Sd.Kfz.165 Hummel
(early version)
Dragon Kit No. 6204
1/35th Scale
First Look Review by Terry Ashley

The Kit:
The kit has 342 parts in light gray plastic plus another 240 for the individual track links, a small decal sheet and a small sprue with a selection of nicely moulded infantry weapons. There are actually more parts in the box on the sprues from the earlier kits that are not used here to add to the spares box.

Also included is a bonus of the set German Cavalry Division "Florian Geyer" (kit No.6046), with a further 52 parts which includes 2 mounted figures and a selection of personal gear and a small etched fret for the stirrups.

Sprue H from the Hornisse and Hummel kits is no longer included but there is a new sprue L with the new parts for this kit plus another sprue R with a single crew figure and a small etched fret.

The parts are moulded to the same high standard as the previous Hornisse/Hummel kits with as you would expect many of the parts are from these kits plus extra sprues this Hummel.

All my comments from the Hornisse, Nashorn and Hummel reviews also apply here while the new parts give you a new rear hull plate without the mountings for the exhaust muffler of the earlier Hummel kit plus spare road wheel racks and new side mounted exhaust pipes.

As with the other kits you are given both the Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf E and J drive sprockets with the instructions showing to use the correct Ausf J sprockets for this Hummel plus there is still the choice of Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf E idler or the Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf F-H tube style idler wheels either of which could be used for this version of the Hummel.

The etched fret included is a bit of a mystery as it is not shown on the parts layout diagrams nor do any of the etched parts get a mention in the instruction sequences. The fret includes the hull side engine intake louvers that should be easy enough to work out plus other small parts that are a bit more of a mystery.

Markings are provided for three vehicles, two from PzArtRgt 116, 5.PzDiv, Russia 1944 in three colour cam scheme and one from PzArtRgt 73, 1.PzDiv, Greece 1943 in two tone Dark Yellow and Green cam.

Instructions:
The instructions are again the now normal colour photos of the parts during assembly but I found that some of the sequences were a little confusing especially with the gun assembly. The photos show a number of the smaller parts already assembled with only arrowed numbers pointing to the individual parts and careful study of the instructions before gluing would be advisable.

Unfortunately some of the construction errors from the earlier kits are still here in this kit.

• Step 15; The tracks in the instructions are in the wrong directions. You should put them the other way around.
• Step 16/17; N10 and N11 should not be glued to I (hull). Parts N10 and N11 are meant as jigs only for placement of rear gun support and side wall supports.
• Step 21; Only the left head light is used on this version and it should be part B39 and B40 as shown in the instructions.

Conclusion:
Another superb kit from Dragon with very nice surface details and plenty of other details to add to the previous excellent kits. It remains to be seen if Dragon will finish the family by producing the late Hummel with full width driver's compartment?

The Sprues:

References:

Hummel Sd.Kfz.165 Nuts & Bolts Vol.10

Artillerie Selbstfahrlafetten Panzer Tracts No.10

Ground Power No.70 March 2000

Page created 17 January 2004