on the parts.
The details included on the parts is also very good with nice bolt head
details on the hull and fenders as well as nicely rendered weld seams on
the forward hull/engine compartment and the excellent tread plate pattern
on the interior floor panels. There are quite a few very small parts such
as the small plastic shield bolts on the PaK40 that will need care removing
from the sprues and during assembly but shouldn’t pose problems for
those will some basic modelling experience.
PaK40:
Detail on the parts is very well done from the nice bolt head and panel
details on the gun cradle and trunnions to the split trail arms which
have very subtle weld seams down one side which should not be confused
with moulding seams and removed by mistake.
The gun shields are provided in two pre-bent pressed brass parts with
very small plastic studs to add for the spacers that will require care
as they can get a bit fiddley?
Additional etched parts are provided for the central bolted plates and
the small front sliding shield and top sill and added to the top of the
shields is the 20cm searchlight in two parts with clear front lens and
a small mounting bracket as a separate part.
The ‘rubber’ tyres are well done and have the two longitudinal
groves and the "Continental" embossing on the sidewall plus a
sizable sink hole at the pour point in the middle of the tread but this
can be positioned on the ground contact so isn’t really a problem
at all. These are fitted to the nice wheels with nicely represented wheel
spokes which have separate brake drums, hand brake lever and other small
fittings.
The trailing arms can be positioned in either the closed transport mode
or split firing position with alternate positioned parts depending on your
choice.
The metal barrel has a two part plastic muzzle brake and five part breech
with separate sliding block are positioned over small notches at either
end of the barrel for a secure fit and you should obviously make sure the
muzzle brake and breech are lined up correctly before final gluing.
Construction is fairly conventional for this type of gun with the gun/cradle,
trunnion assembly, base with split trailing arms and wheels able to be
built as sub-assemblies and married together to finish of the model. The
brass shields have very fine mounting arms and care should be taken when
fitting these as well as with the many other fine parts on the gun mounting
and trailing arms.
This builds into an excellent replica of the PaK40 as it comes with the
metal barrel and etched shields adding to the final appearance.
Sd.Kfz.251 Ausf.D:
Basic comments apply to both 251 models in the kit so hopefully you can
read in stereo with additional comments added the specific “Falke” and
251/22 details along the way.
Lower Hull/Suspension:
The lower chassis part has the engine oil pan included on the undersides
and the central hump with the tread plate pattern on the top while both
hull sides are separate parts as with previous kits with the locating
tabs for the storage boxes refined to allow easier fitting of the boxes.
The hull sides have the internal panelling used to fix the internal
fittings with the gap between the hull side and panels represented
by small indentations along the top of the hull sides while the rear
hull floor section is a further separate part again with separate rear
doors. The underside hull panel is another separate part to allow the
inclusion of all the bolt and panel line details.
The suspension is
the same as with previous kits with the road wheels having excellent
details including the spot welds around the rims and on the drive sprocket
the correct offset of the drive teeth as well as the drive rollers
included while the front tyres have excellent tread pattern and good
hub details on the wheels.
The lower hull sides have excellent details on the axle mountings as
well as the raised reinforcing panels along the lower hull sides around
the axles and bump stops with all the axles as separate parts which
will allow you to animate the suspension if you wish?
Tracks:
Included are two full sets of workable individual link tracks from the
previous set
Sd.Kfz.251 Track "Latest Model" (kit
#
AF35070)
which has the later pressed pattern track links with metal pads that
have two small raised chevrons included on the pads.
This is a strange inclusion as these all steel tracks were only used for
about five months from late February to July '44 when they was discontinued
as the metal pads created excessive vibrations on paved roads damaging
the suspension components.
The use of the Sd.Kfz.251 Track “Late Model” (Kit
#AF35069) or even the more common Sd.Kfz.251
Track “Early Type” (Kit
#AF35044) would have been more appropriate as both these tracks were used
throughout the War eliminating any time line issues.
Considering the first Sd.Kfz.251/22 was only produced in December 1944
and the “Falke” and other IR programs didn’t get underway
seriously until Feb/March 1945 the tracks provided were withdrawn from
use well before then.
Upper Hull/Exterior:
The upper hull is a full length moulding which features some very subtle
but nice bolt head and weld seam details with separate engine bay doors
including the flush screws around the engine bay opening. The “orange
peel” surface effect has been enhanced slightly but the weld seams
along the upper sides of the engine bay should be very lightly sanded
as they are a little sharp but otherwise the detail is excellent.
As mentioned there is the new late upper hull included for the 251/22
version and this has the engine bay access door modified for the later
rear opening door with the small side opening panel added at the front
with nicely defined hinges on the right side. The flush screws are included
around the opening and the separate one piece hatch has nice hinge detail
as well as small bolts and latch detail on the inside which is also completely
free of any pin marks.
The two front fenders are separate parts and also have very nice bolt
head and panel details with a two part Bosch headlight and base for the
left fender as well as three parts for the exhaust system and the pioneer
tools carried on the fenders come with moulded on tool clips.
On the front plate of the 251/22 is a small bracket that includes an aerial
base but this bracket was actually for another 20cm IR searchlight of the
type carried in front of the driver’s plate and as there is three
sprue N for the “Falke” included this has a couple a spare
20cm searchlights so you can easily add one to the mounting as well as
adding the wiring for additional detail. The instructions indicate to add
the 20cm searchlight on this bracket for the “Falke” version
as it should be and again adding the wiring will finish off the light nicely.
Also included on both is the small V shaped guard added to the left side
of the engine deck just in front of the driver’s plate which is actually
the exit point for the IR FG 1252 Scope wiring but this is moulded solid
and you may want to replace with thin card to form the hollow V shape?
In the middle of the engine deck between the two visors is the 20cm IR
searchlight with separate bolted attachment plate with the searchlight
having a separate clear plastic “lens” added which can be painted
black or dark blue on the inside before fitting while positioned in front
of the driver’s visor is the Driver’s IR FG 1252 scope made
up of one plastic and two clear parts.
The side storage boxes have two doors on each side opened up with separate
doors and finely moulded hinge detail although the doors them selves are
a little thick if shown open. The doors included moulded on padlock and
latch detail while at the rear are separate tail light and other fittings.
Hull Interior:
The basic 251 parts are nicely detailed with the front bulkhead which is
correctly located with the left side slant having a separate instrument
panel with engraved dials as well as separate driver’s foot pedals
and gear levers plus the distinctive slanted steering wheel and separate
Fu 2 radio and rack.
The driver's seats have two part lower sections and the back rests with
superb cushion detail on one side and the distinctive spring pattern on
the back and as mentioned no pin marks to spoil the detail.
The forward Driver’s panel on the “Falke” has separate
outer vision port covers with each internal visor having three parts each
for excellent detail definition and the two side vision slits also have
two part internal armoured glass housings. The vision ports are in the
solid plastic and not the clear vision port parts in some previous kits
but can be shown open or closed as desired? The Driver’s panel on
the 251/22 has the right visor blanked off and the flush visor for the
Driver as is the case with the /22.
The forward top hull section is a separate part with separate correctly
squared off bullet splash guard for the “Falke” while the 251/22
has the cut-down panel to make room for the PaK40.
Moving back in the “Falke” there are the two hull side bolted
flanges as separate parts again for good detail definition and there are
the rifle racks with very nice Kar98s and the crew seats and back rests
are very well done with a choice of early leather cushions or later wooden
slat bench details while there is also the separate grab handle railing
along the inside of the upper hull sides.
One issue due to the initial “Falke” vehicles being converted
from the 251/20 "UHU" is there should actually still be the raised rear
section that was lifted by 50mm to include additional bracing for the large
searchlight turntable base but just the standard floor is included.
The Fu 5 radio rack is mounted between the Driver and Co-Driver and this
is provided correctly (part 14) as are additional radio equipment boxes
on the hull sides (parts N13, N5) and these could have fine wiring added
for final detailing.
The “Falke” armament consists of a nicely detailed MG42 on
the s.M.G Lafette (mounting) and this is very finely moulded and includes
the FG 1250 IR scope added to the MG42 for sighting which is made up of
four plastic and two clear parts and is quite nice but again you can add
the wiring to finish off.
The rear doors are both separate with the hinge and latch detail moulded
on and can be positioned in the open or closed position as you wish?
On the 251/22 the side hull flanges have been replaced with new items
that incorporate the mounting bulkheads for the PaK40 mounting girders
and large right side ammo bin, there is also a smaller ammo bin that is
positioned just inboard of the right PaK40 support arm.
The main PaK40 support frame is made of two side girders and one rear
cross member with the lower gun mounting plate trapped between the two
and these locate into the floor locating holes and to the top of the side
bulkheads although there is no forward bulkhead cross member. There is
also the small crew seat attached to the left support girder plus the two
rear crew sets from the previous kits.
Sd.Kfz.251/22 PaK40:
This has two sprues from the
PaK40 kit (#
AF35071) as well as a modified
lower cradle and two pre-formed brass gun shields with the correct sized
cut-out at the sides and uses the plastic shield bolts as with the PaK40
kit which will need a little care and patience when fitting.
Added to the top of the shields is again the 20cm searchlight in two parts
with clear front lens and a small mounting bracket as a separate part.
The gun includes the metal barrel with a two part plastic muzzle brake
and five part breech with separate sliding block positioned over small
notches at either end of the barrel for a secure fit and you should obviously
make sure the muzzle brake and breech are lined up correctly before final
gluing.
Also included is the second crew guard on the right of the gun which was
missing from the original 251/22 which is nice to see these corrections
being made without fuss.
The gun travel lock is correctly mounted on the front of the driver's
plate while the lock itself is fairly basic in details and there is the
new right hull side mounted antenna base.
Decals:
A small decal sheet is provided with markings for two 251/22 vehicles,
one in overall Dark Yellow and the other in three tone Dark Yellow/Dark
Green/Red Brown cam plus markings for a single “Falke” in three
tone Dark Yellow/Dark Green/Red Brown cam and includes the correct stencilling
block for the left hull side indicating the Sd.Kfz.250/20 linage.
Decal Sheet
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