German Sd.Kfz.6/2 3.7cm FlaK 37 auf Selbstfahrlafette
Trumpeter 1:35 Scale Kit #05532
Kit Preview by Terry Ashley
The Sd.Kfz.6/2 was built on the final version BN 9 chassis that had an extended chassis with additional axle and 7 road wheels per side and was powered by a Maybach HL 54 TUKRM 6 cylinder liquid cooled petrol engine.
The kit has 411 parts in light beige plastic on 18 sprues, 9 parts in clear plastic, 240 individual track link parts in chocolate plastic on 10 sprues, 63 etched parts on 3 etched frets, 3 vinyl tyres, a length of thread plus a small decal sheet and 20 page instruction booklet. There are a number of parts indicated as not being used which would indicate further versions of the Sd.Kfz.6 may be planned?
The standard of moulding is quite good without any noticeable flash and just the occasional pin mark although some of the detail is okay some is on the heavy side and a little basic most noticeable with the radiator housing and engine hood panels with the louvers moulded solid. Recent kits from both Bronco and Dragon have included open louvers of similar parts which sort of sets the standard for such parts.
Dimensionally the kit measures out quite good overall against the 1:35 plans in the Panzer Tracts and Tankpower books listed below although there are a few discrepancies between the plans which can creates a bit of confusion. There are though a number of smaller dimensional issues with the kit, some fairly minor while others more substantial, the most notable issue is with the drive sprockets and tracks.
The drive sprocket is almost 3mm too small in diameter with quite heavy detail as it is squashed up for want of a better word, also the drive rollers (teeth) are not offset on the faceted sprocket pads as they should but are located centrally. As a consequence of the undersized sprockets the track is also undersized so it will fit the smaller sprockets, the track links are the correct width but the length (pitch) is about 1mm too short meaning you have to use 53 links per side instead of the actual 46 on the real vehicle.
The kit also includes the same trailer from the previous Trumpeter Sd.Kfz.7/1-2 kits which is a mixture of details with the trailer chassis/frame of the Sd.Ah.52 while the trailer box and wheels is that of the late model Sd.Ah.56 trailer and so is not the correct trailer (Sd.Ah.52) used with the Sd.Kfz.6/2. The excellent Bronco Models Sd.Ah.52 3.7cm Flak 36/37 Ammunition Carriage Trailer (kit #CB-35079) would be a good choice if you want an accurate trailer to hitch up to the kit although there are a number of photos available of the Sd.Kfz.6/2 in combat and on the march without a trailer attached so it’s not essential in any case.
There are a number of other issues that I will cover in more detail in the full comparison review with the Bronco Models kit to follow in about a week or so but in the meantime the kit contents is shown here for your perusal.
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Sprue detail images
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| mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 5t (Sd.Kfz.6) and Schwerer Wehrmachtsschlepper Panzer Tracks No.22-3 `  |
mZgkw 5t Sd.Hfz.6 Tank Power Vol.LVIII Wydawnictwo Militaria No.287 ISBN: 9788372192875  |
Sd.Kfz. 6 - 5 ton Zugkraftwagen, Büssing - NAG and variants Nuts & Bolts Volume 39 Dr. Nicolaus Hettler  |
| Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 5t (Sd.Kfz.6) BN 9 Reprint of WWII manual D 606/11  |
Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 5t (Sd.Kfz.6) BN 9b Reprint of WWII manual D 606/13  |
Flak
at War Trojca Publications ISBN: 83-60041-15-6  |
for
the review kit. 