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Tamiya
Sd.Kfz.222 Leichter Panzerspähwagen 4x4
Tamiya 1:35 Kit No. 35270

Review by Terry Ashley

Introduction:

Tamiya 35062Following the recent release of the "new" Sd.kfz.223 (Kit No.35268) Tamiya have now released an updated Sd.Kfz.222. The vehicle represents and Ausf.B as indicated by the cast hull vision port doors with the right hand front port being smaller than the other three. While the kit shows the triangular wheel hub covers many Ausf. B vehicles did not have these fitted.

The kit is a straight re-release/boxing of the 1975 kit #35051 with the same parts except for one minor modification to the 2cm cannon to accept the new aluminium barrel plus a new decal sheet and an etched fret for the turret screens and also a slightly bigger box and price tag plus a sprue from the Fuel Drum Set (Kit No.35186).

The Kit:

There are 121 parts in dark gray plastic which are cleanly moulded but some parts show their age with fairly prominent mould seam lines to be cleaned up especially on the 2cm gun parts while the detail on other parts is still quite good such as the wheels which have nice hub details and tyre tread pattern.

The hull details are basic but all the major components are there including the engine intake grills on the rear with nice engraved mesh and all the other parts such as the side storage boxes and hull vision ports as separate parts.
The 2cm turret has a basic gun mount plus the two crew seats and the original gun (part A36) has been modified with the removal of the plastic barrel and a thin neck added which slips into the hole pre drilled in the new metal barrel for a good firm fit. The metal barrel is well detailed with the vents included just behind the flash suppressor which is hollowed out.

Metal barrel and modified 2cm gun breech
Tamiya
Assembled 2cm gun
Tamiya

The two hull side doors are also separate but you will have to modify the hinges if you wanted to show these open, but as there is no interior so they are probably best left closed.
The armoured guard over the rear radiator is also a separate part allowing you to expose the radiator grills as they were in the early war campaigns.

The etched fret has the frames and screens for the turret top and is a marked improvement over the standard Tamiya mesh included with the original kit. The bending process will be helped by the use of a bending tool as the screens can easily be distorted if bent by hand due to the harder stainless steel used by Tamiya and annealing would also help.

The inclusion of the sprue from the Fuel Drum Set (Kit No.35186) with 49 parts in light gray plastic gives you some extras for use in a diorama with a selection of fuel drums and some Jerry cans with nice details included.

The instructions are new and better detailed than the original kit and also show the bending and fitting of the etched screens.

Decals:

The decals are new for this kit but have the usual thick carrier film with a selection of vehicle and divisional markings with number plates and tac markings for three vehicles from;

TamiyaTamiya

Conclusion:

Overall this is still a good basic kit with some nice details and will build into a nice model of the 222 with scope for additional detailing.
The inclusion of the metal parts adds nice details to the original kit.

The Sprues:

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TamiyaTamiyaTamiyaTamiya
Tamiya

References:
Toadman CD

Toadman's Sd.Kfz.222 Photo Detail CD

toadmanstankpictures.com

Detailed photo walk around on the Sd.Kfz.222

Schiffer

Sd.Kfz.222 & 223
Nuts & Bolts Vol.04

Soft cover
39 pages black & white.

Currently out of print but excellent reference if you can find a copy.

Book

Panzerspähwagen

Uwe Feist and Robert Johnson
Ryton Publications
ISBN: 1-930571-30-5

Hard Cover
150 pages

Schiffer

German Light Reconnaissance Vehicles
By Horst Scheibert
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
ISBN 0-88740-522-3

Soft cover
48 pages black & white.

Squadron

Panzerspähwagen in Action
By Jim Mesko.
Squadron Signal Publications No. 2004.
ISBN 0-89747-037-0

Soft cover
48 pages black & white.

Thanks to my credit card and Rainbow Tenfor the review kit.




Page created 25 December 2003